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Make a Magic Circle for Crochet (Magic Ring)

by strommercrafts / November 17, 2020

In this post I will show you in 11 steps with pictures, how to make a magic circle for crochet.

Making a magic circle, or interchangeably, magic ring, is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success if you want to crochet amigurumi or any projects that require you to crochet in a round.

You may have seen some patterns say something along the lines of like x number of sc in a mc. The “mc” stands for magic circle.

So what makes this magic circle so magical? The magic circle, when pulled tightly, makes a less noticeable hole than if you were to make a slip knot, chain 2 and crochet in the first stitch. Magic circles are also a lot less likely than the previous method, to unravel from the beginning.11

Step 1)

With the tail end of your yarn, pull it through between your middle and ring finger (see picture 1).

Step 2)

Pretend to make “gun” fingers with your left hand. Grip your yarn with your ring and pinky finger (to keep tension), while you move the tail end behind your pointer and middle finger (see picture 2).

Step 3)

Take the tail and and go up and over your pointer and middle finger (see picture 3).

Step 4)

Repeat step 3 by going behind your pointer/middle fingers with the tail end and go up and over (see pictures 4 and 5).

Step 5)

Pinch your yarn with your thumb to hold in place (picture 6) and turn your hand knuckle-side up (picture 7).

Step 6)

Grab your crochet hook with your right hand. Go underneath the first yarn and grab the second yarn with your hook (see pictures 8 and 9).

Step 7)

With that yarn still hooked, pull your second yarn underneath the first yarn (picture 10).

Step 8)

Carefully turn your hook up, while continuing to keep that yarn in place (picture 11).

Step 9)

Now, this is where it can get tricky. Essentially, “yarn over” to grab the same, second strand of yarn you grabbed before. If that makes sense (see picture 12) and pull it through (see picture 13).

*Protip! Try not to keep your yarn super tight during step 9. When you attempt to pull it through, it’ll be very, very difficult to do. So try to keep it a tad loose.

Step 10)

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Step 11)

Profit (see pictures 14a. and 14b.).

Don’t worry too much if you mess up. I had a difficult time trying to keep my yarn and hands coordinated the first couple of tries when I first started. It just takes practice!

Congratulations and happy crocheting!

How to Crochet

How to Make a Slip Knot for Crocheting

by strommercrafts / November 16, 2020

If you’re new to crochet, you’ll need to know how to make a slip knot. It’s literally the very first step to crochet. You need them so that your yarn doesn’t slip off the crochet hook.

You might notice that many crochet patterns skip mentioning this step! This is because it’s assumed that you already know how to do it! What in the world, right!?

In this post, you will find a step by step guide on how to make a slip knot so you can start crocheting!

Step 1) Lay your yarn in a straight line

Step 2) Start making a loop

Step 3) Finish the loop

Step 4) Pinch the very top of the loop with your thumb and index finger

Step 5) Tuck the tail end behind the loop and set back down flat

Step 6) Insert your hook underneath the tail (but over the loop)

Step 7) Pinch the tail end and the top of your yarn

Step 8) Pull your crochet hook up with your right hand while keeping your yarn anchored down with the left

Step 9) Tighten your slip knot by pulling on both ends of your yarn

Ta da! You made your slip knot.

The slip knot is a necessary first step in crochet (aside from getting a crochet hook and yarn of course!).

I hope that you found this guide helpful on how to make a slip knot on a crochet hook.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more crochet how to’s and free patterns! You can find me @strommercrafts.

Until next time!

Patterns

Crochet Pikachu Hat for Newborn (Free Pattern)

by strommercrafts / November 15, 2020

If you like crochet and Pokemon, try making this cute crochet Pikachu hat!

To be honest, I really like the Pokemon series. I always enjoyed playing the video games as a kid, and I still play some today, but now that I have my own kids, there’s not much time for gaming!

HOWEVER! I can still enjoy one of my favorite video game genres with this Pikachu hat pattern.

You can complete this pattern in an afternoon if you’re an efficient crocheter. The hat itself works up fairly quickly since it’s all half double crochets.

This Pikachu crochet hat fits an average newborn, so a head circumference of about 12.5″-13.”

You can make your hat bigger if you need to, but the ears may be a little small depending on the size. I have a tutorial and a chart here on how to crochet a beanie/hat in any size.

Supplies needed:

Worsted weight 4 yarn in:
- Yellow
- Black
5mm crochet hook
4mm crochet hook
Stitch marker (optional)
Poly-fil for stuffing
Tapestry needle
Pins (optional)
Scissors

Terms used:

sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
ch – chain
mc – magic circle
inc – crochet 2 stitches in the same stitch
dec – crochet 2 stitches together
(x) – x indicates the number of stitches you should have at the end of your round

Special Instructions:

For the hat, the beginning chain of each round does not count as a stitch. The first stitch of each round will be started in the same stitch as the beginning chain. Slip stitch to the first stitch (not the beginning chain) when you’re at the end of the round. This makes the “seam” when crocheting the hat appear less visible.

Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of your stitches when crocheting the ears. When crocheting amigurumi, it’s better to crochet continuously in the round for a cleaner looking final product. Do not join with a sl st to the first stitch. You can technically do this, but you’ll be able to see a seam, which we don’t want.

Hat:

With yellow yarn and 5mm hook

Round 1) 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first stitch. (8)

Round 2) Ch 1, hdc inc in each stitch around, sl st to first stitch. (16)

Round 3) Ch1, 1 hdc, in next stitch hdc inc. Repeat around, sl st to first stitch. (24)

Round 4) Ch1, 2 hdc, then hdc inc. Repeat around, sl st to first stitch. (32)

Round 5) Ch 1, 3 hdc, then hdc inc. Repeat around, sl st to first stitch. (40)

Round 6) Ch1 9 hdc, then hdc inc. Repeat around, sl st to first stitch. (44)

Round 7-13) Ch1, hdc in each stitch around. (44)

Pull your yarn through and weave the end in with your tapestry needle.

Ears, make 2:

With 4mm hook

Start with black yarn.

Round 1) 3 sc in mc. (3)

Round 2) sc inc in each stitch around. (6)

Round 3) 1 sc, then sc inc in next stitch. Repeat around. (9)

Round 4) 2 sc, then sc inc. Repeat around (12)

Round 5-7) sc in each stitch around. (12)

Change to yellow.

Round 8) 3 sc, then inc. Repeat around. (16)

Round 9-14) sc in each stitch around (16)

Round 15) 3 sc, then dec. Repeat around (12)

At this point you should start stuffing the ear with poly-fil. Stuff lightly.

Round 16) 2 sc, then dec. Repeat around (9)

Assembly

Looking at the top of the hat, line the ears up evenly on each side from the center. You can use your pins to keep them in place. With your tapestry needle, sew the ears on, like in the in the picture below.

Make sure to weave the ends of your yarn tails into the hat to prevent it from unraveling.

Congratulations! You’ve made a super cute and awesome newborn crochet Pikachu hat!

Patterns

How to Crochet a Snorlax Lovey (Free Pattern)

by strommercrafts / November 12, 2020

Snorlax used Rest!

And hopefully your kiddo will too! This crochet Snorlax lovey pattern was inspired by Courtney M. at Studio Crafti. She made an awesome (and free) Snorlax pattern that I tweaked and turn into a snugly lovey.

Her pattern for the Snorlax can be found here.

I used her pattern for Snorlax’s head and ears, so if you want to crochet this pattern, you’ll need to go to the link above to get started.

I felt that for my lovey, the arms were just a little too short in Courtney’s pattern, so I created my own.

For the head and arms, I continued to crochet in the round. This means when I get to the end of my round, instead of slip stitching and chaining one, I continued the pattern into the beginning stitch of the previous round. You can still slip stitch and chain one if you want to, however with amigurumi-like projects, it looks a lot cleaner if you continue in the round.

You’ll also want something to mark the beginning of your rounds so you can count your stitches accurately. I use stitch markers, but you can use a scrap piece of yarn if you don’t have any.

Okay are we ready? Let’s get started!

You will need:

Medium worsted weight yarn 4 in these colors:
- Navy blue
- Cream
- Black
- White
3.5mm crochet hook (for Snorlax)
6mm crochet hook (for blanket)
Tapestry needle
Poly-fil for stuffing
Stitch marker (optional)
Scissors

Terms used in this pattern:

mc – magic circle
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
st – stitch
ch -chain
sl st – slip stitch
inc – increase (this means to crochet two single crochets in one stitch)
dec – decrease (crochet two stitches together)
(x) – the number at the end of the row indicates how many stitches you should have

Follow Courtney’s steps for the head and ears using the 3.5mm crochet hook. Once you’re finished, pull your yarn through and leave a long tail so you have enough yarn to sew the head onto the blanket.

Eyes and mouth

Take your tapestry needle and sew with black yarn for the eyes and mouth (shown below). It’s best to tie both ends together from the inside of the head so that it doesn’t unravel.

Sew the teeth by making triangle shapes above the mouth (shown below).crc

Arms, make 2

Round 1) 6 sc in mc (6)

Round 2) inc in each st around (12)

Round 3) 1 sc, inc *repeat around (18)

Round 4-6) sc in each st around (18)

Round 7) sc 2, inc *repeat around (24)

Round 8-13) sc in each st around (24)

Round 14) dec, 1 sc *repeat around (16)

Start stuffing with poly-fil

Round 15) dec around (8)

Take your hook and pull your yarn through. Leave a long tail to sew later and cut with scissors.

Use your tapestry needle to sew the claws at the end of the arms with the white yarn. To hide your white yarn when finished, pull it through the poly-fil towards the top of the arm. I recommend tying both ends of the white yarn together, so the claws are secured and less likely to get pulled out.

Fold the opening of the arm in half so the stitches line up evenly. Take your tapestry needle and sew the opening together.

Blanket

It can be difficult to see stitches with dark colored yarn. The pictures presented below are crocheted with a lighter color yarn so you can see what’s happening in the pattern.

With Navy Blue Yarn

Round 1) mc

Round 2) ch 3, (this counts as a dc in this and the next rounds) 19 dc in mc (20)

Sl st into the top of ch 3

Round 3) ch 1, sc into same st, skip 1 st, 3 dc into next st, ch3, 3 dc into the same st (this is one point of the star shape)

*skip 1 st, sc into next st, 3 dc into next st, ch3, 3 dc into same st* repeat *to* until you reach beginning sc. Join with a sl st.

Round 4) sl st into the next 2 st, ch 3, dc into next st, 3 dc in chain space, ch 3, 3 dc into same space, dc into next 2 st, skip next 3 sts (dc, sc, dc).

*dc into next 2 sts, 3 dc in chain space, ch 3, 3 dc into same space, dc into next 2 sts, skip next 3 sts*. Repeat *to*, sl st into top of ch 3 from beginning

Round 5) Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc into next 3 sts, 3 dc in chain space, ch 3, 3 dc into same space, dc into next 4 sts, skip next 2 sts.

*dc into next 4 sts, 3 dc in chain space, ch 3, 3 dc into same space, skip next 2 sts*. Repeat *to*, sl st into top of ch 3 from beginning.

Continue in this fashion, essentially growing the star by increasing dcs up and down the sides, growing the corners by doing 3dc, ch 3, and 3 more dc in the same spot. Remember to sk 2 sts at the bottom of the corners.

Grow your star until you have completed a total of 12 rounds with the navy blue yarn, switch to cream yarn and complete 2 more rounds.

To complete, sew the head and arms of Snorlax into the middle of your star blanket with your tapestry needle. Thread your needle into each and every stitch of Snorlax’s head to make sure it stays secure.

Congratulations! You have your very own crochet Snorlax lovey!