A "magic crochet ring" is a useful technique that can be used to create a round of stitches in a circle without leaving a hole in the middle of the work. This is especially important for creating clean looking flowers, comfortable socks, or projects that will be stuffed. In this article, you'll learn about the tools you need, the steps for exactly how to magic ring crochet, and examples of when you might use this technique.
Tools Needed
You don't need any special tools to create a magic ring. Use the size crochet hook indicated by your pattern after doing a gauge test for your project.
How To Magic Ring Crochet: The Easy Method
- Wrap the starting tail around your index and middle finger
- Overlap the yarn and hold it in place with your ring finger
- Insert your hook from right to left under the bottom yarn
- Grab the top yarn with the hook
- Pull the yarn through and twist the hook so that you now have a loop on the hook
- Hook the top yarn that you're holding in place with your ring finger and pull it through the loop. This creates a slip knot in your "magic ring".
- The long piece of yarn is your "working yarn" and the short piece is your "starting tail". In order for the magic ring to work, you have to work the first round of stitches over the ring and the starting tail together.
- In order to start a ring of Single crochet stitches, insert your hook from front to back. Yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
- Repeat this process until you have the desired number of stitches from the pattern.
- Once you have the required number of stitches, secure them with your hook hand. Grab the starting tail and pull it with your non-hook hand until the stitches come together in the center of the ring.
- Slip stitch in the beginning of the first single crochet to close the ring into a round row.
- Chain 1 (or more) as indicated by the pattern instructions.
Uses for Magic Ring Crochet
Once you learn how to magic ring crochet, you may be wondering what the rings can be used for. Magic ring is useful for any project that begins with a round center. These include a granny square that starts with a round center, a flower, a crocheted sock, or this adorable crocheted doll. You can even make little round accessories for the doll.
The other method of starting in the round is to make a chain, join the stitches together to create a circle, and then work your first row of stitches in the circle. While this works, it leaves a small opening in the middle of the work. When you learn how to magic ring crochet, you can pull the starting tail like a drawstring to completely close the circle. This creates a clean, finished look and is useful for holding the filling in dolls and other stuffed projects.
Magic ring crochet is a useful method for creating small tight rings with no visible hole in the center. This allows you to work projects that have a circular center or that need to be stuffed. You don't need any special skills or tools; only to make sure that you crochet your first round of stitches over both the ring and the starting tail together.