How to crochet a magic ring (and make it stay closed)
The adjustable loop that starts every amigurumi, beanie and flat circle. Five steps, no hole in the middle.
By Maya Linden
|3 min read
A magic ring is a loop of yarn you crochet into and then pull closed. Because the loop shrinks after you've worked into it, the centre of your piece closes completely. That's why almost every pattern worked in the round, from amigurumi to coasters, starts with one.
If you've tried it before and it felt fiddly, that's normal. It takes most people three or four attempts. Use a smooth, light-coloured worsted yarn so you can see what your hook is doing.
What you need
- Worsted weight yarn in a light, smooth colour (avoid fuzzy or very dark yarn while learning)
- A 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Scissors and a yarn needle for weaving in the tail
Step 1: Make the loop
Hold the yarn tail in your palm. Wrap the working yarn (the end attached to the ball) around your index and middle fingers so the strands cross and make an X on the back of your fingers. The tail should hang down in front, and the working yarn should end up behind.
Step 2: Pull up a loop
Slide your hook under the first strand of the X, catch the second strand, and pull it back under. You now have a loop on your hook and a ring around your fingers.
Step 3: Chain 1 to lock it
Yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook. This chain 1 secures the ring. It does not count as a stitch.
Now carefully slide the ring off your fingers and pinch where the strands cross between your thumb and middle finger.
Step 4: Work round 1 into the ring
Insert your hook into the centre of the ring, so you are going under both the ring strand and the tail. Yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops. That's your first single crochet.
Repeat until you have 6 single crochet in the ring. Count them now: it's much easier to fix a mistake before the ring is closed.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 sts)
Step 5: Pull the ring closed
Remove your hook from the loop (put a stitch marker in it so it can't unravel). Pull the tail firmly. The ring shrinks and the six stitches gather into a small circle with no hole.
If the tail won't move, you probably worked one stitch over the tail only. Undo back to that stitch and work it over both strands.
What to do next
Put your hook back in the live loop. From here you can either:
- Work in a spiral (amigurumi): place a stitch marker in the first stitch and go straight into round 2.
- Join each round (hats, coasters): slip stitch into the first single crochet, then chain 1 to start round 2.
The standard round 2 for a flat circle is 2 single crochet in each stitch, giving you 12. Our amigurumi ball pattern takes this all the way to a finished sphere.
Common problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ring won't close | A stitch was worked over only one strand | Undo to that stitch and redo it over both |
| Hole stays in the centre | Tail wasn't pulled firmly enough | Pull the tail again before weaving it in |
| Ring loosens after washing | Tail woven in one direction only | Weave the tail in two directions |
| Wrong stitch count | Starting chain counted as a stitch | The chain 1 never counts, so count again |
Questions about this pattern
Why does my magic ring come undone?
Usually the tail wasn't woven in firmly. After closing the ring, weave the tail back and forth through the stitches of round 1 in at least two directions before you trim it.
Is a magic ring the same as a magic circle or adjustable loop?
Yes. Magic ring, magic circle, magic loop and adjustable ring all describe the same technique.
Can I use chain 2 instead of a magic ring?
Yes. Chain 2 and work your first round into the second chain from the hook. It leaves a small hole, which is fine for hats but less tidy for toys.
Maya Linden
Pattern designer and crochet teacher
Maya has been crocheting for fifteen years and teaching beginner classes for eight. Every YarnHook pattern is stitched and tested by her before it's published.
