Mandala crochet pattern: six rounds, six colours
A colourful flat motif that teaches clusters, chain loops and petals in six short rounds. Use it as a wall hanging, a doily or a mat.
By YarnHook
|2 min read
A mandala is a flat circle built from rounds of different stitches. Each round here uses a new colour and teaches one new thing, so by the end you've practised double crochet, chain loops, clusters and petals.
Fasten off at the end of every round and join the next colour into the space indicated.
Materials
- Worsted weight cotton in 6 colours (A to F), about 40 yd in total
- 4.5 mm (7) hook
- Yarn needle
- Optional: an 8 in (20 cm) metal or wooden hoop for hanging
Abbreviations
- MR: magic ring
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc / hdc / dc: single, half double and double crochet (guide)
- sk: skip
- sp: space
The pattern
Rnd 1 (colour A): Make a MR. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in the ring. Pull closed, sl st to the top of the ch 3. Fasten off. (12 dc)
Rnd 2 (colour B): Join in any st. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st. 2 dc in each st around. Sl st to the top of the ch 3. Fasten off. (24 dc)
Rnd 3 (colour C): Join in any st. Ch 1, sc in the same st. Ch 3, sk 1 st. (Sc in the next st, ch 3, sk 1 st) around. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (12 ch-3 loops)
Rnd 4 (colour D): Join in any ch-3 loop. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same loop, ch 1. (3 dc in the next loop, ch 1) around. Sl st to the top of the ch 3. Fasten off. (12 clusters of 3 dc)
Rnd 5 (colour E): Join in any ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sc in the same sp. Ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 5) around. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (12 ch-5 loops)
Rnd 6 (colour F): Join in any ch-5 loop. In each loop around, work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (12 petals)
Blocking
Pin the mandala to a towel, stretching gently so the petals point outward evenly. Spritz with water and let it dry completely. Cotton holds the shape well once blocked.
Ways to use it
- Wall hanging: sew it into an 8 in hoop, working a whip stitch through each petal tip.
- Table mat or trivet: make it in two layers of cotton and sew them together for heat protection.
- Make it bigger: repeat Rnds 5 and 6, working the ch-5 loops into the centre dc of each petal.
Round crochet mats in bold colour bands. Worked in cotton and stopped after a few rounds, a mandala makes a mat or trivet like these. Photo: Rounds by Tracey Leigh, CC BY 2.0, resized and cropped.
Looking for something round and quicker? Try our cotton coasters.
Questions about this pattern
Why is my crochet mandala not lying flat?
If it ruffles, your chain loops are too long for your tension; if it cups, they're too short. Block it flat with pins and a spritz of water, or go up or down half a hook size.
How do I hang a crochet mandala?
Sew it to a metal or wooden hoop slightly larger than the mandala, using the last round's chain spaces. A 8 in hoop suits this pattern.
YarnHook
Free crochet patterns and tutorials
YarnHook publishes free crochet patterns and tutorials in plain language, using US crochet terms.
