How To Crochet A Flat Circle

Have you ever tried to crochet in a circle and you end up with a bowl or a tube?  Not to worry... there's an easy trick to making a flat circle and keeping it flat, no matter how big or small.  AND I've got a trick for you to eliminate gaps at the beginning of the rounds.

Here we go! 

 

NOTE: I'll be using standard US crochet terminology.  

FOUNDATION CHAIN & LOOP

(While we could start with a Magic Circle, I'll leave that technique for another time. )

Ch 5. 

Sl st (slip stitch) to the 1st chain to form a loop.

Chain 5

 

Slip Stitch to the beginning Chain

 

A ring is made

 

 

 

ROUND 1

Ch 2.  This will count as the 1st double crochet. 

Dc 11 in the loop (12 sts in all).

Sl st to top of 1st dc. 

Note: to join this round, slip stitch into the top of the very first double crochet, NOT the ch-2.  Just skip over the ch-2. This is how we'll close the space tightly and eliminate gaps going forward. 

Slip Stitch to the top of the 1st Double Crochet of the round

  

Finishing the Slip Stitch to end Round 1

 

ROUND 2

Ch 2.

Dc in same st.  Dc 2 in each st around (24 sts in all).

Join with sl st to top of the 1st dc (not the ch-2).

Skip the beginning Chain 3 and Slip stitch to the top of the 1st double crochet of the round

 

Round 2 complete

 

 

 

ROUND 3

We'll gradually increase our circle's circumference and there's an easy method ahead.

Ch 2.

Dc in the same stitch.

And the pattern for this round starts now:

(Dc in the next stitch, then dc 2 in the next) around. 

When you reach the base of the beginning ch-2, dc in that same stitch.  You now have 2 dcs in the 1st st of this round, with a ch-2 in between.  Skip the ch-2 and sl st to the top of the 1st dc.  Again, this eliminates gaps.

(dc in next st, then dc 2 in the next st) around.

 

Final double crochet goes here

 

Double crochet completed in final stitch

 

Slip stitch to top of 1st double crochet of the round

 

 

ROUND 4

 Going forward, we're going to keep increasing each round a little bit.  

The method is to add an extra dc in between the pairs of dc. 

We start each round with: 

Ch 2. Dc in the same stitch.

Now, we'll add an extra dc like this:

(dc in next 2 sts, then dc 2 in the next st) around.  

Again, when you reach the base of the beginning ch-2, dc in that same stitch.  You now have 2 dcs in the 1st st of this round, with a ch-2 in between.  Skip the ch-2 and sl st to the top of the 1st dc.  

(dc in next 2 sts, then dc 2 in the next st) around.

 

 

ROUND 5 AND BEYOND

Ch 2. Dc in the same stitch.

Now, we'll add an extra dc like this:

(dc in next 3 sts, then dc 2 in the next st) around.  

When you reach the base of the beginning ch-2, dc in that same stitch.  Skip over the ch-2 and sl st to the top of the 1st dc.  

 

 With each round, you'll simply increase the number shown in pink above.  But, you won't have to keep track by counting.  Simply look at the previous round as you go:  where you have a dc, make a dc.  Where you have 2 dcs, make 2 dcs.  No counting!

Now you can carry on a conversation or watch TV,  and you won't have to worry about counting stitches no matter how big your circle gets.

And as you get larger and larger, your circle won't curl up on you.  It'll stay nice and flat.

Happy crocheting!