Beginner's Guide to Crochet - UK (2019-10)

CROCHET IN THE ROUND

T

he magic loop method is another

way to start working in the round.

It’s particularly popular for making

toys – we’ll show you how to do it below. You

might need to practise it a few times to get

the hang of it, but you’ll soon learn to love it!

The magic loop method (also called the

drawstring loop) involves making a simple

loop of yarn and then working your first

round of stitches into that loop. You don’t

need to make a slipknot with this method

and you can work as many stitches into the

ring on the first round as you need to. After

working the last stitch of the first round, you

simply pull on the tail end of the yarn to

tighten the loop, as if by magic!

The finished magic loop ring will have

virtually no hole at the centre, which is very

useful for projects like stuffed toys (and

amigurumi, see p114) where you don’t want

stuffing to poke out of any gaps.

MAGIC LOOP

Another popular method to start working in the round

RIGHT-HAND

3

Make the turning chain (above, we made

one turning chain, ready for dc stitches).

Work the stitches into the loop, making sure

they are all worked over both the loop itself and

the tail end (so two strands of yarn).

4

Once you’ve worked the number of stitches

you need, pull on the tail end of the yarn to

draw up the ring – magic! Close the round with

a slip stitch as usual.

1

To start a magic loop, don’t make a slipknot.

Instead, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a

tail around 10cm long. Make sure the tail end of

yarn lies underneath the strand of working yarn.

2

Now insert your hook into the loop, from

front to back. Wrap the working yarn

around the hook anticlockwise and pull the yarn

through the magic loop.

If you’re right-handed, follow these steps to master the magic loop...

Working

yarn

Tail end

Pull