A magic ring is an adjustable loop of yarn that you work your first round of stitches into. When the round is done, you pull the yarn tail and the centre closes, with no hole left behind. You will see it start hats, bags, soft toys and flat circles, and it's one of the first things worth learning in our crochet guides once you can make a single crochet.
What does a magic ring do?
It starts a round without a gap in the middle. The usual chain start leaves a small opening that never fully disappears, and on a stuffed toy the fibrefill can show through it. The magic ring pulls tight instead, and that's the whole point.
Patterns write it as MR or MC, and you may also see magic circle, adjustable ring, adjustable loop or sliding loop. They all mean the same start. A line such as "MR, 6 sc" means: make a magic ring, then work 6 single crochet (sc) into it.
How do I make a magic ring?
Short version: form a loop, pull up a loop with your hook, chain once to lock it, work the first round into the ring, then pull the tail. Here are the steps as Lion Brand describes them.
- Leave a tail of about 5 to 6 inches.
- Wrap the yarn over your index and middle fingers so the working yarn crosses over the tail.
- Hold the crossing point with your thumb so the loop does not slide.
- Put the hook under the first strand, over the second and under the third, then pull up a loop.
- Chain 1 to anchor the ring. This chain does not count as a stitch.
- Work your first round into the centre, going under both strands of the ring. A common first round is 6 sc.
- Keep pinching the base of the ring while you work, so it does not widen.
The first two or three stitches are the most fragile, so hold the ring firmly until they are in place.
How many chains do I make to anchor it?
It depends on the stitch you are working in the first round. These are the heights Lion Brand gives for the anchoring chain:
| First-round stitch | Anchoring chain |
|---|---|
| Single crochet (sc) | ch 1 |
| Half double crochet (hdc) | ch 2 |
| Double crochet (dc) | ch 3 |
Always follow your own pattern if it says something different.
How do I close and secure the ring?
Pull the tail at the end of the first round, not before. Grip the tail firmly and keep pulling until the hole is gone, even after the stitches meet. If nothing moves when you tug, you have the wrong strand: the tail is the drawstring, not the working yarn.
Closing isn't enough on its own. To keep it from loosening later, thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, weave it through 4 to 6 stitches, then reverse direction and weave back. Add an extra pass for slippery fibres, and do not trim the tail until the piece is finished. In a stuffed toy, PlanetJune notes the tail can stay inside the piece, and that you can knot it or weave it through the backs of some stitches if the yarn is slippery.
If your ring keeps slipping, try a double magic ring. You wrap the yarn around your fingers twice, and it holds better in pieces that get a lot of handling.
What is the chain-ring alternative, and which should I use?
A chain ring is a short foundation chain worked into a circle. Lion Brand shows two versions: work the first round into the first chain you made, or make a slightly longer chain, join it with a slip stitch, and work the round into the ring. Both are simpler. Both can leave a centre hole that is hard to close.
Top Amigurumi suggests this split:
| Situation | Better start |
|---|---|
| Stuffed toys, closed shapes | Magic ring |
| Any piece where a gap-free centre matters | Magic ring |
| Flat coasters, mandalas, granny rounds | Chain ring |
| Practising stitch counts and pattern reading | Chain ring |
| Slippery yarn that fights the magic ring | Chain ring |
If a pattern asks you to chain and join into a loop, PlanetJune shows you can swap in a magic ring instead. Where a pattern says "ch 4, join with sl st into a loop, ch 3, 11 dc in the loop", you would make a magic ring, ch 3, and work the 11 dc into the ring. Skip the swap only when a hole in the centre is part of the design.
What do I do after the first round?
Count your stitches, then carry on. You can join the round with a slip stitch, or place a stitch marker in the first stitch and work in a spiral if the pattern calls for it. A marker is worth using in spiral work, because without one it is easy to lose track of where a round begins. Our guide on how to count rows in crochet shows how to keep rounds straight from there.
Try it in Row & Round
Row & Round keeps your place while you work. Tap +1 on the row counter once per round, and the count is there when you look back at the work after a distraction. Start with 6 sc in your magic ring, count it as round 1, and tap as you finish each round after. Row & Round is coming soon to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Bottom line
A magic ring is an adjustable loop that closes the centre of a round with no hole. Make the loop, chain 1, work the first round into it, pull the tail, then weave the tail in through 4 to 6 stitches both ways. Use a chain ring when you are practising, working flat, or fighting slippery yarn.
Questions
- Is a magic ring the same as a magic circle?
- Yes. Magic ring, magic circle, adjustable ring and sliding loop all name the same start. If a crochet pattern says magic circle or magic loop, make a magic ring. Magic loop is also the name of a separate knitting technique, so check the craft.
- Why does my magic ring come undone?
- Most often the tail was cut too soon or never secured. After you pull the ring closed, thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, weave it through 4 to 6 stitches, reverse direction and weave back. Trim only when the piece is finished.
- Does the chain 1 count as a stitch?
- No. The chain you make after forming the ring only locks the loop in place. Your first stitch of the round goes into the ring itself.
- Nothing moves when I pull. What is wrong?
- You are probably pulling the working yarn instead of the tail. The tail is the drawstring. Pull the other strand and the ring should tighten.
- Can I use a chain ring instead of a magic ring?
- Often yes, with the same number of stitches in the first round. The centre may stay open a little, which matters most for stuffed pieces. For flat work, practice or slippery yarn, a chain ring is a fair choice.
