Magic Ring or Magic Loop

The Magic Ring (or Magic Loop) is a good way to start the top of a hat.  There are numerous excellent videos online to show how to do this.  Simply Google "Magic Ring" and add the name of the desired crochet stitch (such as single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet) to your search.

Here's a photo tutorial on making a Magic Ring using the treble stitch:

Wind the yarn around your finger, creating a ring. (Finger not shown.)

Pull up a loop using the working yarn. (Not the tail end.)

Pull up a loop to chain 1. (Does not count as a stitch.)

If working in a spiral, work stitches into the ring. Here I have two single crochet stitches at the beginning of a round.

If working in joined rounds, make a beginning chain as instructed in your pattern. Here, I am chaining 3 for treble crochet.

Work stitches into the center of the ring.

Work required number of stitches into ring.

If directed by your pattern, pull tail end to close up ring. (Some Magic Rings for motifs leave a center hole.)

To finish, join with slip stitch to the first stitch in the ring.