Comprehensive Guide to Crocheting Your First Mandala Pattern with Detailed Stitches and Techniques

Pattern illustration

I'm very excited about bringing you my first mandala pattern! If anything is unclear, please don't hesitate to leave a comment here or send me a message via my Facebook page. All of these have been made with cotton DK (light worsted, #3), from Rico, Twilleys of Stamford, Wendy and Patons and a 4mm (US G/6) hook, though they could me made in practically any yarn, including super chunky or textile yarn like the basket. This pattern uses techniques that will be familiar from some of my other tutorials including working in rounds, clusters of stitches similar to those in granny squares, and modifies some of them to achieve the desired result. Terms used (UK; US terms in brackets) yoh: yarn over hook sl st: slip stitch: insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook and draw through stitch. dc: double crochet (sc/ single crochet): insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw through stitch, yarn over hook and draw through both loops on hook. tr: treble (US dc/ double crochet): yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch (or ring or space), yoh and draw through stitch; yoh and draw through two loops on hook, yoh and draw through remaining two loops I'm very excited about bringing you my first mandala pattern! If anything is unclear, please don't hesitate to leave a comment here or send me a message via my Facebook page. All of these have been made with cotton DK (light worsted, #3), from Rico, Twilleys of Stamford, Wendy and Patons and a 4mm (US G/6) hook, though they could me made in practically any yarn, including super chunky or textile yarn like the basket. This pattern uses techniques that will be familiar from some of my other tutorials including working in rounds, clusters of stitches similar to those in granny squares, and modifies some of them to achieve the desired result. Terms used (UK; US terms in brackets) yoh: yarn over hook sl st: slip stitch: insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook and draw through stitch. dc: double crochet (sc/ single crochet): insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw through stitch, yarn over hook and draw through both loops on hook. tr: treble (US dc/ double crochet): yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch (or ring or space), yoh and draw through stitch; yoh and draw through two loops on hook, yoh and draw through remaining two loops

Pattern illustration

Start with an adjustable ring (see the granny square tutorial for a reminder), or chain 4 and join with sl st to form a ring. R1: Chain 3, 11tr into ring, close with sl st. (1,2) R2: Draw up loop on hook, yoh, insert hook into same stitch, draw up loop, repeat twice (7 loops on hook), yoh, pull through all loops on hook (initial puff stitch), ch1 (3-7) \* Puff stitch: yoh, insert hook into stitch, draw up loop, repeat twice (6 loops on hook), yoh, pull through all loops on hook ), ch1\* and repeat in each of the remaining stitches around the circle (12 puff stitches, 12 ch), close with slip st to first puff stitch. Tie off yarn.(8,9)

Pattern illustration

R3: Attach next colour (slip knot on hook and sl st into any space between puff sts with a sl st; ch3 or use standing treble (US double) crochet . 2tr in same space (like a granny cluster); 3tr in each of remaining spaces between puff stitches (12 3-tr clusters), slip stitch to top of ch3/ starting treble to close round (10-16) R4: Ch3 or starting treble (double), then 1tr into first stitch of adjacent cluster, and 2tr in 3rd stitch of cluster. In each of the remaining 11 clusters, 2tr in 1" and 3rd stitch. Close with a sl st to top of ch3/standing treble to close round. Tie off yarn. (17,18)

Pattern illustration

R5: Attach next colour (slip knot on hook and sl st into any space in pairs of clusters (above skipped 2"d stitch of cluster) with a sl st; ch3 or standing treble. 4tr in space between clusters (above skipped 2"d stitch of cluster) and 5tr in each of remaining 11 spaces (12 5-tr clusters). Slip stitch to top of ch3/ starting treble to close round (19,20) R6: Ch3 or starting treble crochet, 5tr in space between clusters from previous round; 6tr in each subsequent space (12 6-tr clusters). Slip stitch to top of ch3/ starting treble to close round, tie off yarn. (21) R7: Attach next colour in any space between clusters; ch3 or use, 5tr in space between clusters from previous round; dc in 3rd treble of cluster. 6tr in each subsequent space and dc in 3"d treble of cluster (12 7-tr clusters, 12dc). Slip stitch to top of ch3/ starting treble to close round. (22-24) R8: Ch3 or starting treble crochet, 7tr in space between clusters from previous round; 8tr in each subsequent space (12 8-tr clusters). Slip stitch to top of ch3/ starting treble to close round, tie off yarn. (25)

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