Welcome to a mindful mandala CAL! This crochet along is meant to help you find a mindful, hopefully peaceful, moment of crochet time each month. Plus, we’ll create something beautiful along the way!
A Lacy Mandala
Last month, the mandala was an easy repeat pattern. This month, the pattern is more complex and has a lacy feel to it. Although there is a slightly repetitive nature to some of the rounds, each round is different. This is a pattern to be very mindful of and will hopefully get you to slow way down to appreciate the stitches.
You will notice that the smaller mandala in the picture has 10 sections versus the 12 sections in the pattern. I didn’t realize until I started the larger one that the original pattern varied a little from my current patterns. This has been adjusted in the pattern for the 12 section repeat. I will make a new sock weight size mandala and share it in the Facebook group and on my YouTube channel later this month.
As a reminder, the original pattern is written for sock weight yarn. I’m using Lion Brand Jeans yarn for the larger mandalas. This is a #4/worsted weight yarn and I’m using a 5.5mm/I-9 hook. This month’s larger mandala was made with the color Brand New. Each mandala uses between 1.6 and 2 grams of yarn. All the sock weight yarn is mini skeins from Southern Skeins from my previous club.
Check below for previous month’s patterns & check out my YouTube channel for the latest video.
Progress so Far
Here’s a look at the mandalas together for the sock weight yarn. These will be joined into a free form scarf at the end of the CAL.
These are the worsted weight mandalas so far. These will be squared up and joined into an afgan at the end of the CAL.
Quarterly Blocking
I thought it would be good to block the mandalas every 3 months, or quarterly. This way the mandalas will be ready for joining at the end of the year. I have 2 blocking boards – one was made by my dad out of cedar wood and one was thrifted. The square one would be perfect for the large mandalas, but I’ve realized it needs more holes. The rectangular would work for the small mandalas but the holes are too big for such delicate yarn.
You can find all kinds of blocking mats and boards online. I’ve decided to order these Mr. Pen blocking mats so I will have options for larger projects. In the mean time, I’m using this piece of foam board I had on hand. I just used T-pins to secure it, making sure they are leaned out. This keeps them from wanting to pull out of the board.
I use this Magic Pro steamer for acrylic blocking. I also use it for steaming garments instead of ironing and it works very well. For the sock yarn mandalas, I soak them in a wool wash like Soak. Then I will pin them out the same way to dry.
This process doesn’t take all that long and it helps get flatter pieces. Wool yarn also grows, or blooms, when you wet it. Blocking will help everything lay better and be easier to join in the end.
February’s Mindful Mandala Pattern
Here are all the details about sharing and the printable pattern:
- The printable PDF can be found right here. The printable PDF will be free until the end of the month each month, then it will move to Etsy for a small fee. The pattern will always be on the blog for everyone to use.
- You can share your finished mandalas in the Teadoddles Makers Facebook group. Any CAL, QAL, or other make you do can be shared there. I pick someone each month to receive a $25 Amazon gift card. All you have to do is share your makes!
- You can also tag me on Instagram with #teadoddles or share a picture in my community area on YouTube.
Supplies:
- Yarn – Sock #1, 20g / 88yds {approximately}, 75% SW Merino, 25% Nylon
- Hook – 4.25 mm – G/6
- Note – Any size yarn can be used to make this pattern. The mandala will be larger or smaller depending on yarn weight. Just use the recommended hook size for the yarn you’re using.
Abbreviations:
- sl st – slip stitch
- st – stitch
- beg – beginning
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- trc – treble crochet
- picot – ch3, sl st in beg sc
Instructions:
- R1 – Make a magic circle, ch 3, 11 dc into circle {12 dc}
- R2 – ch1, 2 sc in each st, sl st to beg st {24 sc}
- R3 – ch 1, {2 sc in same st, ch 1, skip next sc} repeat { to } to end, sl st to beg st {24 sc, 12 ch}
Note: R1 thru R3 will be the same for all mandalas for the scarf
- R4 – ch1, sc in beg st and next st, *2hdc in ch1 space, sc in next 2sc* repeat * to * 10 more times, 2hdc in ch1 space, sl st to beg sc [12 hdc & 24 sc]
- R5 – ch3, trc in sc below, {trc, dc} in next sc, *ch1,skip 2hdc, {dc, trc, trc, dc} over next two sc* repeat * to * 12 times, ch1,skip 2hdc, sl st to beg ch3 [12 {dc, trc, trc, dc} & 12 ch1 spaces]
- R6 – *sl st into trc, ch3, sl st into next trc, ch4, skip {dc, ch1, dc}* repeat * to * 12 times, sl st to beg sl st [12 ch3 & ch4 spaces, 24 sl st]
- R7 – sl st into ch3 space, ch1, *3sc into ch3 space, {hdc, dc} into 1st half of ch4 space, trc into ch1 space below ch4 space, {dc, hdc} into 2nd half of ch4 space* repeat * to * 12 times, sl st to beg sc [36sc, 24hdc & dc, 12trc]
- R8 – ch4 {beg dc & ch1}, skip sc, *dc in next sc, hdc in blo for {hdc, dc, trc, dc, hdc}, dc in next sc, ch1, skip sc* repeat * to * 11 times, dc in next sc, hdc in blo for {hdc, dc, trc, dc, hdc}, dc in next sc, sl st to beg ch3 [24 dc, 60 hdc, 12 ch1 spaces]
- R9 – sl st in ch1 space, ch3, 6trc in ch1 space, *skip dc & 2hdc, sc in next hdc, skip 2hdc & dc, 7 trc in ch1 space* repeat * to * 12 times, sl st to beg ch3 {84 trc, 12 sc]
- R10 – Ch1, sc in beg st, *ch3, skip 2trc, sc in next trc, ch3, skip 2trc, sc in next trc, 3hdc in sc, sc in trc* repeat * to * 11 times, ch3, skip 2trc, sc in next trc, ch3, skip 2trc, sc in next trc, 3hdc in sc, sl st to beg sc {36 hdc, 36 sc, 24 ch3 spaces]
- R11 – ch1, *sc in sc, {sc, 2hdc, dc} in ch3 space, {trc, ch1, trc} in sc, {dc, 2hdc, sc} in ch3 space, sc in sc, ch3* repeat * to * 12 times, sl st to beg sc {24trc, 24dc, 48hdc, 48sc, 12 ch3 spaces]
- R12 – ch3, dc in next sc, *ch3, skip {2hdc, dc, trc}, sc in ch1 space, ch3, skip {trc, dc, 2hdc} dc in next 2sc, 3trc in ch3, dc in next 2sc* repeat * to * 11 times, ch3, skip {2hdc, dc, trc}, sc in ch1 space, ch3, skip {trc, dc, 2hdc} dc in next 2sc, 3trc in ch3, sl st to beg ch3 {36trc, 48dc, 12sc, 24 ch3 spaces]
- R13 – ch1, sc in beg st & next dc, *{2hdc, dc} in ch3 space, {trc, ch1, trc} in sc, {dc, 2hdc} in ch3 space, sc in next 2dc, {hdc, dc, hdc} in next 3trc, sc in next 2dc* repeat * to * 11 times, {2hdc, dc} in ch3 space, {trc, ch1, trc} in sc, {dc, 2hdc} in ch3 space, sc in next 2dc, {hdc, dc, hdc} in next 3trc, sl st to beg sc {24trc, 36dc, 72hdc, 48sc, 12 ch3 spaces]
- R14 – ch1, hdc in beg st, sc, *ch5, skip {2hdc, dc, trc}, sc in ch1 space, picot, ch5, skip {trc, dc, 2hdc}, sc, hdc, dc, {trc, ch1, trc} in dc, dc, hdc, sc* repeat * to * 11 times, ch5, skip {2hdc, dc, trc}, sc in ch1 space, picot, ch5, skip {trc, dc, 2hdc}, sc, hdc, dc, {trc, ch1, trc} in dc, dc, sl st to beg hdc {24trc, 24dc, 24hdc, 36sc, 12 ch1 spaces, 12 picots]
Fasten off and weave in ends
Happy making y’all!
