Crochet Circles - Easy Flat Circles for Beginners

Learn how to crochet circles that lay flat. To crochet a flat circle, you need to start with a center ring, instead of a long foundation chain. There are two ways to do this, and I'll show you both of them! You will then crochet into the center circle and increase with a formula in order to keep your circle flat. Crocheting circles is a beginner skill that will help you in many crochet projects.

How to Crochet Circles Tutorial

After reading this tutorial, even beginners will be able to crochet a flat circle with no trouble. I will also show you how to troubleshoot your circles if they are curled up or wavy at the edges.

Flat crochet circles are used to make bags, amigurumi, baskets, hats, placemats, and the base of many projects.

Crochet Circle Pattern Abbreviations

Here are the abbreviations you will come across for crochet circles. You may already be familiar with most of these. All instructions in this tutorial are using US crochet terms.

Crochet circles are also referred to as crochet in the round.

• ch - chain stitch crochet
• st(s) - stitch(es)
• yo - yarn over hook
• sc - single crochet stitches
• dc - double crochet
• hdc - half double crochet.
• sl st - slip stitch

Crochet Circle Pattern Supplies

When learning how to crochet a flat circle, you will need a yarn and crochet hook suitable for that type of yarn. Stitch markers are often useful to show where a new round starts.

Your circle size will be determined not only by the number of rounds you crochet but also by the yarn weight. To try a sample flat circle pattern in a worsted weight yarn with a 5 mm crochet hook size.

Are you a crochet beginner? Read my article on how to crochet and the basic crochet stitches for a great overview of crocheting. Learning how to crochet a circle will use many of these techniques.

How to Crochet a Circle Step by Step

Here are the step by step instructions for how to crochet a circle in the round:

Summary of Steps in How to Crochet a Circle:

1. To start to crochet a flat circle, make a magic ring or chain 4-6 stitches and join with a slip stitch.
2. Chain 1 and crochet 6 single crochets into the ring.
3. In round 2, crochet 2 single crochets in each stitch.
4. In round 3, crochet 1 single crochet, then 2 single crochets; repeat this pattern.
5. In rows 4 and beyond, you will increase stitches using the crochet circle formula.

Step 1 - Crochet a Foundation Ring

There are 2 methods for making a foundation ring to start your crochet circles. Method 1 is the best method for beginners, and method 2 is the best method if you want a really small hole in the center of your circle.

1. Working stitches into a chain ring circle
2. Magic Ring

Method 1 - Working Stitches Into a Chain Ring

This is the simplest method for crochet circles, but it can leave you with a fairly large center hole. It is useful if you are going for quick and easy if you need room for a lot of stitches, or if the design you are crocheting needs a hole in the center.

• Make a chain of 4 stitches. This will suit thicker yarn, e.g. worsted weight yarn.  If using fine yarn, use fewer stitches.
• Slip stitch into the first stitch to make a circle.

Method 2 - Magic Ring Method of Circular Crochet

This is the method that gives the neatest center to your circle. I have a full tutorial on how to crochet a magic ring if you have not done one of these before.

Step 2 - First Round in Crochet Circles

Now start your first row of stitches. You can use any stitch you fancy, but for explanation purposes, we will use single crochet.

1. Chain 1. (This is the turning chain for single crochet.)
2. Insert the hook into the center of the ring and do 6 single crochet. (This makes this method super easy, as you don’t have to insert the hook into each separate stitch.)
3. To finish, slip stitch into the first single crochet you worked.
4. When the row of single crochet has been joined up, pull the ring as tight as possible to close up the hole.

Step 3 - Crochet Circles Increase Formula

Starting in the second round, you will start increasing stitches. There is a set formula for working out the increases for each round of the circle. These increases are necessary to make the circle lie flat.

• Round 2- You must work 2 single crochet into each stitch of the first round. (Now you have 12 sts.)
• Round 3- work 2 sitches into first single crochet, then 1 stitch into the next. Repeat all the way around. (18 sts.)
• Round 4- 2 stitches into the first stitch, 1 stitch into each of next 2 stitches. Repeat all the way around. (24 sts)
• Round 5- 2 sts into first st, 1 st into each of next 3 sts, all the way around.
• Round 6 - 2 sts into first st, 1 st into each of next 4 sts. Repeat all the way around.

You will see the sequence emerging here. Each round you crochet, you will do 1 more stitch before the next increase, all the way around the circle. Continue until the circle is the size you require.

Step 4 - Finish the Crochet Circles

When you have reached the desired size of the circle, you can slip stitch in each stitch all the way around the circle to give it a neat edging. Finish off by cutting the end of the yarn and then feeding it through the final loop. You can crochet a decorative edging such as a shell stitch all the way around the circle.

How to Make Crochet Circles Flat

The most common problem when crocheting circles is that the edges either pull up like a cup or ruffle out.

Crochet Circle Ruffles on the Edges

Depending on your yarn and hook and how loosely you crochet, as well as how often you count your stitches, you may find that your circle develops a ruffle as it gets bigger. This means you have too many stitches.

To remedy this, pull out a few rows until you get to where the circle was lying flat. (ie. before the ruffle developed) Count carefully each round and make sure you are sticking to the ‘formula’. If you have already made a large circle, and don’t want to pull any work out, it is easy to just stop increasing for a round or two, then when the circle is lying flat again, continue with increases from where you left off. It all depends on how much of a perfectionist you are!

Crochet Circle Curling into a Cup

Another possible problem is when your circle curls up into a cup shape. This means that you don’t have enough stitches, or you are crocheting too tightly. Curling also can happen with taller stitches such as double or treble. If this happens, either pull out rounds until it lies flat, then continue from there, counting carefully on each round.

Alternatively, you can repeat the last couple of rounds of increases without increasing the number of stitches between each increase.  This means you will be increasing more often so will have more sts on each round.

So, for example, if you were on round 6, doing increase 1, 4 sc, instead of going to increase 1, 5 sc on the next round, keep doing increase 1, 4 sc, until the circle lies flat. Once it flattens out, pick up the sequence of the ‘formula’ again.

How to Crochet a Crochet Circle Variations

Your circles need not be limited to single crochet, half double crochet, or double crochet. You can use a combination of stitches and colors to make your circles into flowers or owls or anything circular! You can use a granny stitch to make a ‘granny circle’. It is done the same way as the granny squares without any corners.

What to Make With Crochet Circles

Anything you can imagine which is circular in shape! Some ideas are:

• Crochet coaster patterns
• Crochet doily patterns
• Crochet hat patterns
• Floor rugs with coarse yarn
• Bath mat with thick but soft, absorbent yarn
• Earrings with fine embroidery thread and a tiny crochet hook
• Appliqué circles or circular characters onto other items.  You can make cute owls, cat faces, bunnies etc. with circles, just add on some ears!

Here are some of the free patterns from the Treasurie blog that uses crochet circles:

Crochet Circles - In Conclusion

If you give it some thought, you will be able to come up with even more ideas of things you can make with crochet circle patterns. Have a few practice rounds, and once you have got the knack for crochet circles, you can make dozens of interesting items, all using that formula of increasing every round. I hope you have fun creating something new and unique!

More Crochet Shapes

• Crochet Triangle
• Granny Squares
• Crochet Rectangles
• Crochet Hearts
• Crochet Oval