Version A

Level: Intermediate

Size: 9” / [23 cm] diameter.

Gauge: 25 sts and 35 rows = 4” [10 cm] after wet blocking.

Although the gauge doesn’t matter in this pattern, just use a hook that suitable for the yarn you chose.

Materials

Yarn:

Alize Cotton Baby Soft (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic; 295 yards [270 meters]/100 grams): 57 Bordeaux (A, 1 ball), 58 Navy (B, 1 ball); Silke by Arvier Estate (100% Cotton; 127 yards [116 meters]/ 50 grams): 49 Beige (C, 1 ball), 9226 Red (D, 1 ball); Ornaghi Filati Gong (100% Cotton; 142 yards [130 meters]/50 grams): 298 Turquoise (E, 1 ball).

Hook: US size E/4 (3.5 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors

Special Stitches

BPhdc (Back post half double crochet): Yo, insert the hook through the back side of the work, across the front of the indicated st all the way to the back side of the work, yo, pull the hook the same way back through your work and through the 2 lps on the hook.

BPdc3tog (Back post double crochet 3 together): *Yo, insert hook through the back side of the work, across the front of the indicated st all the way to the back side of the work, yo, pull the hook the same way back through your work again. Now you have 3 lps on hook, pull through 2 lps; repeat from * twice more (in next 2 sts), ending up with 4 lps on hook, yo, pull through all 4 lps.

Hdc3tog (Half double crochet 3 together): *Yo, insert hook into st, pull yarn back over (leave lps on the hook); rep from * twice more (in next 2 sts). Now you have 7 lps on the hook, pull yarn through all 7 lps.

Pattern Notes

Each round (except for Rnd 2) starts with a change of color with sl st to attach the new yarn. If you use only one color/skein, don’t fasten off where instructed until at the end.

Each round starts with a chain which counts as first stitch.

At the end of each round, make sure that you’re stitch count is correct.

Pattern

Rnd 1: With E, ch 5, form a ring with sl st into the first ch.

Rnd 2: With E, ch 3, 15 dc into the ring, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (16 dc)

Note: Every time you change a color, fasten off the yarn and leave about 5″ / [16 cm] tail to weave in.

Rnd 3: Attach C in any dc with sl st, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), work 1 hdc in the same dc as the ch2, 2 hdc in each dc all around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (32 hdc)

Rnd 4: Attach B in any hdc through back post (counts as first BPdc) insert hook from the back side of your work between the first and second hdc, then in front of the second hdc (also called post) and into the back side of the work. Yo and go back the same way to the back side of your work, ch 3. BPdc in next st, ch 1, *BPdc in next 2 sts, ch 1 (don’t skip st); rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (32 BPdc, 16 ch)

Rnd 5: Attach A in any BPdc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each BPdc and each gap around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (48 dc)

Note: You need to dc in the gap and in the st right after it which belongs to first BPdc.

Rnd 6: Attach E in any dc through back post (same as Rnd 4), ch 2, *yo, insert hook through back post of next dc, pull yarn through to the back side of the work, pull yarn through only 2 loops and leave it on the hook; repeat from * once more (in next dc). Now you have 3 lps on the hook, yo, pull yarn through all 3 lps, ch 4, **BPdc3tog, ch 4; rep from ** around, sl st to the top of the first BPdc3tog. Fasten off. (16 BPdc3tog, 64 ch)

Rnd 7: Attach C in top of any cluster (BPdc3tog), ch 2 (counts as first hdc), work 4 hdc in sp,

*hdc in top of cluster, 4 hdc in gap; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (80 hdc)

Rnd 8: Attach B in any hdc through back post, ch 3 (counts as first BPdc), BPdc in next 4 sts, ch 1, *BPdc in next 5 sts, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (80 BPdc + 16 ch)

Rnd 9: Attach D in any BPdc, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each BPdc (includes the ch 1 gaps, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (96 hdc)

Note: Don’t forget the st right after the gap (same as in Row 5).

Rnd 10: Attach A in any hdc, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), ch 2 again (counts as gap), *sk st and hdc in the next st, ch 2; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (48 hdc, 96 ch)

Rnd 11: Attach E in any gap, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc again in the same gap, ch 1, *2 dc in same gap, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (96 dc, 48 ch)

Rnd 12: Attach C in any gap, ch 1 (counts as first sc), 2 sc in same gap, *3 sc in same gap; rep from * around, sl st to top of ch-1. (144 sc)

Note: The mandala might feel a bit tight at this point and will want to fold into the center, but don’t worry it will get flatten out in the next rnds.

Rnd 13: Attach B in any sc through back post (same as Rnd 4), ch 1 (counts as first BPhdc), BPhdc around, sl st to the top of beg ch-1. Fasten off. (144 BPhdc)

Rnd 14: Attach D in any BPhdc, ch 2, *yo, insert hook into next st and pull yarn back over (leave loops on the hook); rep from * in the next st (second from the beg ch-2). Now you have 5 lps on the hook, pull yarn through all 5 lps, ch 2, **hdc3tog, ch 2; rep from ** around, sl st to the top of beg hdc3tog. Fasten off. (48 hdc3tog, 48 ch-2)

Note: Work hdc3tog a bit loose to get a nice puff.

If the mandala feels too tight, ch 3 after the hdc3tog instead of ch 2.

Rnd 15: Attach A in any gap, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), 2 hdc in same gap as ch 1, ch 1, *3 hdc in same gap, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (48 3-hdc, 48 ch-1)

Rnd 16: Attach E in any gap, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), ch 3 (counts as gap), *hdc in gap, ch 3; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2 (second ch from where the yarn is attached). Fasten off. (48 hdc, 48 ch-3)

Rnd 17: Attach B in any gap, ch 1 (counts as first sc), 3 sc in same gap, *4 sc in same gap; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. (48 4-sc)

Finishing

Weave in all ends.

Soak and block if needed.

 

Version B

Level: Intermediate

Size: 9” / [23 cm] diameter.

Gauge: 25 sts and 35 rows = 4” [10 cm] after wet blocking.

Although the gauge doesn’t matter in this pattern, just use a hook that suitable for the yarn you chose.

Materials

Yarn:

Alize Cotton Baby Soft (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic; 295 yards [270 meters]/100 grams): 57 Bordeaux (A, 1 ball), 58 Navy (B, 1 ball); Silke by Arvier Estate (100% Cotton; 127 yards [116 meters]/ 50 grams): 49 Beige (C, 1 ball), 9226 Red (D, 1 ball); Ornaghi Filati Gong (100% Cotton; 142 yards [130 meters]/50 grams): 298 Turquoise (E, 1 ball).

Hook: US size E/4 (3.5 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors

Special Stitches

BPhdc (Back post half double crochet): Yo, insert the hook through the back side of the work, across the front of the indicated st all the way to the back side of the work, yo, pull the hook the same way back through your work and through the 2 lps on the hook.

BPdc3tog (Back post double crochet 3 together): *Yo, insert hook through the back side of the work, across the front of the indicated st all the way to the back side of the work, yo, pull the hook the same way back through your work again. Now you have 3 lps on hook, pull through 2 lps; repeat from * twice more (in next 2 sts), ending up with 4 lps on hook, yo, pull through all 4 lps.

Hdc3tog (Half double crochet 3 together): *Yo, insert hook into st, pull yarn back over (leave lps on the hook); rep from * twice more (in next 2 sts). Now you have 7 lps on the hook, pull yarn through all 7 lps.

Pattern Notes

Each round (except for Rnd 2) starts with a change of color with sl st to attach the new yarn. If you use only one color/skein, don’t fasten off where instructed until at the end.

Each round starts with a chain which counts as first stitch.

At the end of each round, make sure that you’re stitch count is correct.

Pattern

Rnd 1: With E, ch 5, form a ring with sl st into the first ch.

Rnd 2: With E, ch 3, 15 dc into the ring, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (16 dc)

Note: Every time you change a color, fasten off the yarn and leave about 5″ / [16 cm] tail to weave in.

Rnd 3: Attach C in any dc with sl st, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), work 1 hdc in the same dc as the ch2, 2 hdc in each dc all around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (32 hdc)

Rnd 4: Attach B in any hdc through back post (counts as first BPdc) insert hook from the back side of your work between the first and second hdc, then in front of the second hdc (also called post) and into the back side of the work. Yo and go back the same way to the back side of your work, ch 3. BPdc in next st, ch 1, *BPdc in next 2 sts, ch 1 (don’t skip st); rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (32 BPdc, 16 ch)

Rnd 5: Attach A in any BPdc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each BPdc and each gap around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (48 dc)

Note: You need to dc in the gap and in the st right after it which belongs to first BPdc.

Rnd 6: Attach E in any dc through back post (same as Rnd 4), ch 2, *yo, insert hook through back post of next dc, pull yarn through to the back side of the work, pull yarn through only 2 loops and leave it on the hook; repeat from * once more (in next dc). Now you have 3 lps on the hook, yo, pull yarn through all 3 lps, ch 4, **BPdc3tog, ch 4; rep from ** around, sl st to the top of the first BPdc3tog. Fasten off. (16 BPdc3tog, 64 ch)

Rnd 7: Attach C in top of any cluster (BPdc3tog), ch 2 (counts as first hdc), work 4 hdc in sp,

*hdc in top of cluster, 4 hdc in gap; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (80 hdc)

Rnd 8: Attach B in any hdc through back post, ch 3 (counts as first BPdc), BPdc in next 4 sts, ch 1, *BPdc in next 5 sts, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (80 BPdc + 16 ch)

Rnd 9: Attach D in any BPdc, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each BPdc (includes the ch 1 gaps, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (96 hdc)

Note: Don’t forget the st right after the gap (same as in Row 5).

Rnd 10: Attach A in any hdc, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), ch 2 again (counts as gap), *sk st and hdc in the next st, ch 2; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (48 hdc, 96 ch)

Rnd 11: Attach E in any gap, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc again in the same gap, ch 1, *2 dc in same gap, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (96 dc, 48 ch)

Rnd 12: Attach C in any gap, ch 1 (counts as first sc), 2 sc in same gap, *3 sc in same gap; rep from * around, sl st to top of ch-1. (144 sc)

Note: The mandala might feel a bit tight at this point and will want to fold into the center, but don’t worry it will get flatten out in the next rnds.

Rnd 13: Attach B in any sc through back post (same as Rnd 4), ch 1 (counts as first BPhdc), BPhdc around, sl st to the top of beg ch-1. Fasten off. (144 BPhdc)

Rnd 14: Attach D in any BPhdc, ch 2, *yo, insert hook into next st and pull yarn back over (leave loops on the hook); rep from * in the next st (second from the beg ch-2). Now you have 5 lps on the hook, pull yarn through all 5 lps, ch 2, **hdc3tog, ch 2; rep from ** around, sl st to the top of beg hdc3tog. Fasten off. (48 hdc3tog, 48 ch-2)

Note: Work hdc3tog a bit loose to get a nice puff.

If the mandala feels too tight, ch 3 after the hdc3tog instead of ch 2.

Rnd 15: Attach A in any gap, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), 2 hdc in same gap as ch 1, ch 1, *3 hdc in same gap, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Fasten off. (48 3-hdc, 48 ch-1)

Rnd 16: Attach E in any gap, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), ch 3 (counts as gap), *hdc in gap, ch 3; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2 (second ch from where the yarn is attached). Fasten off. (48 hdc, 48 ch-3)

Rnd 17: Attach B in any gap, ch 1 (counts as first sc), 3 sc in same gap, *4 sc in same gap; rep from * around, sl st to the top of beg ch-2. (48 4-sc)

Finishing

Weave in all ends.

Soak and block if needed.