Why Is My Crochet Circle Not Flat? Ruffling, Cupping and Hexagons Fixed
A crochet circle ruffles when it has too many stitches, cups when it has too few, and turns into a hexagon when the increases stack. The exact increase formula for single, half double and double crochet circles, and how to fix each shape.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Beginner
- Time
- 10 minutes
You'll need
- Your circle
- Stitch markers
- A hook one size up or down
In this post
A flat crochet circle adds the same number of stitches every round: 6 for single crochet, 8 for half double crochet and 12 for double crochet. Add more and the edge ruffles like a lettuce leaf; add fewer and it cups into a bowl. If you always increase in the same place, the circle turns into a hexagon. Tension matters too: loose stitches ruffle, tight stitches cup.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
The flat circle formula
| Stitch | Round 1 | Add per round | Round 5 should have |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single crochet | 6 | 6 | 30 |
| Half double crochet | 8 | 8 | 40 |
| Double crochet | 12 | 12 | 60 |
For single crochet: round n has 6 × n stitches, worked as (n − 2 sc, inc) × 6. Round 4 is (2 sc, inc) × 6 = 24.
Fix each shape
- Count the last round and compare with the table. A few too many or too few is the usual cause.
- Ruffling (too many): Frog the ruffled round and re-work it with the right count. If the count is right, your tension is loose — go down a hook size.
- Cupping (too few): Re-work with the right count. If the count is right, your tension is tight — go up a hook size, or add one extra increase round.
- Hexagon: Stagger the increases. On even rounds, start with half the stitches: for (4 sc, inc), work 2 sc, inc, then (4 sc, inc) × 5, 2 sc.
- Marker: In a spiral, keep a marker in the first stitch of each round so you don't add or skip stitches at the change.
- Block a nearly-flat circle: wet it, pin the edge in a circle and let it dry.
When you want a cup
Hats, baskets and amigurumi stop increasing on purpose: the circle becomes a base, and straight rounds build the sides. A beanie stops increasing when the circle is the width of the crown; a basket turns up with a back-loop round.
Learn the basics in crocheting in the round and the magic ring.
Common questions
How many stitches should I increase in a crochet circle?
Six per round for single crochet, eight for half double crochet and twelve for double crochet.
Why is my crochet circle wavy?
It has too many stitches for its size, or your tension is loose. Check the count against the formula and go down a hook size if it's correct.
Why does my circle look like a hexagon?
The increases are stacked on top of each other. Start every other round halfway through the repeat so they spread out.
Ruffle, cup or hexagon — which did yours do? ⭕
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YarnBloom shares cozy, beginner-friendly crochet patterns written in clear US terms, with a stitch count on every round and tips for the tricky bits. Grab your hook — let’s make something lovely.
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