how do i crochet a circle?

[LaFlaca1226]

I just want to make a circle. Plain and simple, using sc. My question is - how many do I chain first? And then which chain do I do my first sc in?

I'm a knitter, so I'm a bit out of my element here.

[suzeeq]

A circle, like a loop, or a solid circle?

For just a loop, chain as many as it takes for the size you want; do the first sc in the 2nd chain from the hook.

[LaFlaca1226]

A circle, like a loop, or a solid circle?

Oh, good question. I need a solid circle. Like a round coaster. It's for the back of the breast I'm knitting. To hold the stuffing in.

So far, I tried chaining 2, then doing like 5 or 6 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook, and then I kept doing one sc in each sc, but it wasn't laying flat. So now I'm trying again. After doing 6 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook, I'm doing 2 sc in each sc. It seems to be working so far. Do you think I'm on the right track?

[suzeeq]

Oh, for that type, I'd start out like I do the top of a hat. Chain 6, join and sc 2 in each chain, 10 sts (the 6th chain kind of gets hidden in the join). Then next round sc, 2 sc in one st, around - 15 sts. Next round sc, sc, 2 sc in 1 st, repeat - 20 sts. Keep adding one more sc before you do the 2 in 1, adding 5 sts each round (it's good to place a piece of yarn as a marker) until it's the right size.

[Inis]

Make a slip knot. Chain 1, sc into the slip knot around until full and is a circle. Slip stitch into the first sc to close the circle and round. Chain 1, 2 sc into each sc around. Slip stitch into the first sc to close that round. You can keep growing the circle -- making appropriate increases to keep it flat.

Or, chain 3 or 4, slip stitch into the first chain to make the circle. Chain 1, sc into the circle until full. Slip stitch into the first sc. Continue as above.

Does that help?

[LaFlaca1226]

You can keep growing the circle -- making appropriate increases to keep it flat.

Does that help?

Oh yes, that totally helps! Thank you.

One last question: you say to make appropriate increases to keep it flat. Does that mean that I should not continue making 2 sc in each stitch? Because that makes the edges all ruffly.

So if I start with 8 sc, then next round do 2 sc in each stitch, it ends up being 16 sc. The following round, how many sc should I make? Or is this something where I should just experiment because it depends on my yarn tension?

[Yarnlady]

It's amazing what you can find on a search engine!

[suzeeq]

After the first round of 2sc in 1, do just 1 sc, then 2 in 1, 1 sc, 2 in 1. Then next round, do 2 scs, 2 in 1 around. Keep adding one more sc between the 2 sc in 1. That makes it lie flat.

[schoen1605]

I've volunteered to do a tutorial on crocheting. Here's my take on crocheting a circle.
-- Carol