How to Crochet a Flat Circle (Step-by-Step Guide)

Learning how to crochet a flat circle is one of the most important foundational skills in crochet and amigurumi. In fact, whether you’re making amigurumi, coasters, bags, hats, or bases for larger projects, understanding how circles work will not only make your projects easier, but also much more predictable.

If you’ve ever ended up with a wavy circle or one that starts turning into a bowl, don’t worry, there’s actually a simple formula behind crocheting a flat circle.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how many stitches to start with, how increases work, and how to grow your circle evenly every single time.

2 Simple Rules to Keep in Mind

1. Start with the right number of stitches

If you start with too many stitches your work will become wavy, and if you start with too few your work will bunch up and form a cup.

The taller the stitch you’re using the more stitches you need to start with. If you crocheting with:

• Single crochets start with 6 to 8 stitches.
• Half double crochets start with 8 to 10 stitches.
• Double crochets start with 12 to 14 stitches.

The number of stitches you start with may vary depending on your tension and the yarn you’re using.

2. Increase evenly on all rounds

Increase the same amount of times, inside a round, as the number of stitches you started with.

Spread out the increases evenly around the round and have the same number of stitches between the increases throughout the round.

No matter which stitch you choose, the increase method works the same way.

After you understand the formula, you can then adapt it to almost any stitch and yarn weight.

Step-by-Step: How to Crochet a Flat Circle

For this tutorial, I’m using the single crochet and starting with 6 stitches.

Round 1

Work 6 single crochets into a magic ring.

Tip: Hide the tail from the magic ring by crocheting over it as you work your stitches.

At the end of Round 1 you’ll have 6 stitches.

Round 2

Increase in every stitch of the round. Work 2 single crochet in each stitch of the previous round.

At the end of Round 2 you’ll have 12 stitches

Round 3

Work 1 single crochet in the first stitch plus 1 increase in the next stitch.

Repeat this sequence 6 times to the end of the round, because you started with 6 stitches.

At the end of Round 3 you’ll have 18 stitches

Round 4

Work 1 single crochet in the next 2 stitches plus 1 increase in the next stitch.

Repeat to the end of the round. At the end you’ll have 24 stitches.

Round 5

Work 1 single crochet in the next 3 stitches plus 1 increase in the next stitch.

Repeat to the end of the round. At the end you’ll have 30 stitches.

Since I started with 6 stitches, I increased 6 times in every round.

Notice how on every round there’s one more stitch between the increases, and how the total number of stitches at the end of each round keeps increasing in multiples of 6.

If you want to continue growing your circle, simply keep adding one more single crochet before each increase.

For example:

• Next round: (4 single crochets + 1 increase) repeat to the end of the round
• Following round: (5 single crochets + 1 increase) repeat to the end
• And so on…

This steady and consistent increase pattern keeps your circle flat and even.

Learning how to crochet a flat circle is an important skill. It allows you to make flat projects like coasters and decorative appliqués, and it’s also the starting point for many larger projects such as amigurumi, bags, bowls, and hats. In fact, most amigurumi begin with a simple flat circle.

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