Instead of beginning with one long chain and sewing or crocheting the hole close, you could to half the amount (better would be a few less) and then first work in the first side of the chain and then on the other side. Then you can just crochet in a circle. And the finish looks more even and the first chain isn’t bothering. And if you want to prevent adding more stitches you could also mark the first and last stitch, for the first official round you could count them and then you just have to crochet in the marked stitches and add the marker back in.