Crocheted mini mandalas are the perfect stash buster and especially if you happen to have some cheerful spring colors that need a purpose! Of course, then you may just find yourself in my predicament, which is now what? Namely, not quite sure how to use these little guys, since at 16.5 cm in diameter they are too big to be coasters. I was thinking about a wall hanging, or maybe even using them as appliques on pillow cases for the Passover seder. Maybe I just need to take my own advice and consult my list of how to use crocheted mandalas!
They are sweet, right? Just honestly not colors that really work in my house, that is why I had the yarn left over in the first place. But now I'm realizing that actually I do have a yellow room (it is our toy/coat/bomb shelter room, sorry to add that, just being real) that needs a little boost, so maybe I ought to try making a doily lamp shade. Now I'm excited, this could be great! Or come to think of it, a wall hanging using these would work in there too, and probably the simplest option for my busy life!
So whaddya say? Up for some stash busting mini mandalas? Let's go!
Mini Mandala Crochet Pattern:
I used cotton light weight yarn and a 3.5mm hook.
My mandalas measure 16.5 com at widest point
Make a magic ring.
Round 1: ch3, DC 11 into ring, and close with a slip stitch. Break off yarn if desired. Attach new color in any space between two DCs
Round 2: ch3 and DC into same space. 2DC into every space, around. Join to ch3 with a slip stitch. Total 23 DC + 1ch3. Break off yarn and add new color in any space between 2DC clusters.
Round 3: sc, ch2, sc into next space between 2DC clusters. continue in this manner around, join to top of first sc with a slip stitch. Break off color and join new color in any ch2 space.
Round 4: ch 3, 3DC into 2 ch space, 4 DC into next 2 ch space, and continue around. Slip stitch into top of first ch3. Break off yarn and join new yarn in top of any DC.
Round 5; sc around, join to first sc with a slip stitch. Break off yarn and join new color into top of any sc.
Round 6: Repeat round 5.
Round 7: The sc stitches in this row should line up with the sc stitches from round 3. Attach yarn between 2 sc in point directly above sc from round 3. sc, ch4, skip 4sc, sc, ch4, around. Sl stitch to first sc. 13 ch4 spaces made. Break off yarn and attach new color into any ch4 space. Note: If for any reason this row causes your mandala to buckle, make each ch4 a ch5 instead.
Round 8:ch3, 4dc into 4ch space. 5DC into next 4ch space around, joint to first ch3 with a slip stitch.
Round 9: To make the shell border you need to crochet a sequence as follows into each group of 5dc: sc, hdc, 3DC in next sc, hdc, sc. join with sl st to first sc, and break off yarn.
Weave in all those ends, and enjoy your little mandala!
