Crochet Tutorial: Magic Ring

You may love it or you may hate it, but everyone should know how to make a crochet magic ring. This article contains a video tutorial on how to make one and an easy alternative technique to the magic ring.

Hi everyone!

I remember seeing a pattern that called for a magic circle (it’ll be written at MC or MR). I was so confused. I had no idea what it was or how to do it, and I had to search the internet until I fully grasped the concept. I had never encountered it before. I found the magic circle technique difficult. At the end of the article, I want you to practice. Your assignment today is to make at least one magic circle successfully.

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Magic Circle

When following along with a pattern, you might see the phrase “make a magic circle.” This method is used frequently in amigurumi patterns, so if toys are your thing you’re going to see them a lot. Using this technique, you’re able to have a nice closed beginning when crocheting. More or less, no holes to sew up!

The magic circle works similarly to how you make a slip stitch, except instead of pulling the tail tight against your hook and then chaining, you keep the stitch open and loose, like a circle. Then you stitch inside the circle. Once you have all the stitches you need, you pull the tail tight to close the circle.

Magic circles are handy, but not exactly beginner-friendly. A lot of crocheters have a hard time getting a handle on it. Remember how I said you either love it or hate it? Well, I’m part of the group that hates it, so I take a different route when starting my amigurumi.

Check out my video on TikTok on how to do the magic ring!

Chain 2 Method

Would you rather have an alternative to the magic circle? Then allow me the pleasure of introducing you to the Chain 2 method.

The chain 2 method works by simply making your slip stitch, chaining twice, and then stitching into the first chain until you have the stitch count needed, and then pulling the tail as tight as you can. With this method, you can only pull the tail so tight until you can’t pull it anymore. Because of this, you generally have a little hole left. You can sew it closed with the remainder of the tail before weaving it in completely.

I use this method instead of the magic circle ALL THE TIME. Even when I’m following along with another designer’s pattern, I replace the ring with the 2 chains when possible.

The only difference between the chain 2 method and the magic circle is that the crochet community generally frowns upon the usage of one and not the other. As always, I say to do what works for you to get the job done. It’s always a good idea to have a bunch of techniques under your belt in the crochet world.

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