How to Make a Magic Circle for Crocheting in the Round
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Ahhhh the Magic Circle, one of my very favorite crochet techniques. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to chaining and joining again. Let’s learn!

How to Make a Magic Circle
The Magic Circle helps to keep your starting circle tighter, more secure and it gives an overall professional look when working in the round. Whether you are a beginner or not, it just might change your life forever. Or at least make it easier. The video below is necessary to understand exactly what it is we are doing when we make a Magic Circle for crochet.
To start, you’ll hold your yarn with your working hand and wrap over your index and middle fingers, forming an X. Take your crochet hook and go under the first section of yarn to hook the second, and pull up a loop. Then make a chain with your working yarn and you’re all set to go! Yes, it really is that easy. That being said, you’ll want to watch the step-by-step instructions in the video as well:

Once you complete your magic circle, you will continue your pattern with the required starting chain and crochet stitches. The Magic Circle technique will take your amigurumi projects, beanies and hats, and virtually any other crochet project that is worked in the round up a notch. Try your new crochet magic circle knowledge out on some free crochet patterns such as the Master Beanie or an Amigurumi Love Heart.
Watch the video above to learn this technique, and give it a go a few times. Before you know it you’ll be whipping out Magic Circles left and right, and you’ll love the end result, promise!
Wanna save this for later?
More crochet tutorials:
How to Crochet The Single Crochet (Video Tutorial)
How to Crochet the Double Crochet (Video Tutorial)
Video Tutorial: How to Crochet the Half Double Crochet
How to Crochet a Classic Granny Square
Use Industrial Clips for Yarn Bobbins in Crochet and Knitting





I can’t figure out how to print out the free beanie pattern. HELP!
Thank you for the instructions for the beanie. I enjoy your videos.
How do I print your free patterns? I need a printed version to have instead of trying to read it off my phone.
How do I get a printable copy for making a Magic Circle. I can follow a written pattern instead of a video.
I can’t figure out how to do the double crochet in the magic circle and you moved way too fast for me to see what you are doing.
Hi Savannah…..Not sure if you know this or not since your comment was dated April 5, 2020 and today is January 13, 2021, but you can slow down or speed up a video by simply clicking on what looks like a gear on the video screen. I hope this helps you. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact me at: cqdavies@tampabay.rr.com. Have a joyful and blessed evening………………Camille
Thank you so much for this wonderful pattern and the tutorials on the magic circle and the crab stitch. Our church makes a lot of small hat for our missionary trips to children that don’t have anything warm.
I just discovered you and your tutorials. They are wonderful! Thank you for the easy way you explain and demonstrate skills.
Hi Margaret! I am so glad you find them helpful!
Wow – thanks for the video. For the first time the magic circle now makes sense. Thanks again.
Thank You ….easiest magic circle much easier to watch being done than just explained !
Hi Janice! I’m so glad you found the tutorial helpful!
Thank you for making it so easy, I have done a lot of granny squares non ending blankets would have been so much better. I am also trying my hand at making a beanie hat. I’m three rows down now. First try was a flub. I hope the second is better, I’ve been crocheting for 41 years since I was 14.
Thank you! Loved you easy explanation and it worked!
This is the best and easiest to follow magic circle video tutorial I’ve watched. Thank you! Way nicer than the ch4 etc method. I’m a total noob too.
Thank you so much your video of the magic circle has been the ONLY one that has made sense to me(only been crocheting for about 35 years LOL)
This was the easiest to learn. Thank you so much! I love it.
I’m so glad!!
Thank you! I FINALLY got it! Your video seemed easier to follow.
Woohoo!! I’m so glad!
Thank you! Yours was the easiest magic circle video I’ve seen. Everyone else makes it so complicated; not sure why that it is lol!
I’m so glad! 🙂
This is amazing! I am thrilled with all you post and the encouragement shared. My kids in 4-H want to learn so I am working on becoming more proficient thanks!