Basic Crochet Stitches in Rounds

Magic Circle (MC) / Magic Ring (MR)

A crochet magic ring, also called a magic circle, is a very useful stitch for crocheting in the round/spirals. It will appear in the majority of amigurumi patterns. It is used to begin the head, body, arm and legs. You will rely on this stitch a lot so it is important to master.

To use a magic ring in crochet, you’ll make the first round of stitches into an adjustable loop. Then, simply pull the yarn tail to close up the loop nice and tight.

1. Get a 4 inch tail of yarn between forefinger and thumb, and wrap it around your middle finger, over, under, over, under, leaving a long tail
2. Grab your hook and put it through the loop on your middle finger. You may need to loosen it to get the hook under
3. Grab the yarn from between your thumb and forefinger and bring it through the loop
4. Once again grab the yarn from between your thumb and forefinger and bring it through the loop
5. You will now have the beginning of the circle/ring
6. Now you need to start creating single crochet (SC) stitches into the ring. The majority of amigurumi patterns ask for 6 sc stitches.

Single Crochet (SC)

1. Insert your hook into the next stitch, under both loops. Yarn over and pull through to create a loop. You will now have two loops on your hook.
2. Yarn over again and pull through both loops. You should have only one loop on your hook
3. Continue and create 6 single crochets in total

Single Crochet Increase (SC INC / INC)

Often, patterns will tell you to increase (SC INC) into the next stitch. This means to work 2 single crochet stitches in the next stitch. Other patterns will tell you to work 2 sc in next st, this means the same thing: make 2 sc stitches into the same stitch.

1. Single crochet into next stitch and in same stitch complete another single crochet
2. This will double the amount of stitches you have. In amigurumi this is important as we work in rounds and increase the size to make shapes like a head, body, arm & leg.
3. Once complete you will have increased from 6sc to 12sc.

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through. You will have 3 loops on your hook.
3. Yarn over again and pull through all 3 loops on your hook.
4. This stitch adds height to your project much faster than a single crochet can.

Double Crochet (DC)

1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through. You will have 3 loops on your hook.
3. Yarn over again and pull through first 2 loops only.
4. Repeat one more time and pull through final 2 loops to create one single loop.
5. This stitch adds height to your project but be careful when using it. It isn’t ideal for creating a head, body, arms or legs but is ideal when creating clothing items to wear, a hat or scarf.
6. This stitch is used a lot in floral creations when making the leaves.

Triple/Treble Crochet (TR)

1. Yarn over twice and insert your hook into the next stitch. 
2. Then yarn over again and pull through. You will have 4 loops on your hook.
3. Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on your hook.
4. Yarn over and pull through the next 2 loops.
5. Yarn over and pull your hook through the last 2 loops to create one single loop on your hook.
6. This stitch adds height to your project but be careful when using it. It isn’t ideal for creating a head, body, arms or legs but is ideal when creating clothing items to wear, a hat or scarf.
7. This stitch is used a lot in floral creations when making the leaves.

This video contains all of the above stitches. If you find that the screen is too small within the page, please click on the Title in white text at the top of video. This will open YouTube directly and make the video bigger.

Video Tutorial

In the gallery below you will see all the shapes you can create. Amigurumi is crocheted in rounds. The last 2 images show florals, these use the hdc, dc and tr stitches to add height and shape.