Crochet Essentials: Mastering the Magic Ring for Single Crochet

We will explain in detail how to crochet a circle. The "cast-on loop" technique is a very frequently used technique, and perhaps the most difficult to understand. When crocheting a circle, you almost always need to use this "cast-on loop."
Here, based on the knitting pattern above, we will explain how to knit a circle (in a circle) using knitting stitches, with plenty of images.

[Knitting a loop using a cast-on stitch]

[1]
When you start knitting (casting on), first wrap the yarn twice around your index finger as shown in the photo on the left.

Make sure the loop is loose and not snug around your finger.

[2]
While holding the double-wrapped loop of thread so as not to break it, use your other hand to remove it.

[3]
Re-hold the loop of thread as shown in the photo on the left.

[4]
Hold the crochet hook in your other hand and thread it through the loop of yarn.

[5]
Place the thread on the crochet hook as shown in the photo on the left.

[6]
With the thread you just put on the needle still hooked on it, pull it through the loop.
When you pull it out, it will look like the photo on the right.

[7]
[6] In this state, thread the needle again and pull the thread out of the loop that was on the needle.
The thread will be pulled out as shown in the photo on the left.

[8]
Now, again, pass the needle through the large loop, thread it, and pull the thread out through the large loop.
As shown in the photo on the right, the needle will have two strands of thread.

[9]
[8] Thread the needle (photo on the left) and pull the thread through the two loops on the needle in one go.

[10]
When you pull out the thread with [9], it will look like the picture on the right.
Now you have created the first loop.

[11]
Repeat steps [8] to [10] in the same manner.

Looking at the knitting pattern, there are six quarter stitches in the first row (cast-on). The first one is completed in [10], so repeat five more times.

The photo on the left shows the second eye.

[12]
Once you have six eyes, it will look like the photo on the right.

[13]
Please refer to the photo on the left to see how to count the stitches.

Make sure there is a sixth one and move on to the next step!

[14]
Once you have completed six stitches, work a slip stitch into the first stitch.
At this point, it may be a little difficult to know where to insert the needle.
Please see where the arrow is pointing in the photo on the right.

[15]
Insert the needle into the spot indicated by the arrow.
It will look like the photo on the left.

[16]
[15] Thread the needle (photo on the right) and pull the thread through the three loops on the needle.

[17]
The photo on the left shows the wire threaded through two of the three loops.

[18]
Thread the thread through the last loop and pull it out.
If it looks like the picture on the right, you have made a slip stitch in the first stitch.

[19]
The cast-on stitch is done.
However, as you can see in the photo on the left, although the six stitches form a loop, the middle is not closed and two extra strands of thread are sticking out.

[20]
Next, tuck in the excess thread and tighten the middle.
In this case, if you pull the end of the thread (that is not connected to the ball of thread) all at once, one of the remaining threads will be pulled in, but the other one will not pull in properly!

So, pull the end thread a little and watch carefully to see which of the two remaining threads retracts.
At this time, you want to pull out the excess thread from the side opposite to the side that was retracted.

This will pull the other remaining thread smoothly and it will retract.
The photo on the right shows the thread being pulled smoothly and one of the remaining threads being pulled back and no longer visible.

[21]
Next, pull the end thread tightly to tighten it.
Then, the remaining excess thread will be pulled and retracted, and it will look like the photo on the left.
The center is closed and both remaining threads are gone.
*The photo on the left shows the knitted fabric from the back.

This completes the first row of the knitting pattern.

[22]
When you look at the knitted fabric from the front, it looks like the photo on the right.

[23]
Now, let's move on to the second step.
At the beginning of the second row, first knit one chain stitch as a starting stitch.

Place the thread on the needle and pull it through the loop on the needle.

[24]
Once you have knitted one chain stitch at the start, it will look like the photo on the right.

[25]
Then, insert the needle where the arrow is pointing in the photo on the left.

[26]
Once you insert the needle, it will look like the photo on the right.

[27]
Thread the needle and pass the thread through the two loops closest to the tip of the needle out of the three loops on the needle.

[28]
When you pull out the thread [27], it will look like the picture on the right.

[29]
Now thread the needle again and pull the thread through the final loop.

It will then look like the photo on the left, where you will have knitted a starting stitch (one chain stitch) and the first circular stitch.

[30]
If you look at the knitting pattern, you will see that the second row is all made up of increase symbols.
So in the second row, you will knit two stitches into each of the six knit stitches in the first row.

As shown in the photo on the right, insert the needle again in the same place as when you knitted the previous quarter stitch (arrow in the photo on the right) and knit one more quarter stitch.

[31]
Insert the needle where the arrow [30] points, thread the needle, and pull out the thread. It will look like the photo on the left.

Wrap the yarn around the stitch again and pull it through the two other threads to complete the second knit stitch.

[32]
Using the same method, knit two quarter stitches for each stitch in the previous row.
Make sure you have knit a total of 12 stitches in the second row (6 more stitches from the previous row).

Once you have completed the 12 stitches in the second row, it will look like the photo on the right.

[33]
In the second row, work a slip stitch into the first stitch.
Insert the crochet hook where the arrow in the photo on the left indicates.

[34]
If you insert the needle where the arrow indicated, it will look like the photo on the right.

Thread the needle and pull the thread through all three loops.

[35]
Once you've finished the slip stitches, it will look like the photo on the left, and the second row will be complete!

Even if the knitting pattern continues from the third row onwards, the pulling positions etc. are the same, so I hope this will be helpful.

Thank you for putting up with this long explanation!