As the name suggests, a crochet magic ring is a very useful tool for crocheting in the round. It is also known as an adjustable ring or a magic circle. When it comes to using the magic ring method, I love it because it takes out that troublesome hole that can form in the middle of your work when you use it.
When you use a magic ring in crochet, you will make a row of stitches and make them into a loop that can be adjusted. Lastly, you will need to pull the yarn tail tight enough so that the loop is nice and tight when you are done.
Are you interested in learning how to crochet a magic ring? Would you like to learn how to do it? Using this beginner tutorial, you will be able to follow along step-by-step as you learn how to crochet a magic ring from beginning to end. I can assure you that once you get the hang of the magic ring technique, you’ll never want to look back.
What is the Magic Ring Techinique?
When you are starting a crochet project that is worked in the round, the magic ring is a great way to get started. If you want to use the magic ring method, you will need to make a loop of yarn, and work the first round of stitches into that adjustable loop that you have made. After that, you will need to pull one end of the loop to tighten it up. By doing so, you will be able to close the ring on your work, eliminating that tiny hole that appears sometimes in the center of the piece of work.
Advantages of The Magic Ring Technique
It is generally accepted that the magic circle technique is the best way to create a tightly closed starting ring when compared to other traditional methods. A major advantage of using the magic ring method is that it eliminates the small hole in the center of the circular crochet work from the first round.
Can Beginners Use the Magic Ring?
There is no doubt that if you are a beginner, the crochet magic ring technique may seem overwhelming or too fiddly for you to handle. Seeing as I had difficulty remembering it the first time around, I understand.
Don’t let this discourage you, however! Every crochet enthusiast should have a basic understanding of the magic ring method of crocheting. There is no doubt that learning it is well worth the effort. As soon as you master this technique, you’ll wonder how you ever managed to crochet without it in the first place!
When to Use a Magic Ring
Magic ring crochet is a technique that can be used to start a number of different crochet patterns, such as granny squares, top-down hats, and amigurumi projects, among many others. Also, it is my favorite way to begin crocheting flat circles since it is so easy to do.
If your pattern calls for the use of a Magic Ring, you might see it written as follows:
- “Work 6 sc in magic ring.”
The term “Magic Ring” may also be abbreviated as MR (or MC for magic circle).
Replacing Other Starting Methods with a Magic Ring
In addition to this method, some patterns call for the use of older/traditional starting methods, such as joining 4 stitches into a ring for the beginning chain.
Other starting methods may be written as:
- “chain 4, slip stitch in the first chain” and then “work the first round in that circle”
- “chain 2, 6 single crochet in 2nd chain from hook”.
If you are working your crochet project in the round, then you can easily substitute the Magic Ring method for most crochet projects. As shown in the two examples above, the chain stitches should be replaced with a magic ring, and the first round of crochet stitches should be placed into the magic ring.
Magic Ring Tutorial
The purpose of this tutorial is to show you how to use the Magic Ring (also called the Magic Circle or the Magic Loop) in a step-by-step format.
Please note that these instructions demonstrate the right-handed method and use US terms.
The technique can be demonstrated in many different ways, but I find that this method is my favorite way of demonstrating it. In order to have good control over the yarn, I like to loop it over my fingers so that I have a good grip on it. It is difficult for me to do the Magic Ring technique when the loop is hanging in the air, or if it is laying flat on a table.
How to Crochet the Magic Ring
There are two parts to the magic ring that need to be worked. Creating the adjustable loop is the first step in the process. Afterwards, the next step is to work whatever stitches your pattern calls for into the loop that is adjustable.
Step 1: Loop the Yarn Around Your Fingers
The ball of yarn should be placed on the table. It is recommended that you lay the tail end of your yarn against the palm of your left hand, with the tail end pointing towards you. It is a good idea to loop the working end (aka ball end) of the yarn loosely around the back of your first two fingers as you hold the yarn. Overlap the working end of the yarn over the tail end, and then cross it over to the left of the tail end. It is best to pinch the yarn where it intersects, holding it in place in place with your thumb.
It is important that you turn your hand towards you so that your palm is facing down toward the table. You should be able to see two parallel strands of yarn when you look at the back of your hand. Working yarn (also known as the ball end) can be found on the left side of the yarn, and tail yarn can be found on the right side of the yarn.
Step 2: Insert the hook and pull up a loop.
Take the crochet hook and hold it in your right hand. Work from right to left and slide the crochet hook under the right-hand piece of yarn and over the left-hand piece of yarn as you go. The left-hand yarn must be grasped and a loop must be pulled up. The hook should be rotated up towards you as you pull up on it.
Step 3: Chain 1 (or the required number of chains.)
It is important that you continue to hold the circle of yarn in your left hand. The working yarn should be wrapped over the hook from back to front. Draw the yarn through the loop on the hook. As a result, one chain has been completed. (This does not count as a stitch in the pattern.)
It is important to note that the number of chain stitches you will need to make in this step depends on what type of stitch you use in the pattern’s first round.
- In the case that your pattern begins with a round of single crochet, you will only need to make this single chain.
- There should be 2 chains total if your pattern begins with a round of half double crochet, so make one more chain for a total of 2 chains.
- There may be a pattern which starts with a round of double crochet stitches, so you will need to make 3 chains in total.
Step 4: Make stitches into the ring.
You are now ready to make your first round of stitches into the ring. As soon as your hook is inserted into the center of the ring, draw a loop up on the hook, and you are ready to begin your first single crochet. During crocheting, you will be crocheting over both strands of yarn: the loop and the yarn tail.
In order to complete the single crochet, you will need to yarn over and draw the yarn through both loops on the hook.
You should continue to make stitches into the loop until you have made a number of stitches that is required for your pattern. There is still a possibility that the ring looks too loose and open, but in the next step, we will make sure to fix it.
Step 5: Tighten the ring.
Keep your stitches in place with your right hand by holding them with your fingers. The yarn tail should be pulled with your left hand to close the center of the ring (like a drawstring bag) by pulling the yarn tail. As you do this, you will notice that the turn chain and the stitch you’ll be making in the last round will be closer together.
Step 6: Slip Stitch to close the round.
Magic Ring FAQ‘s
Are you still having a problem with the hole in the middle?
It is possible that your yarn is to blame if your first round of stitches still has a hole in the center despite your best efforts. There are some fibers that do not compress as well as others.
It could also be the case that you are attempting to make too many stitches in your first round of stitching. In the majority of cases, a magic ring will be worked with a starting stitch count of around six stitches on the first round.
Have you noticed that your work has unraveled?
Remember to leave a tail of yarn long enough to weave in the tail at the end of your project – it should be at least six inches long. The tail of the yarn should be woven in as securely as possible. The magic ring could unravel if that were to happen.
When you are working in joined rounds, work a slip stitch into the first stitch to join the round together. In order to continue with the pattern, you need to ensure that you are not stitching into the chain, but rather into the first stitch of the round.
You should avoid joining the round with a slip stitch if you are working in a continuous spiral. You can instead begin the next round by stitching into the first stitch of the previous round.
Final note: If the center ring loosens while you are working on the pattern, you can pull on the yarn tail again to tighten it back up if it loosens during the process. As soon as you weave in the ends, it should remain tightly in place once you have done so.