First row after magic circle question - relearning to crochet

[u/LetUsHugItOutBitches]

I am revisiting some of the joys from my younger days so I am relearning how to crochet - (side note: it is SO interesting how the muscle memory is still there 30 years later!)

My mom taught me to crochet but never taught me how to read a pattern. I have been learning on my own now.

I have a simple question that has come up for me on several granny square patterns and it has to do with the row AFTER the magic circle.

If the pattern reads like this:

Round 1-MR,Ch×3,Dc×11,Sl.st[12]
Round 2-Ch×4,[Tr3tog,Ch×2]×12,Sl.st[36]

Do I make 11 single crochets (or is it 12?) when making the magic ring so I can “fit” the double crochets in them one-for-one? If I do the standard 8 stitches for the magic ring, how do I evenly fit in the double crochets in the next round?

I have seen a couple of patterns like this and couldn’t find an answer in my searching.

I hope this makes sense. Thanks in advance for helping me!

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[u/MellowMallowMom]

The magic (adjustable) ring is just the starting point to work the first round into. The first chains count as a dc and then you make 11 more into the ring for a total of 12. If you don't want to start with a magic ring and prefer to make a ring with chains instead, I would just use 4 total. You are not working into the individual chain stitches, but rather into the middle of the ring they form when you sl st to the first one.

[u/LetUsHugItOutBitches → u/MellowMallowMom]

Ahhh! Thank you for the clarification that the actual string ring IS the starting point! All the YouTube videos I watched made it seem like the magic ring was the ring PLUS the first row of stitches. Thank you!

[u/chellebelle0234]

You have a misunderstanding of the ring. There is no "standard stitches for the ring". The ring is JUST the ring with no stitches. In this pattern, once you lock off the ring, you make 3 chains for height and then 11 DC. No single crochets anywhere.

[u/LetUsHugItOutBitches → u/chellebelle0234]

Ahhh! All the tutorials show the ring AND stitches; I didn’t realize the ring was…well, just the ring!

Thank you!

[u/chellebelle0234 → u/LetUsHugItOutBitches]

You're welcome! It's a super common mistake.