Working Crochet in the Round
A basic instruction sheet for Working Crochet in the Round. Understanding the basic formulas for keeping your work flat & avoiding your crochet work from going astray is important. Use the charts as an aid to understanding how increases work.
The 2 most common questions:
1) Why is my work cupping? – this usually means there are not enough increases
2) Why is my work wavy? – this usually means there are too many increases
Working in the round is a little different from working on rows. To keep your work flat you must increase every round evenly which varies when working circles or squares.
Keeping your circles flat: increases are made on every round
The following is the basic formula for crocheting a circle. The example is worked in trebles (tr) (US: dc) but also applies to other stitches.
Foundation ch: make a number of chains & join with ss to form a ring or use an adjustable ring (magic circle)
Rnd 1: 3 ch, 11 tr (US:dc) in to ring, ss join = 12 sts
Rnd 2: 3 ch, tr (US:dc) in same st, 2 tr (US:dc) in each st around, ss join = 24 sts
Rnd 3: 3 ch, tr (US:dc) in same st, * tr (US:dc) in next st, 2 tr (US:dc) in next st, repeat from * around, ss join = 36 sts
Rnd 4: 3 ch, tr (US:dc) in same st, * tr (US:dc) in each next 2 sts, 2 tr (US:dc) in next st, repeat from * around, ss join = 48 sts
Rnd 5: 3 ch, tr (US:dc) in same st, * tr (US:dc) in each next 3 sts, 2 tr (US:dc) in next st, repeat from * around, ss join = 60 sts
Rnd 6: 3 ch, tr (US:dc) in same st, *tr (US:dc) in each next 4 sts, 2 tr (US:dc) in next st, repeat from * around, ss join = 72 sts
# continue increasing in this manner to desired size.
Keeping your Squares flat: increases are made in corners
make 5 ch, join with ss to form a ring
Round 1: 1 ch, into ring work 6 dc (US:sc), join with ss to first st = 6 x dc (US:sc)
Round 2: 1 ch, work 2 dc (US:sc), in each st around, join with ss to first st, = 12 x dc (US:sc)
Round 3: 3 ch (count as first tr (US:dc) Beg-ch), into same st work 2 tr (US:dc)(corner made), tr (US:dc) in each next 2 sts, * 3 tr (US:dc) in next st, tr (US:dc) in each next 2 sts, repeat from * around to Beg-ch, join with ss to 3rd ch of Beg-ch, = 20 x tr (US:dc)
Round 4: 3 ch (count as first tr, (US:dc) Beg-ch) 3 tr (US:dc) in next st (corner made), * tr (US:dc) in each next 4 sts, 3 tr (US:dc) in next st, repeat from * around to Beg-ch, join with ss to 3rd ch of Beg-ch, = 28 x tr (US:dc)
Round 5: 3ch (count as first tr, (US:dc) Beg-ch), tr (US:dc) in next st, in next st work (tr, (US:dc) 3 ch, tr, (US:dc) (corner made)), * tr (US:dc) in next 6 sts, in next st work (tr (US:dc), 3 ch, tr (US:dc), (corner made)), repeat from * around to Beg-ch, join with ss to 3rd ch of Beg-ch, = 32 x tr (US:dc) & 4 x 3-ch corner sps
Round 6 & all subsequent rounds: 3ch (count as first tr, Beg-ch), * tr (US:dc) in each st to next corner 3-ch sp, in corner sp work (tr (US:dc), 3 ch, tr (US:dc)), repeat from * around to Beg-ch, join with ss to 3rd ch of Beg-ch,