Crocheting a Circle Struggles

[koalaroobear]

I'm new to crochet, I did it about 8 years ago but have forgotten everything and am starting again. I've got my rows down and have made some lovely rectangles, and am trying to make circles.

No matter what I do, it goes wrong. I've tried with the magic circle and with a starting chain. I'm not sure whether I'm counting stitches wrong, but for example I will create 6 double crochets, but then all of a sudden I will have 7? I slip stitch them together, I'm not sure if I'm going wrong here.

Could anyone direct me to a good tutorial which uses double crochet (UK) rather than triple?

Bella cocoa does fab tutorials. Have you got stitch markers? I find they help when doing circles. You will soon start to be able to 'see' the stitches better and see what's a stitch and isn't. Keep at it! X

I suspect if you are gaining somehow when doing the slip stitch. I normally crochet circles in a continuous spiral so can't help there I'm afraid

Thank you @Nillynally

@tizwozliz I expect it is something to do with the slip stitch too, I'm going to have to go back and watch the videos slowed down I think!

After each slip stitch are you doing a chain to start the next round? Are you remembering that the chain counts as a stitch?

@tizwozliz

After each slip stitch are you doing a chain to start the next round? Are you remembering that the chain counts as a stitch?

Yes I'm doing a chain, this might be it - should I be only doing 5 stitches plus slip stitch and chain to make 6 total?

Yes, first chain counts as a stitch so even if it says e.g. 6 DC will actually be a chain plus 5 DC.

@tizwozliz

Yes, first chain counts as a stitch so even if it says e.g. 6 DC will actually be a chain plus 5 DC.

Right, I'll give this a go. Thank you

What kind of circles are you doing? There is a great and easy 'sunburst' design on youtube, I just used it to make a blanket (the circles are then turned into squares).

That's beautiful @RVN123

I'm just trying to crack a standard DC circle to start with, which I shall perhaps call a coaster!

I read a fantastic article on how to make a circle rather than a hexagon, and did succeed to some extent, but I definitely counted wrong at some point as I had a one stitch gap where the row was meant to finish!

Stitch markers are definitely your friend here, as well as watching and rewatching YouTube videos.

@romdowa

Stitch markers are definitely your friend here, as well as watching and rewatching YouTube videos.

At risk of sounding very dim, what is it I should be marking? The last stitch in the row?

Yes and the first one of the next row. So you can see where they start and end if that makes sense ?

This is what I do. I always found all the starting chains and slip stitches confusing and this makes more sense to me (plus it looks better :))

I think pp are right - the problem is almost certainly that you're not counting the initial starting chain of the round as a stitch.

I managed!! This is my first ever thing!

Looks great, very neat.