How to make a Crochet Magic Loop
The crochet Magic Loop (which is also called a crochet Magic Ring, but also can be known as a Drawstring Ring, Drawstring loop or Magic Circle crochet loop) is a popular starting method when working amigurumi.
With circular crochet, you will often make a number of chains and join with a slip stitch to make a ring, but this can leave an unsightly hole - the magic loop crochet technique allows you to close this hole creating a perfect circle!
When using the magic loop crochet technique for amigurumi you will normally use it in combination with double crochet stitches, but the crochet magic ring can be used with larger stitches such as treble stitches too.
Below you'll find our magic circle crochet step-by-step guide which shows you how to crochet a magic loop, and if you need any more help with the magic loop crochet technique, check out our video tutorial:
How to crochet a magic ring
Follow our magic circle crochet step-by-step guide to learn how to make a magic loop to start your circular crochet projects. Steps 1-4 show the basics of how to crochet a magic loop, but we also carry on after that to show you how to work a round of double crochet into your crochet magic loop.
Step 1
First place the tail end of your yarn in the palm of your hand, with the end at the bottom and the yarn running upwards. Now wrap the yarn around two fingers...
Step 2
... insert the hook from right to left under the first strand of yarn and over the second strand, like this…
Step 3
...then use the hook to pull this strand of yarn back under the other strand of yarn to form a loop on the hook.
Step 4
Carefully remove the yarn from your fingers, without changing the position of the strands. Wrap the working yarn around your left hand as usual, and your crochet magic loop is now ready for you to work the stitches of the first round into it.
How to work stitches into a crochet magic loop
Once you have a crochet magic loop on your hook, you can start working the first round of your pattern. Here’s how:
Step 5
To start with, you need to make your turning chain for the stitch you intend to work on the first round – we’re going to practise with UK double crochet stitches, so go ahead and make one chain.
Step 6
Now you can work the stitches of the first round into the magic loop. We’re going to make double crochet stitches.
To do this, insert the hook into the magic loop – you need to make sure the hook is sitting under two strands of yarn, the yarn strand of the loop itself and the yarn strand of the tail end.
Step 7
Work yrh and pull up a loop…
Step 8
…Yrh again and pull through both loops to finish your double crochet stitch.
Step 9
Now you can make more dc stitches, inserting the hook into the crochet magic loop each time. We’re going to work 6 dc.
For each of these stitches, it’s really important that you make sure the hook is sitting under two strands of yarn.
Once you’ve worked the first round of stitches, you can pull on the tail end of the yarn to tighten the magic loop.
Step 10
To finish the round, work a slip stitch into the top of the first stitch of the round. To do this with dc, insert the hook under the top two loops of the first dc of the round...
(if you're using the magic loop crochet technique for amigurumi, you don't need to do this slip stitch, you'd just dc into your first stitch made to start your second round).
Step 11
...Yrh and pull the yarn back through this first stitch...
Step 12
...then pull the loop of yarn back through the last stitch as well. This completes the slip stitch, which joins the round into a circle and finishes the first round.
And thats how you make a crochet magic loop… or a magic circle crochet loop… whatever you call it, it’s magic!!!
Top Tip The beauty of the magic loop crochet technique is that once you’ve pulled on the tail end of yarn, it won’t easily come loose. However, you do need to be careful how you weave in the tail end at the back of the fabric, otherwise the loop could unravel. To avoid this, don’t weave the tail end into the stitches of the first round – instead, weave it into the stitches of the second round and beyond.
If you’re using particularly thick yarn you may find that the hole opens up a bit as you work more stitches, but this can always be fixed by pulling tightly on the tail to close the gap and then weave in the tail end to lock the loop in place.
Pro tips!
Get your amigurumi looking just like the pro's by learning how to do the crochet invisible decrease.
Discover the magic circle crochet technique
Create perfect circles to start amigurumi and more with the clever magic circle technique. Practice on a scrap of waste yarn, following either the step-by-step guide or the video tutorial (or both) until you’ve got the hang of it. Ta-da – no more unsightly holes!
Make amigurumi with Gathered
Use your new skill for your next amigurumi project! Start hooking up a cute character today with our guide to the best amigurumi crochet patterns.
