How to Crochet in the Round
A Crochet Tutorial: Two Ways to Crochet in the Round
Hello and welcome to The Restful Stitch! In this crochet tutorial you are going to learn to crochet in the round. Crocheting in the round might seem difficult, but it’s really pretty easy to get the hang of. In fact, it is the way I learned to crochet. In college a guy friend taught me how to make beanies by crocheting the dc stitch in the round. That was the humble beginning of my crochet odyssey. The first thing (after beanies) that comes to mind when I think of crocheting in the round are crochet plushies or amigurumi.
If you are new to crochet I suggest starting with my beginner crochet tutorial.
There are Two Ways to Crochet in the Round
Before we begin, you should know that there are two ways to crochet in the round. One way is to join each round with a slip stitch before moving on the the next round. The second way is to work the rounds continuously without joining, sometimes called the spiraling method. If you are switching colors to make stripes, joining the rounds gives you a straight line. However if you are working in one color, continuous rounds leave no seams. In this tutorial, I will show you both ways.
How to Begin Crocheting in The Round
To crochet in the round you will start with either a magic circle or a chain 2, 3, or 4 (depending on whether you are using the sc, hdc, or dc stitch) and working in the chain furthest from the hook. If you don’t know how to make a magic circle, I have a short video here. You will also start with a different number of stitches depending on which stitch you are using in order to create a flat circle.
- Single crochet – begin with 6 stitches
- Half double crochet – begin with 8 stitches
- Double crochet – begin with 10 stitches
Above is a good rule of thumb for how many stitches to start with and then you can adjust as necessary. If you are following a pattern they will tell you exactly how many stitches to begin with. A pattern might start with more or less stitches depending on what shape they are trying to achieve. We are going to start with a flat circle in the double crochet stitch to learn how to increase rounds evenly. As you increase evenly, your stitch count will increase by your starting number each round. So that means that each round of double crochets will increase by 10 stitches. This will create a flat circle.
Enough chatting, lets get hooking.
For This Tutorial You Will Need
- Yarn – I recommend using a worsted weight/#4 yarn for this tutorial. In this tutorial I am using Soft Classic™ Solid Yarn by Loops & Threads®
- A hook – Use the size recommended on your yarn label.
- A stitch marker
Stitches & Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- inc – increase
- sc – single crochet
- ss – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
How to Crochet in the Round Using the Joining Method
Make a magic circle.
Round 1
Ch 3 (always counts as first dc), 9dc in magic circle. Pull tail to tighten magic circle. Join to top of ch 3 with ss. (10dc)
Round 2
Ch 3, dc in same st (top of ch 3 of round 1). 2 DC (sometimes called an increase in patterns) in each st around. Join with ss to top of Ch 3. (20dc)
Note: The slip stitch that you joined round one with might look like a stitch, be sure not to work into it. I recommend counting your stitches after each round to ensure you have the correct number. If you are still having trouble, try putting a stitch marker in the last stitch of the round when you complete it.
Round 3
Ch 3, dc in same st. Dc in next st, *2dc in next st (inc), dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Join with ss to top of ch 3. (30sc)
Round 4
Ch 3, dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts, *2dc in next st (inc), DC in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Join with ss to top of Ch 3. (40dc)
Are you getting the pattern yet? For each round you add one more stitch between increases. So you will always have 10 increases in each round.
Round 5
Ch 3, dc in same st. Dc in next 3 sts, *2dc in next st (inc), DC in next 3 sts. Repeat from * around. Join with ss to top of Ch 3. (50dc)
Continue on in this way until your circle is the size needed.
How to Crochet in the Round Continuously
To crochet continuous rounds you are not going to join each round. You will use a stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round. This is most often used in amigurumi using the single crochet stitch. So this tutorial will use the sc stitch.
Make a magic circle.
Round 1
Ch 1 (never counts as first sc), 6sc in the magic circle. Pull tail to tighten magic circle. Do not join.
Round 2
Sc in the first sc of round 1. Put a stitch marker in this sc. Sc in the same st. 2Sc in each st around to the stitch marker. You should have 12sc.
Round 3
Sc in st with stitch marker. Remove stitch marker and put it in the stitch you just made. Sc in the same st (inc), sc in the next st. *2sc in the next st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * around to stitch marker. (18sc)
Round 4
Sc in st with stitch marker. Remove stitch marker and put it in the stitch you just made. Sc in the same st (inc), sc in the next 2 sts. *2sc in the next st, sc in the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around to stitch marker. (24sc)
Once again we have a pattern going here. For each round you add one more stitch between increases. So you will always have 6 increases in each round.
Round 5
Sc in st with stitch marker. Remove stitch marker and put it in the stitch you just made. Sc in the same st (inc), sc in the next 3 sts. *2sc in the next st, sc in the next 3 sts. Repeat from * around to stitch marker. (30sc)
Continue on in this way until your circle is the size needed
Helpful Tips for Crocheting in the Round
- If your project begins to ruffle or wave that means you have too many stitches.
- When it begins to curl up, you have to few.
- To create sides like a beanie or basket, reduce increases (gradual sloping sides) or eliminate increases (more abrupt angling of sides)
Thanks for joining me for this tutorial! I hope it was helpful and that you feel more confident in your skills as a result. I’d love to see what you’re working on. Comment below or find The Restful Stitch on Instagram and facebook.
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My name is Heather and I have been crocheting for over 20 years and making up my own patterns for almost as long. As a home school mother, heavily influenced by Charlotte Mason, I have a passion for mother culture – that is the continued self education of mothers. Through learning useful skills, creating art and reading great literature, all who so desire can continue to grow in wisdom and virtue. I believe that for mothers this is especially important as an example to our children and for the nourishing of our souls.
Through these free crochet tutorials and free crochet patterns I hope to share the joy and rest that I find in this art. In this space I pray to form a community of like minded woman, who are inspired to live up to their potential as whole people formed in the image of a wise, creative and good God.
-Heather
