Solid Circle

Knowing how to make a circle is a really handy basic pattern to know as it can be the start of a lot of simple projects.  Cushion covers, mandalas, bags, bowls and baskets to name a few.

I've shown you how to work a circle using treble (double) crochets here, but the same pattern applies to double (single) crochet and half-treble (half-double) crochet too.

★☆☆ - Beginner

✎ Jump to written pattern

All tutorials are written in UK terms.

For help on stitches, refer to the Stitch Directory

TUTORIAL:

For a tight start to your circle you can use the magic loop or even the working into a chain technique.

To keep things simple for, I'll just make a loop to work into, so make 4 chains to start.  (Make your loop with 5 or 6 chains if you find it easier.)

Make a slip stitch into the first chain you made (the one furthest from the hook) to form a small loop.










ROUND ONE:

Now make a chain of three.  This will count as one of our treble (double) stitches.

 Now start making a series of treble (double) crochet stitches all into the loop.

 Keep going until you have made 11 treble (double) stitches, then close the circle and finish the round you by making a slip stitch into the top of the starting 3 chain. (See pin.)

There are 12 stitches in the first round.  The starting 3 chain, plus the 11 treble (double) crochets.




ROUND TWO:

If you'd like to change colours, cut the old yarn and join the new colour to the same place.  If you are keeping the same colour you can just leave your yarn attached.

To start this round, make 3 chains.   This will count as one of our stitches.

Then make a treble (double) crochet in the same place, so you will work into the same stitch of the round below.   This makes an increase.

 Next make two treble (double) crochet stitches into  the next stitch.  Another increase.

Now all we need to do is make two trebles (doubles) into every stitch around the circle.

To close the circle again and finish the round, make a slip stitch into the 3rd chain (top) of the starting chain of 3.

You should have a total of 24 stitches now.  ! starting chain, plus 23 treble (double) stitches.







ROUND THREE:

We begin the next round in the same way. Attaching a new yarn if you'd like to and then making a starting chain of 3.

Once again, begin by making a treble (double) crochet stitch into the same place as the chain to make an increase.

This time though, we just make 1 treble (double) crochet into the next stitch.

In the next stitch we make 2 trebles (doubles) so that we make an increase.

In the next stitch, make one treble (double) crochet again.

Carry on around the circle in the same way, first making two treble (double) crochets into the next stitch, and then making one treble (double) crochet into the stitch after that.

So you are making 1 regular tr (dc) stitch between each 2tr (dc) increasing stitch.

You should end by working 1 tr (dc) into the last stitch of the round.  Close the circle with a slip stitch into the top of the starting chain as before.

You should now have a total of 36 stitches, remember one of those will be the starting chain.







ROUND FOUR:

For the next round, we begin in exactly the same way, attaching new yarn if necessary and making a chain of 3.

 Work a treble (double) crochet into the same place.

This time however we are going to make just 1 treble (double) crochet into the next two stitches.

Then into the stitch after that we work two trebles (doubles) to make an increase.

Continue around the circle in the same way, working 1 treble (double) into the next 2 stitches and then working 2 treble (double) crochets into the stitch after that.

This time we are making  2 regular tr (dc) stitches between each 2tr (dc) increasing stitch.

You should end the round by working 1 treble (double) into each of the last 2 stitches.  Make a slip stitch to close the circle.

If all has gone to plan there will now be a total of 48 stitches, one of which will be the starting chain.

For all rounds after this you'll begin the same way, by making a 3ch and then a treble (double) crochet into the same place and then simply increase the number of single treble (double) stitches you make in between the 2 treble (double) increases by one each time you make a round.

Here's how the stitches work for the next few round so you can see how it'll work:

Round 5: Work 3 single tr's (dc's) between each 2 tr (dc) increase.  There will be 60 stitches.
Round 6: Work 4 single tr's (dc's) between each 2 tr (dc) increase.  There will be 72 stitches.
Round 7: Work 5 single tr's (dc's) between each 2 tr (dc) increase.  There will be 84 stitches.
Round 8: Work 6 single tr's (dc's) between each 2 tr (dc) increase.  There will be 96 stitches.

See how it's just the number of single stitches between the increases that changes (shown in bold), going up by one each time.  The other thing to notice is that each round will have 12 more stitches than the last.

Now you have all the information you need to know to make a circle as big as you like!

✎ WRITTEN PATTERN:

: : SOLID CIRCLE : :

4ch, ss to 1st ch to make a loop.

R1:  3ch [counts as 1tr], 11tr all into loop, ss to top of beg 3ch.
(12 stitches)

R2:  3ch [counts as 1tr], 1tr in same place, *2tr in next,* repeat from * to * around circle, ss to top of beg 3ch.
(24 stitches)

R3:  3ch [counts as 1tr], 1tr in same place, 1tr in next, *2tr in next st, 1tr in next* repeat from * to * around circle, ss to top of beg 3ch.
(36 stitches)

R4:  3ch [counts as 1tr], 1tr in same place, 1tr in each of the next 2 stitches, *2tr in next, 1tr in each of the next 2 stitches*, repeat from * to * around circle, ss to top of beg 3ch.
(48 stitches)

R5:  3ch [counts as 1tr], 1tr in same place, 1tr in each of the next 3 stitches, *2tr in next st, 1tr in each of the next 3 stitches*, repeat from * to* around circle, ss to top of beg 3ch.
(60 stitches)

All subsequent Rounds, work as R5, but increase the number of single stitches (shown in bold) worked between the 2tr increases by one each time.