Learn How to Crochet a Circle Shape Without any Increases

Want to learn how to crochet a quick, easy circle — one that’s simple enough for total beginners to do? If so, we invite you to check out our step-by-step photo tutorial that guides you through the process visually and intuitively.

This pattern results in a small circle that’s useful for creating many different sorts of things. You can use it as either an applique, or as a component for building larger projects.

I used Nature’s Choice organic cotton yarn by Lion Brand to crochet my sample circle. This is a medium-weight yarn, although it sort of behaves and works up like a bulky yarn in some ways.

When working with Nature’s Choice yarn plus a size J / 10 – 6.00 mm crochet hook plus these instructions, I end up with circles measuring about 1 5/8 inches in diameter. The size of your circles will vary depending on the materials you use, plus your own individual way of crocheting.

You can use any yarn, crochet thread or fiber you like in this pattern. However, to maintain its easy, beginner-friendly status, I suggest using a smooth, light or bright colored yarn that’s at least a medium weight. If you’re a total beginner, and this is your first crochet project, Nature’s Choice isn’t actually the best choice of yarns to work with. While it’s a lovely yarn, and one that I generally recommend, its texture makes it less than ideal for beginners to work with — because the eye-catching texture of the yarn makes it a bit more challenging to distinguish one stitch from another.

If you want to use a dark-colored yarn in this pattern, it will work fine — but like any project involving dark-colored yarn, it could be difficult to see your stitches. In that case, you may wish to use a Crochet Lite hook to enable better visibility.

If you have a need for teeny tiny crocheted circles, you can certainly make them using this pattern; just use crochet thread and a small steel crochet hook. However, the finer the thread you work with, the more challenging the work becomes.

How to Crochet the Circle:

To begin crocheting the circle, you want to start out by making a slip knot. Next, you’re going to crochet 3 chain stitches, as pictured below at top left. If you haven’t yet learned how to crochet a chain stitch, visit our free chain stitch tutorial for instructions.

Next, you’re going to work a double crochet stitch into the third chain from your hook. Need help learning how to do double crochet? The pictures below will teach you how to do it; but in general you’ll probably also want to check out our double crochet tutorial for a more complete understanding of double crochet, how to work it in rows, and its relationship to other crochet stitches.

If you want more information about how to crochet a slip stitch, see our free slip stitch tutorial for beginners.

At this point, the circle is almost complete — but not quite. The next step is to cut the yarn and end off.

Before you cut the yarn, you might want to give a little thought to how you are going to finish your project — meaning, the larger project in which you will utilize the circle. If you are going to stitch your circle to another crocheted or knitted piece, you may wish to leave an extra-long tail of yarn. That way, you’ll be able to thread the tail of yarn onto a tapestry needle, and use it as your thread for stitching the circle to the piece you want to attach it to. This will save you the extra step of weaving in the loose end; plus it will make for a slightly stronger project that would be less prone to coming apart with heavy wear and tear.

So decide how long you want your yarn tail to be; if you just want to weave the end in as usual, you’ll still want to leave enough of a length that you can thread it onto a tapestry needle. See how to end off in crochet, and how to weave in ends, for more information on doing the finishing.

So that’s one possible method for how to crochet a circle. There are many other possible ways to do it; you may also wish to view our list of free crochet circle patterns to see some other methods and possibilities.

Want some ideas for what to do with this circle shape?

It would be a no-brainer to use this little circle as a flower center. There are a zillion different ways to do that. If you enjoy making scrapbooks, you could glue the circle to a flower-shaped chipboard mini album. You could make a felt flower and stitch this circle to the center; or you could crochet or knit a flower and applique the circle to the center. Or you could start your flower by crocheting this circle, then add freeform crochet petals.

You could make 26 of these little circles, and use them to make a snowflake trivet.

There are many other ways you could use these little circles, so feel free to get creative with them.

So there you have it: That’s your free pattern and tutorial for making a fast, easy crochet circle for beginners. We hope you found this tutorial helpful.

Over to You:

So how are you going to use this fast, easy crochet circle for beginners? Have you tried the pattern yet? If so, what did you do with your finished circle shapes? Please tell us all about it in the comments section below. (Important note: This page was moved to this site from another website online, and the older comments from that site are also posted below. You will have to scroll past them to get to the current comments section.)

Also, if you have any questions about this pattern, please feel free to comment below. If we know the answer, we’ll do our best to help.

Happy crocheting!

More Knit and Crochet Circle Patterns

• Crochet Circle Shape
• Easy Curved Crochet Circle Pattern

More Crochet Projects for Beginners

• Easy, Basic Single Crochet Scarf Pattern for Beginners
• Free Half Double Crochet Dishcloth Pattern for Beginners
• More Beginners’ Crochet Patterns
• Find the Best Crochet Books for Beginners

Posted By: Amy Solovay

This page was last updated on 4-22-2023.