How to crochet in the round (by chain)

i'm going to show you how to start a crochet project in the round... that comes in handy if you want to make a hat or a round applique like a flower

there are two ways to crochet in the round: with a chain and with a magic ring. this guide will show you the chain method.

the chain method will leave a little hole in the middle of your circle. i like this for flowers to put a button in the middle covering the hole. let's get started and you'll see what i mean...

start with a slip knot on your hook.

chain 4. (some patterns call for 5 chains, it depends on the number of stitches you're going to work in your first round)

insert your hook trough the 4th chain from your hook (the very first one you made after the slip knot) and yarn around.

pull trough the chain AND the loop on your hook. now you should have a tiny circle and one loop on your hook.

insert your hook through the middle of your circle (not the chains) and pull your yarn through.

you have two loops on your hook. yarn around an pull through both loops on your hook to finish you first single crochet.

repeat doing this 5 more times. you should have 6 single crochet in your ring. (some patterns call for more or less stitches in your first round)

now place a stitch marker in front of your just made single crochet. (you can buy fancy stitch markers or you use a scrap piece of yarn in a different color like i did)

for the second round, insert your hook in the top of your first single crochet of your previous round.

finish your single crochet like normal and insert your hook again in the same stitch (working 2 single crochet in each single crochet of the previous round)

12 single crochet in your second round. (it can be a bit tricky the first couple if rounds but take care to catch both top loops of the previous round)

move your stitch marker up in front of your last single crochet.

3rd round: we keep increasing. 1 single crochet in the first stitch...

... 2 single crochet in the next stitch

keep going.... 1 sc in the 3rd stitch, 2 sc in the 4th stitch and so on till you reach your stitch marker again.

the 4th round will be: 1sc in the 1st stitch, 1 sc in the 2nd stitch, 2 sc in the 3rd stitch and again from the beginning till you reach the end.

the 5th round will be: 1sc in the 1st stitch, 1 sc in the 2nd stitch, 1 sc in the 3rd stitch, 2 sc in the 4th stitch. repeat till you reach the end of the round.

you keep increasing 1 single crochet per round till you reach the desired width.

if you want to go up to make the sides of a bowl or cup you just stop increasing and keep going with 1 sc in each sc around.

this tutorial is for single crochet. if you want to make something using a different stitch (like double crochet) you need to join your rounds. -->

there you are with your joined ring

like you learned in my other guide a double crochet calls for 3 chains in the beginning. so, chain 3 :)

i assume you practised all the stitches :) yarn around and insert your hook in the center of the ring.

ok, now it depends on the pattern either they count the chain as your first double crochet or they don't.

right now i'm not counting the chain. therefore i do 6 double crochets in the ring. to join the round to it's beginning you insert the hook in the first top of the double crochet...

... i can't find my siccors right now so i used a pencil to point at the top loops where you will insert your hook.

yarn around and pull the loop through both loops (that's actually called a slip stitch). first round complete with 6 double crochet

remember we don't count the chain here. insert your hook in the same stitch where you just made the slip stitch and started your chain.

make 2 double crochet in this first stitch. keep going with 2 double crochet in each stitch around.

there we are. insert your hook in the first double crochet, yarn around and pull through both loops ...

tadaaa... now you just keep going with the same increase like for the single crochet.

you can use any stitch to work in the round just work the right number of chains in the beginning.

if a pattern counts the chain as a stitch just work one stitch (not 2) in the first stitch of the second round.

for further rounds: for example round 4 where you have 1,1,2 just start with: chain,1,2 and keep going normal with 1,1,2. (i hope it makes it clear if not... i'm here... just ask)

oook... i guess that's about it... hugs&kisses :* keep practicing!!! i'll see you for the second method: the magic ring ;)