Magic Ring Crochet: How to Make a Magic Circle That Holds

Why Use a Magic Ring?

Anything worked in rounds from the center needs a starting ring. The old way is to chain a few stitches and join them into a circle, but that ring cannot shrink, so a small hole stays in the middle. A magic ring is a loop of yarn you can pull shut after the first round is worked into it. The center closes completely, which matters on a hat crown, a flat coaster and above all a stuffed toy: the amigurumi magic ring is the standard start because no fiberfill can peek out of the middle.

You will see it written as mr, “magic ring”, “magic loop” or “adjustable ring”. Magic circle crochet is the same technique under another name, and UK patterns use the same words.

What You Need

• Smooth worsted weight (4) yarn. A light, plain color makes the strands easy to follow; very fuzzy or splitty yarn is hard to pull closed.
• A hook to match the yarn, 4 to 5 mm for worsted (see the hook size chart).
• A stitch marker for the first stitch of the round, and a yarn needle to secure the tail at the end.

You should already know the chain stitch and the single crochet. Those are the only stitches the ring needs.

How to Make a Magic Ring Crochet Start, Step by Step

This is the double-wrapped version. Two strands make the ring much more secure than one, and it pulls closed just as well. Left-handed crocheters follow the same steps on the opposite hand.

1. Wrap two fingers. Lay the tail across the palm side of your left index and middle fingers, leaving about 6 in (15 cm). Wrap the working yarn around both fingers twice so the strands cross in an X on the back. Hold the tail with your thumb.

2. Pull up a loop. Slide the hook under both strands on your fingers, catch the working yarn and draw it back under. One loop is on the hook.
3. Chain 1. Yarn over and pull through the loop. This chain locks the ring and does not count as a stitch.

4. Work the first round into the ring. Take the ring off your fingers and hold it flat between thumb and middle finger. Work each stitch over both strands of the ring and over the tail. For most amigurumi that is 6 single crochet.

5. Pull the tail. Count your stitches, then pull the tail firmly. The ring shrinks and the stitches gather into a circle. If one strand closes first, pull the loop that is still open until it disappears, then pull the tail again.
6. Join or keep going. Join with a slip stitch in the first stitch if the pattern works in joined rounds, or put a marker in the first stitch and carry on in a spiral, as most amigurumi do.

Magic Ring with Single Crochet or Double Crochet

Magic ring single crochet. Chain 1, then work the number of sc the pattern gives, usually 6 for a ball or a toy. Our chubby bunny starts every piece this way and grows by 6 stitches a round, up to 48 for the head. The crochet Christmas tree also opens with 6 sc in a ring.

Double crochet magic circle. Chain 3 instead of 1; in most patterns that chain counts as the first double crochet. Then work the rest of the stitches into the ring. The tulip border placemat starts with ch 3 and 11 dc for 12 stitches, and so does each heart of the crochet heart garland. The sunflower granny square starts with 8 sc in a ring under its puff stitch center.

Magic Ring or Chain Ring?

The magic ring is not always the better choice. Granny squares and lacy motifs are often meant to have a small open center, and a ring of chains is quicker and holds very firmly in a piece that will be washed often.

If a pattern says “ch 2, 6 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook”, that is a chain start that can stand in for a magic ring; the center is small but does not close fully.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• The ring will not close. One of the stitches was worked over the tail only and not over the ring strands. Pull the tail gently and watch which stitch does not move, then rework it.
• The ring opens again later. This is the most common problem with a magic ring. Thread the tail on a yarn needle and weave it through the back of the first-round stitches in one direction, then back in the opposite direction, pull once more and only then cut it. In a stuffed toy, leave the woven tail inside.
• The first round has the wrong count. Count before you pull the ring closed. Extra or missing stitches are easy to fix at that point and almost impossible after.
• The ring is too loose to hold. Keep it small on your fingers and pinch it where the strands cross. After a few rings it becomes one smooth movement.

Where to Go Next

Once the first round sits closed, the shaping comes from increases: the lesson on increases and decreases explains why a flat circle adds 6 single crochets per round. The stitches themselves are in double crochet and treble crochet, and the basics are in How to Crochet. All the lessons are in Learn to Crochet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make a magic ring in crochet?

Wrap the yarn twice around two fingers, pull up a loop from under the strands, chain 1, work your first round over the ring, then pull the tail until the center closes.

What is the easiest way to do a magic ring?

Wrap the yarn around two fingers and keep the ring on your fingers while you pull up the first loop and chain 1. Slide it off only when you start the stitches. That keeps it from tangling.

Is a magic circle the same as a magic ring?

Yes. Magic circle, magic ring, magic loop and adjustable ring are names for the same start. Patterns abbreviate it mr.

Why does my magic ring keep coming undone?

The tail was not secured. Weave it through the first round in one direction and back in the other before cutting it; a double-wrapped ring also holds better than a single wrap.

Is the magic ring good for beginners?

Yes, once you can chain and single crochet. It takes a few tries to hold the ring comfortably, so practice it three or four times before starting a real project.