Craftuary Academy · beginner guide
To crochet in the round, start with a magic ring or a short chain joined into a ring, work stitches into it, and keep going around instead of turning. A flat single crochet circle grows by 6 stitches a round; stop increasing and it becomes a tube.
The magic ring is an adjustable loop you crochet into and pull closed, so there's no hole in the middle (what a magic ring is). The easier alternative is chain 2 and work the first round into the second chain from the hook.
| Round | Single crochet | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 sc in the ring | 6 |
| 2 | inc in every stitch | 12 |
| 3 | (sc, inc) x6 | 18 |
| 4 | (2 sc, inc) x6 | 24 |
| 5 | (3 sc, inc) x6 | 30 |
If the circle cups, add stitches; if it ripples, use fewer increases (why a crochet circle curls). Taller stitches need more: double crochet starts with 12 and adds 12 a round.
To finish a round without a bump: cut the yarn, pull the tail through the last loop, thread it on a blunt needle, pass it under both loops of the second stitch of the round, then back into the last stitch through its back loop, and tighten gently. It also smooths the step at the end of a spiral.
Ovals (for feet, bag bases, rugs) start from a chain instead of a ring: work along one side of the chain, put several stitches into the last chain to go round the end, work back along the other side, and turn the second end the same way. On each later round, increases go only around the two curved ends, the same number each round, so the straight sides stay straight.
Counting gets easier with practice: how to count crochet stitches. Writing your own shape? The pattern checker confirms every round's count.
For a flat single crochet circle, 6 a round: 6, 12, 18, 24 and so on. For double crochet, start with 12 and add 12 per round.
Spiral (continuous) rounds have no seam and are what most amigurumi use; mark the first stitch of each round. Joined rounds end with a slip stitch and a chain, which gives straighter stripes and colour changes.
After the last stitch, cut the yarn and pull the tail out. Thread it on a needle, pass it under both loops of the second stitch of the round, then back into the last stitch through its back loop. Pull gently until the join looks like a stitch.
Chain a base, work along one side of the chain, put several stitches in the last chain to turn the end, work along the other side and turn the second end the same way. On later rounds, increase only around the two ends.