Working in Rounds with a Magic Ring
Nora XuCrochet Beginner’s Guide 11
Making a magic ring (also called a magic circle or magic loop) is another way to get the yarn on the hook and to work in rounds. It takes some time to get the hang of the magic ring, but once you master it, it will open a new window in the world of crochet.
1. Hold the yarn. Take the starting end and place it over your middle and ring fingers.
2. Bring the starting end from below your ring finger up toward your index finger.
3. Wrap the yarn, from back to front, over your middle and ring fingers.
4. Now, you have formed a loop on your middle and ring fingers. Use your thumb to hold the loop in place.
5. Take the hook and insert it into the loop on your middle and ring fingers.
6. Place the hook over the working yarn (the hook nook facing away from you). Pull the yarn through the loop.
7. With the working yarn in the hook nook, gently twist the hook 90 degrees toward you so the hook nook is facing away from your yarn-holding index finger. You can see a loop is formed on the hook.
8. Push the hook head slightly toward your yarn-holding hand; the loop will slide down on the hook toward your hook-holding hand.
9. Adjust the hook so it’s pointing toward your index finger.
- Make sure your thumb is holding the loop on your middle and ring fingers as well as holding the loose end.
10. Wrap the working yarn over the hook and pull it through the loop on the hook. A magic ring is made.
Now that we have the magic ring ready, let’s practice working into it to make rounds. As an example, we will make single crochet stitches:
1. Start with a magic ring. Use your thumb to hold both the loop on your yarn-holding middle and ring fingers as well as the loose end.
- Leave some space on the top of the magic ring to insert the hook in the next step.
2. Insert your hook into the center of the magic ring (also going under the loose end you are holding).
3. Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through the magic ring (passing under the loose end) to form a new loop on the hook.
4. Then, yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook. One single crochet stitch is made.
5. Repeat steps 2–4 to make more single crochet stitches into the magic ring.
6. Make the loop on the hook larger by moving your hook away from the piece you have made. This is to prevent your piece from getting undone when you work on the next step to tighten the magic ring.
7. Remove the hook from the loop. Hold the piece you have made in place. Take the loose end of the yarn and pull it tight.
8. Put the hook back into the big loop. Pull the working yarn to adjust the loop to an appropriate size that fits on the hook. One round is finished.
Similar to working into a foundation ring, if a pattern calls for it, you can make a slip stitch into the first stitch of the round to close/join the round.
In contrast to a foundation ring, a round that is made with a magic ring has no hole in the center. That’s the reason that most of the stuffed crochet project patterns recommend a magic ring instead of a foundation ring.
Below is a video tutorial about working in rounds with a magic ring.
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