The Magic Adjustable Ring: A Better Way to Begin Crochet in the Round
Have you ever fought and struggled and ripped and re-ripped both your yarn and hair, trying to make your starting round neat and tidy with a center hole as small as possible? Of course you have. And maybe, just maybe, that unsightly center hole has even kept you from crocheting in the round at all. Well, no more. Now you will be armed with the trusty (some might even say magic) adjustable ring and you will be dancing circles around those circles.
Be forewarned—once you have made an adjustable ring, you will never be the same. You may never go back to other ways of making a ring. I know I haven’t. There are a lot of photos. But don’t worry; you’ll be sailing through this in no time. For the sake of knowledge (we can never have too much of that, can we?) I will also show you the two more commonly known ways of starting a round, first, joining a chain to form a ring, and second, crocheting into the first chain.
This tutorial assumes you know how to chain, slip stitch, and double crochet. For demonstration purposes, each of these three beginning rounds has 15 dcs worked into the center, plus the first ch-3 (which counts as the first dc) equals 16 dc.
US pattern notations used.
Adjustable Ring
Make a large loop by putting the yarn tail behind the working yarn (the yarn coming from the skein) (Figures 1-2), leaving at least a six-inch tail until you become familiar with this method (Figure 3). Later, you may leave a shorter tail if desired.
With your hook, draw the working yarn through the loop, so you have one loop on the hook (Figures 4-6).
Ch 3 (counts as first dc) (Figure 7).
How you hold the loop while you work the stitches into it is personal preference, but I find it convenient to put both my pinky and ring finger inside the loop to hold it tight (Figure 8.)
Dc into the loop, crocheting over the tail (Figure 9). 
Continue to work as many dcs as needed for you pattern into the loop. (Don’t forget to keep crocheting over the tail.) When you are finished working stitches into the loop, you will likely find that the tail has curled around the loop a few times (Figure 10). To make it easier to draw the loop closed, first untwist the tail (Figure 11); then pull the tail to draw the loop closed. You can leave an open hole in the center (Figure 12) or draw it closed very tightly (Figure 13).
Joining a Chain to Form a Ring
Ch 4 (Figure 1). Join to fourth ch from hook (the first ch made) with a sl st to form a ring (Figure 2). Ch 3 (counts as first dc) (Figure 3). Dc into ring (Figure 4). Continue to work as many dcs as needed for your pattern into the ring (Figure 5). Join with a sl st into the third ch of the ch-3.
Crocheting into the First Chain
Ch 4 (chs 2-4 count as first dc) (Figure 1). Dc into the fourth ch from hook (the first ch made) (Figures 2-3). Continue to work as many dcs as needed for your pattern into the same ch (Figure 4). Join with a sl st into the fourth ch of the ch-4.
This is my favourite way to crochet in the round. I was so delighted to find it, I showed my not-so-crafty roommate who was a bit confused by my enthusiasm.
Erm... Not THAT kind of hooker.
For this method, do you insert the hook into the "adjustable ring" before drawing the working yarn through the loop? (It's probably clear in the photos, but I'm blind.)
Thanks!
CIP (Crochet in Peace)
wahmommy
THANK YOU! My beanies will never be the same thanks to you. my life has just been simplified.
good price + no dye lots + worsted weight + awesomeness = Red Heart Super Saver.
A guy, a hook, and some yarn.
I know this sounds silly, but crocheting in the round has absolutely defeated me... I can never quite work out how starting off with a chain of 4 can be enough (bear in mind that I am a complete beginner) and all the books I've got seem to assume that I know what's happening and jump ahead too fast.
THIS is the guide I've been looking for! Not only do you give several wonderful alternatives to begin working in the round, but really clear helpful instructions that don't skip over the obvious steps.
I can finally stop suffering and start hooking the hat I've been wanting all winter!
A big thank you.
Great tutorial! I think most beginners struggle with this. It does take a bit of practice, though :)
Blue Ridge Mountain Girl
http://joinwithaslipstitch.blogspot.com/
Thank you for the magic ring...this is better than crocheting over the end in a chain ring and pulling...it's a lot thinner....thanks again.
I joined here just to be able to thank you for this tutorial. Bless you! I no longer have to toss every pattern that begins with a ring; no longer have to hang my head in shame when I do work up the courage to try to make a tidy little ring (or a tidy big ring, for that matter). Can't wait to use it! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
I gathered lot of information. I am very happy to post my comment in this blog. Very nice blog.
Wide Circles
Thank you!! I've just recently learnt myself how to crochet and am loving it! I'm def going to try this method of starting of a ring.
Thanks so much for the magic adjustable ring instructions! Brilliant! I'm crocheting acorns to glue to the caps (per the resurrection fern blog) and it is so much easier now. Thank you thank you!
Nancy
I love this!
It is so much easier than a normal ring!
Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!!! Finally, understandable instructions..THANK YOU X A MILLION!!
Thank you for posting this. It's wonderful!
I joined to say thank you as well. Chain rings never worked for me for tight centers on flowers or hats.
I appreciate that you show all the joining methods though, including the chain which is needed for open center projects.
Your article is very thorough and easy to understand. The photos are excellent.
I had a print-out for my own notebook, and am now printing one to teach my niece to crochet. I definitely want her to be able to find this entire helpful web site including all the wonderful sponsors who support you.
My thanks again.
This article was even more clear than a video.
Excellent work done!
I'm a man from Argentina and i can't find any lady in my family to teach me the old art of crochet!
Enter your website!
Cheers.
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shows fiestas
Thank you so much! I've been crocheting a bunch of finger puppets lately and have just sort of made something up for the beginning 'cause the book I got only gave a sentence or two on how to start a round. This will make it so much easier! I can't wait to try it!
Donna, I'm really exited about this post, crocheting has never been my thing, but I will keep on trying, your article inspired my to try again, it's very clear, hopefully I will start crocheting really soon, thanks
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porch blinds
I have been trying (and failing) to learn crochet for a while now, it seems as though none of the tutorials are clear/ simple enough for complete beginners. As other people have said, I think a tutorial like the knitting ones would be a lot better received.
marirea penisului
Thanks for putting it in an easy to understand format. magic ring! Gucci Shoes
Yep, you've got it, WahMommy. It's as if you were going to make a slip knot with two loops -- the first loop and the loop you pull through with your hook -- except you don't pull it tight until you've done your stitches into it. Make your loop (short tail behind working yarn). Holding the loop so that the working yarn is in front of the tail and closer to you, put your hook through the loop (go through the "front", the side closest to you) to grab your working yarn, and pull up your working loop. Then start your chain 3 (as in her example). Hope that helps.
--robin
I think you are the brightest yet ..Thank you for showing how to do this step by step.I've learn myself and made alot of purses but never anything this good...Now i'm off to try this out..keep up the good work.. alyce
This is great....I always like to have a smaller circle when I crochet squares....thanks for putting it in an easy to understand format.
I just joined this forum & the first thing I looked into was this brilliant idea of the beginning adjustable magic ring! What a truly simple but useful way to begin crocheting in the round!
And like all great ideas - it's simplicity is utterly "elegant" - which is how they describe truly clever mathematical solutions!
Thanks!
The circle annoys me only sometimes..depends on what it is...but it sure is nice not having to have it!
i loved the idea of the magic ring and i thank you.
namasté
Brilliant! Thanks so much for this. My hats will be so much nicer now!!
I just love the adjustable ring...I'll never make a ring any other way again. Thank you so much for the great instructions.