Tunisian crochet in the round (Magic Loop) -

Have you ever wonder how Tunisian crochet is worked in the round? How difficult is it to learn and what types of hooks are required? We are going to show you one of the 2 popular crochet in the round methods in this post, by using a “magic loop” technique similar to the magic loop in knitting.

To learn more about the basic Tunisian crochet “Simple” stitch, please visit: Tunisian Simple stitch cast on, bind off, increase, and decrease

This is a very straightforward technique. If you know how to do the magic loop to knit in the round with a long circular needle, you can easily do Tunisian crochet in the round with a cabled (corded) Tunisian hook.

The second popular method for Tunisian crochet in the round is with a double-ended hook, so we can work back and forth, one section at a time. This method also requires 2 separate yarn balls in the same or different colors. The 2-color combination can produce an interesting design. That will be another post.

We will crochet the swatch with a Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS). Other stitches can be done in the same way.

To learn more about the basic Tunisian crochet “Simple” stitch, please visit: Tunisian Simple stitch cast on, bind off, increase, and decrease

Watch the Tunisian crochet in the round — Magic loop method

Tools for Tunisian crochet in the round with the magic loop method

There are many types of Tunisian crochet hooks available on the market. Besides various sizes for the hook and length, there are several popular types.

A long hook with a stop on the other side.
Double-ended hooks.
Single hook with a long cable (cord) and a stop on the other end.
A long cable with one hook on each end.
Interchangeable Tunisian crochet sets (with various size hooks and cables so you can mix and match).

The choice of the hook depends on your project size, technique, and yarn type. A single long Tunisian hook will work with basic Tunisian crochet, and even a regular crochet hook can be used for a small Tunisian crochet project.

Some techniques only work with certain hook types. For the magic loop crochet in the round, we need a long hook with a long enough cable or cord. Just like in the circular knitting needles, the most popular ones include the 16 and 24-inch long cables. The bigger your project, the longer cable you will need. Since yarns are pretty stretchy, the exact length is not so critical.

We can use a corded Tunisian crochet hook, with one or double-ended hooks. Both will work. If you want the most flexibility, use an interchangeable Tunisian crochet hook set.

How to do circular Tunisian crochet with the magic loop technique

Pick a hook that is usually 1-2 sizes bigger than the recommended on the yarn label. A looser tension will reduce the curling.

Cast on

First, we cast on the same way as the traditional crochet. Make a slip knot, and start chaining until the length you like.

Connect the first and the last stitches together by making a slip stitch through the first chain. Make sure the chain stitches are not twisted.

In Tunisian crochet, we typically pick up the “bumps” or “bars” on the backside of the chain so there will be a row of the chain stitches at the beginning edge.

Continue picking up stitches until we can not pick up anymore.

The magic loop

It is now time to pull the hook out from one end or from any middle point of the cable. This way, we can re-arrange the stitches and free up the hook to continue crocheting. Work your way to the end of the round.

Whenever you reach a point that is difficult to crochet the next stitch anymore, it is time to pull the hook or cable to re-arrange the stitches again. Then you can continue crocheting.

That is the basic idea of the magic loop. Not really complicated, right?

The first stitch of the returning row in circular Tunisian crochet

This is the part that is different. We are going to connect the beginning and the end of the round by inserting the hook to the first stitch on the left side, yarn over, and pull the yarn through that stitch, and continue pulling through the first stitch on the right hook.

So instead of yarn over and pull through the first stitch, we are pulling through 2 stitches (the first and the last). Then we can continue the returning pass, as usual, do a yarn over, and pull the yarn through the first 2 stitches on the right hook. Repeat until the end of the round.

The TSS (Tunisian Simple Stitch)

After the foundation row, we are back to the beginning. You can decide what stitch to knit next. I am doing a simple stitch (TSS) here.

For the forwarding pass, pick up the yarn through the vertical bars below, and leave the stitches on the hook. This creates a simple stitch (TSS).

All returning passes are the same when you crochet in the round. Insert the hook through the first stitch on the left side, yarn over, and pull through 2 stitches (the beginning and ending stitches of the round). Then repeating the yarn over and pull through 2 stitches until the end.

We keep doing the forwarding and returning rows until the length we like.

Bind off

To bind off, we crochet slip stitches through the vertical bars and the loop on the hook without any yarn over. This will close the holes in between stitches and create a nice chain stitch edge.

After binding off the last stitch, we can cut the yarn, thread through a tapestry needle.

Insert the needle under the first chain stitch on the left side. Pull through.

Insert the needle through the center of the first chain on the right side from the top. Pull through the yarn. This gives a nicer chain stitch finish.

Weave in the yarn end.

To make the beginning edge look nicer, we can undo the first slip knot when we cast it on. Thread the yarn and do the same as above (thread through below the first chain, and then thread through the center of the last stitch.

Use the remaining yarn tail to close any gaps in the seam and weave in the end.