Why Does My Crochet Circle Curl?

One of the greatest joys of crochet is the ease with which you can create flat circular motifs. To hook these sorts of motifs, the stitches are worked in the round. This is just as easy as working in rows – there are just a couple of extra little rules that I’ll show you how to master in this workshop. I’ll also be explaining how to make sure your motifs stay flat, so they don’t turn into tubes. To practise, all you need is yarn and a suitable sized hook. I’m using blue DK yarn and a 4mm hook, but you can use anything you’ve got to hand. Let’s hook…

How do I work in the round?

Start by making a foundation loop…

To make a flat circular motif, you need to work in the round, starting at the centre and working outwards. Here’s how…

Step 1 To start, you need to make a foundation loop, such as a magic loop or slipknot loop. We’re going to make a magic loop, ready to work your stitches into. If you’re not sure how to make a foundation loop, check out the workshops in the previous two issues.

Step 2 Now you can work the first round of stitches into the foundation loop. At the start of each round, you need to make a turning chain for the size of stitches you want to work – for double crochet, make 1 chain (this does not count as a stitch); or for treble crochet, make 3 chains (this will count as the first treble stitch). Then work the remaining stitches, as instructed in the pattern you’re using. We’re going to work: ch1, 6dc into the centre of the loop.

Step 3 Tighten up the loop to bring the stitches around into a circle. At the end of each round, you need to join the last stitch to the first stitch – to do this, work a slip stitch into the top of the first stitch (insert hook into the first stitch, yrh and pull through all the loops on the hook). Your first round is complete! You’ll see that working rounds is very similar to working rows – start with a turning chain, work your stitches and remember to join the round with a slip stitch at the end. You don’t need to turn your fabric at the end of each round, just keep the right side facing you throughout.