How to Crochet a Magic Ring (Magic Circle) with No Hole in the Middle

What You'll Learn

• How to make a magic ring, one step at a time
• How to work your first round into it and pull it closed
• How to make sure it never comes undone
• What to do if the magic ring just isn't working for you

What you’ll need

• Yarn and hook for your project (for practice, use smooth medium weight yarn and a 5 mm hook)
• A stitch marker

Step-by-step: how to make a magic ring

These steps make a ring and work 6 single crochet into it, which is how lots of amigurumi starts.

Step 1: Make a loop

Leave a tail about 6 inches (15 cm) long. Wrap the yarn around two of your fingers, so the tail crosses over the working yarn and forms an X on the front of your fingers.

Step 2: Insert the hook and grab the yarn

Slide your hook under the loop on your fingers, from front to back. Catch the working yarn (the strand going to the ball) and pull it back under the loop.

Step 3: Chain 1

Yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook. This chain holds the ring together. It doesn’t count as a stitch.

Step 4: Slide off your fingers

Carefully slip the ring off your fingers. Pinch the X where the yarn crosses so it doesn’t unravel.

Step 5: Work your stitches into the ring

Insert your hook into the center of the ring, under both the ring and the tail. Yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops. That’s one single crochet.

Repeat until you have 6 single crochet in the ring. Keep the stitches bunched up as you go. They’ll look loose and gappy for now, and that’s okay.

Step 6: Pull it closed

Now the magic part. Gently pull the tail. The ring tightens and the center closes up, leaving a neat circle of 6 stitches.

Pull firmly, but don’t yank. If it stops closing, wiggle the stitches around the ring a little and pull again.

Step 7: Mark your first stitch

Clip a stitch marker into the first stitch, and you’re ready for round 2.

How to keep your magic ring from coming undone

A magic ring is only held closed by the tail, so it matters how you finish it:

1. Don’t trim the tail early. Leave it until your piece is finished.
2. Weave it in two directions. Thread it onto a yarn needle and weave it through the first round, then back the other way. Changing direction locks it in place.
3. Pull it tight once more before weaving, in case it loosened while you worked.

There’s more on this in How to Weave in Ends So They Stay Put.

Common troubles (and fixes)

The ring won’t tighten when I pull the tail. Your stitches went into the ring but not around the tail. Make sure each stitch goes under both the ring and the tail.

There’s still a small hole in the middle. Pull the tail a bit more firmly, then weave it in going across the center to close any last gap.

It’s too fiddly to hold. Totally normal at first. Practice a few rings with chunky yarn and a bigger hook, where you can see everything. Or start with a chain ring (chain 2, work into the second chain) until you feel ready.

Where you’ll use it

The magic ring starts almost every amigurumi, including the easy amigurumi bunny, and it’s handy for hats, coasters, flowers and round motifs. Once it feels natural, you won’t want to start in the round any other way.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a magic ring and a magic circle?

Nothing. Magic ring, magic circle and magic loop all mean the same technique. Patterns often abbreviate it as MR.

Why does my magic ring come undone?

Usually the tail wasn't woven in securely, or it was pulled loose while working the first rounds. Weave the tail through the first round in a couple of directions before you trim it.

Can I use a chain ring instead of a magic ring?

Yes. Chain 2 and work your first-round stitches into the second chain from the hook. It leaves a tiny hole in the center, but it's a good option while you practice.

How many stitches go in a magic ring?

Your pattern will tell you. Amigurumi often starts with 6 single crochet in the ring.