Magic Circle Crochet: Best Way to Start a Project in the Round
You’ve almost certainly heard of the crochet magic ring. It’s also known as magic circle crochet, magic loop crochet, and adjustable ring crochet. Whatever you call it, it’s a simple method for starting a crochet project in the round. Of course, you can start crochet projects in the round in other ways, as well. However, the crochet magic ring has advantages, especially for certain types of projects. Therefore, let me show you how to do in this magic ring tutorial video.
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Benefits of Learning Crochet Magic Ring
If you already know how to crochet in the round, then you might wonder why you would even need to learn the magic circle crochet technique. Fair enough. If what you’re doing is working for you, then that’s cool. But what’s even cooler is having a wide range of tools in your crafty toolbox. This allows you to choose the right one for the job. And starting a project with magic loop crochet has its benefits.
Leave No Hole In Your Work with Magic Loop Crochet
The main reason that people use the adjustable ring crochet technique is that it allows you to crochet in the round without leaving a hole in the center of the work. Think, for example, when you crochet a classic granny square. You often begin with a short, joined together with a slip stitch, and then you work your first round into the circle. This leaves a small hole in the center of the square.
Of course, there are times that won’t bother you at all. Many crochet motifs look great with that hole in the center. However, what if you’re making an amigurumi project? Or perhaps you’re starting a top-down crochet hat in the round? In those instances, you don’t necessarily want a hole in the center of the work, right? Therefore, you can learn the crochet magic ring technique. The rest of your crochet project will proceed the same as normal, but you won’t have that hole in the center.
Magic Circle Crochet Replaces Starting with a Slip Knot
Almost every crochet project that you’ve ever done has started with a slip knot right? Well, that’s about to change. The magic circle crochet technique does not use a slip knot. Instead, you create the crochet magic ring to begin the project. Effectively, it works in place of the slip knot. The difference is that as you begin your work, you can tighten this ring. Therefore, you close up the circle.
Magic Ring Tutorial
Okay, so how do we make the crochet magic ring? Well, here’s my step-by-step video tutorial to show you exactly that:
As you can see, this video is shorter than five minutes long. And yet, it gives you the tools that you need to completely change the way that you start crochet projects in the round. You can use it for pretty much any crochet in the round project. But, as aforementioned, it’s ideal for crochet hats, toys, amigurumi, and other projects where you really don’t want to see a hole that shows you where you started the work.
How to Weave in Tail on Adjustable Ring Crochet
When you use the crochet magic ring technique, you do end up with a starting tail. As you can see in the video above, the tail helps you pull that circle closed so you don’t have a gaping hole in your work. However, what are you supposed to do with that tail? Well here’s what I think is the best way to weave in the yarn tail on adjustable ring crochet:
