SaveThe magic ring is how anything worked in the round begins without a hole in the middle. Amigurumi, hats, circles, doilies, granny squares worked from the centre: all of them start here, and the alternative, chaining four and joining, always leaves a visible gap.
Part of our stitches library.
It has one weakness, which is that it can pull open months later when the piece is finished and stuffed. That is not a flaw in the technique, it is a flaw in how the tail is secured, and it is entirely preventable.
Making one
- Lay the yarn across your palm with the tail hanging down, and wrap it once around two fingers so the strands cross.
- Slide the loop off your fingers, holding the crossing point between finger and thumb.
- Put the hook through the loop, catch the working yarn and pull it back through.
- Chain one to secure. That chain does not count as a stitch.
- Work your first round of stitches into the loop itself, over both strands.
- When the round is complete, pull the tail firmly. The centre closes to nothing.
Work over both strands of the loop, not just one. Catching only the single strand is the commonest reason a magic ring will not tighten, and it is invisible until you pull the tail and nothing happens.
Stopping it coming undone
A pulled-tight ring is held by friction alone, and friction gives way over time, especially on a toy that gets handled. Three things fix it permanently and none takes more than a minute.
- Pull, then knot. After tightening, tie the tail once around the nearest stitch with a simple overhand knot before weaving it in.
- Weave in two directions. Thread the tail through several stitches one way, then reverse and go back through a few. A tail that only runs one way slides out.
- Leave a long tail. Fifteen centimetres minimum. A short tail cannot be woven securely and is the usual culprit.
On anything stuffed, secure the ring before stuffing. Once the piece is full you cannot reach the centre, and a ring that opens on a finished toy means unpicking the closing round to get to it.
If you genuinely cannot make one
Plenty of experienced crocheters never got on with it. The chainless alternative gives a nearly identical result: chain two, then work all the first-round stitches into the second chain from the hook. The centre is slightly less tight but it will not come open, ever.
| Method | Centre hole | Can it open? | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic ring | None | Yes, if not secured | Moderate at first |
| Chain 2, work into 2nd ch | Very small | No | Easy |
| Chain 4, slip stitch to join | Visible | No | Easy |
Questions
What is a magic ring in crochet?
An adjustable loop you work the first round into, then pull closed, so a piece worked in the round has no hole at the centre.
Why will my magic ring not tighten?
You worked into only one strand of the loop instead of both. It is invisible until you pull the tail, and the only fix is to undo the round and work it again over both.
How do I stop a magic ring coming undone?
Tie the tail once around a nearby stitch after tightening, then weave it in two directions. Leave at least fifteen centimetres of tail to work with.
Is there an alternative to the magic ring?
Chain two and work the first round into the second chain from the hook. The centre is slightly less tight and it cannot come open.
How many stitches go into a magic ring?
Six for amigurumi in single crochet, or twelve for a flat circle in double crochet. The pattern will say.
Does a magic ring work in every yarn?
It struggles in very slippery yarns like bamboo or silk blends, where the knot method or the chain-two alternative holds better.