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FlickrMagic Ring (right-handed)
Looking for the left-handed instructions? Or the video tutorial? If not, read on…
What is this ‘Magic Ring’, anyway?
A magic ring is a way to begin crocheting in the round by crocheting over an adjustable loop and then pulling the loop tight. The advantage of the magic ring method (below, right) is that, unlike the regular “chain 2, x single crochet in 2nd chain from hook” method (below, left), there is no hole left in the middle of your starting round.
L: ch2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in each st around.
R: magic ring, 6 sc in magic ring, 2 sc in each st around.
How do I make a Magic Ring?
Please note: in the following photos, the starting yarn tail is always on the left and hanging down. The working yarn begins on the right and is then picked up over my left forefinger in Step 2.
- Make a loop a few inches from the end of your yarn. Grasp the join of the loop (where the 2 strands of yarn overlap) between your left thumb and forefinger:
- Insert hook into the loop from front to back. Draw up a loop:
- Ch 1. Note: this does NOT count as a stitch:
- Insert hook into the loop, so you are crocheting over the loop and the yarn tail. Draw up a loop to begin your first sc:
- Complete the sc. Continue to crochet over the loop and the yarn tail until you have the required number of sc for your first rnd (6 sc shown here):
- Grab the yarn tail and pull to draw the centre of the ring tightly closed:
- Begin your second round by crocheting into the first stitch of the first round (below, left). At the end of round 2 your work will look like this (below, right):
You’ll never go back to your old method again, I promise!
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Please also note that I only speak English and cannot respond to questions or comments written in other languages. - June
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Hi, I'm June. Welcome to my world of nature-inspired crochet and crafting. I hope you enjoy your visit!Follow me
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linda sencenbaugh said
I what to the search but nothe come up it side not found sorry but no matched your criteria
June said
You must be misspelling the word poinsettia if nothing comes up, Linda! Try this instead: you can find links to all my other poinsettias here http://www.planetjune.com/blog/tutorials
Alasia said
I won’t go back! So awesome! I always wondered how people were able to do this without a hole! SOOOO excited!!! L!
Dianne said
What a trick! I’ll be using this often. Thanks so much.
Ollie Ruzgal said
its really a great help for a beginners like me.. i often use a ring w/ a hole and using a button to hide it.. i’ll use a magic ring this time. well, thanks a lot! ^_^
MJo said
I was looking for directions that were not a video so I could print them out and have them on hand.. thank you!!
sharon swander said
Thanks for making this easier for me. But I still can’t pull the tail tight enough to close the hole. I know it’s just me but any suggestions will help
June said
Sharon, take a look at my magic ring video to see exactly how I do it – I find you can pull it much tighter if you tug really hard at the end of Rnd 2.
If that doesn’t help, it could be the yarn you’re using. Some yarns just aren’t compressible enough to fit all those loops into such a tiny circle that no hole at all remains. Other yarns aren’t strong enough, and when you tug hard enough to close the hole, they snap! So maybe try a different yarn and see if that works better.
Joann said
Hello June ~ gosh I have been crocheting for years and never thougt of this or have ever seen it before. I can’t wait to try it, my only problem, I am LEFT Handed. I can usually figure it out, I may have to try this today. I will let you know how the “leftie” did.
June said
Hi Joann, I’m actually a lefty too! All my tutorials come in right- and left-handed versions – look for the link to the lefty version (and the video version, in both-handed versions) at the top of this page
Linda Greer said
Have been crocheting for lots of years and love seeing this. Feel clumsy doing it and isn’t as neat so I know I need more practice. Thank you for sharing.
MaryMargaret said
YOU are a GENIUS! Thanks for sharing!
Monika L. said
Thank you so much for the photos. With video tutorials I have to pause all the time to figure out what I’m doing. I’ve been making a lot of amigurumi toys for my niece and nephews and some Caps for Cancer and this is the perfect way to start those projects.
Robin said
Thank you SO MUCH for making this tutorial!!!
I refer to it every time I start a hat. I’m sure as my crochet skills grow I will have to use it for other projects too. I wouldn’t have been able to learn it without your steps and pics.
Beth Nieto said
That’s great! Thanks for sharing! As a beginner I’m still trying, but maybe one time I’ll learn! LOL
Kathleen said
Thank you so very much!!! To say that I am a novice crocheter is a vast over-exaggeration of my skill!!! With no guidance whatsoever I progressed from being able to make a single chain as long as a skein of yarn to creating a sort of dense pot holder looking thing….then I bought beginner’s crochet guide only to find out that the world of crochet stich nomenclature was WAY beyond my ability to understand! My holy grail at the moment is to make a simple cap…I found instructions elsewhere on how to increase and decrease a circle in crochet and created something that kept my head warm on a recent trip to NY…but there was a hole at the top that I had to cover with a pathetic looking pom-pom…Today I sat down with your instructions and have created a successful (if a little wonky) magic circle!!! I am feeling there is a slightly less odd looking cap in my near future!!! I love your beautiful site and your clear and simple instructions!!!
Lisa said
Thank you so much for posting this.
I am new to crocheting and my boyfriend’s mother taught me rounds but I had no idea that you could make it without a hole this easily!! I have had more practice with double crochets than singles, but I found this easy to do with doubles as well.
Margie Echevarria said
Do you have a video for the Frothy Flower? I just can’t seem to grasp how to do Row 4 (going to the back of the flower)
June said
Margie, I’m afraid I can’t provide support for other people’s patterns – I suggest you contact the designer of that pattern for assistance
Carol Newman said
Oh my goodness, I finally learned how to make the magic ring from your instructions. I have made so many patterns that reference the magic ring without instructions I could figure out. I am a lefthand crafter in a righthand world lol.
Thank you for simplifying it to my level lol.
Carol
June said
I’m glad I could help, Carol, but I hope you realise that I have left-handed versions of all my crochet tutorials for people like us (yep, I’m a lefty too)! You can find them all at http://www.planetjune.com/help
Corinne said
Just completed my first magic loop! Thank you so much for sharing, I’m never going back now!
Carolyn Nicely Bradley said
Found your instructions on making the magic circle most helpful , esp with pics….. I found the pattern for making a flower using the magic circle, then I clicked on the link for the instructions ….. glad I found you ! Thanks
Robin said
Wow! I love this technique. It reminds me of being a kid and learning macrame for the forst time. …but now I can incorporate into crochet. BRILIANT!
ola said
Thank you that was helpful for a beginner
Stay well
Ola