My Embroidery-Hoop Mandala

I finally wrote up this pattern the way I do it!!!  The original pattern is one of my favorites, the Granny Mandala from Crocheting with Raymond.  In the beginning, I would starch the mandalas with watered-down glue or Mod Podge before hanging them in my windows.  Then I decided to attach a mandala to an embroidery hoop and now that's my favorite way to do it.  Because I tend to use variegated yarn, I did not need to change colors with each round and so adapted the transition between rounds to include a slip stitch across the stitches to get to the next ch 1 space.  So the pattern is written to be used without yarn; I include a note about doing it otherwise.

I'm really pleased to have finally written this up, having made two mandala hoops this week.  Good luck!!

(It's dark so I'll add better photos tomorrow.)

Three embroidery-hoop mandalas
(the small one actually has 6 rounds, to get that light blue in,
but it is a little loose.)

Tonight's big mandala!

My Embroidery-Hoop Mandala

inspired by Crocheting with Raymond

·      any size embroidery hoop (wooden or plastic)

·      medium-weight (4) yarn (or any yarn with comparable hook)—I tend to use cotton

·      H hook

This pattern is for variegated yarn, with no yarn changes at each round.

NOTE:  If you want to change colors with each round, instead of “sl st across dc cluster and sl st into ch 1 sp”, join new color with a sl st into a 1 ch space from previous round and proceed as directed.

Size suggestions:

Small embroidery hoop:  5 rounds

Medium embroidery hoop:  8 rounds

Large embroidery hoop:  11 rounds

When you have completed your desired number of rounds:  Do NOT finish off.  See directions below to attach to hoop

US crochet terms

sc single crochet

dc double crochet

ch chain

sl st slip stitch

dc2tog  double crochet two together

yo yarn over

sp space

FO finish off

Round 1:  Make a magic ring. 3 ch (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc, *ch 1, 2 dc* repeat **  5 times (6 pairs).  Join with a sl st to 3^rd chain of  first 3 ch.  Tighten magic circle.

Round 2: :  sl st across tops of stiches to next ch 1 sp and sl st into ch 1 sp.  Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc, ch 1, dc2tog (same space), *ch 1, in next space dc2tog, ch 1, dc2tog* repeat ** in each ch 1 space until end of round, then ch 1 and join with a sl st into 3^rd ch of ch 3. (6 pairs)

[dc2tog:  yo, insert hook, pull through a loop, yo, pull yarn through 2 loops, yo, insert hook into same stitch, pull through one loop, yo, pull up 2 loops, yo, pull through 3 loops]

Round 3:   sl st across tops of stiches to next ch 1 sp and sl st into ch 1 sp.  Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same sp, *ch 1, into next sp 3dc* repeat ** until end of round, then ch 1 and join with a sl st into 3^rd ch of ch 3. (12 sets of 3 dc)

Round 4:  repeat round 3. (12 sets of 3 dc)

Round 5:  sl st across tops of stiches to next ch 1 sp and sl st into ch 1 sp.  Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in same sp, *ch1, into next space 3dc, ch1, 3dc* repeat ** until end of round, then ch 1 and join with a sl st to 3rd chain of original 3ch. (24 sets of 3 dc)

Round 6:  repeat round 3. (24 sets of 3 dc)

Round 7:  repeat round 3. (24 sets of 3 dc)

Round 8:  sl st across tops of stiches to next ch 1 sp and sl st into ch 1 sp.  Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in same space, *ch 1, into next space 3dc, ch 1, then into NEXT space 3dc, ch 1, 3dc*, repeat ** until end of round, then ch 1 and join with a sl st to 3rd chain of original 3ch.  (36 sets of 3 dc)

Round 9:  repeat round 3 (36 sets of dc)

Round 10:  repeat round 3.  (36 sets of 3 dc)

Round 11:  repeat round 3.  (36 sets of 3 dc)

Round 12:  sl st across tops of stiches to next ch 1 sp and sl st into ch 1 sp.  Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in same space, *ch 1, into next space 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc , ch 1, then into NEXT space 3dc, ch 1, 3dc*, repeat ** until end of round, then ch 1 and join with a sl st to 3rd chain of original 3ch.  Pattern goes 3 dc-ch 1-3dc, ch 1, 3dc, ch 1, 3dc, or increase (3dc-ch 1-3dc), ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, increase . . .

Round 13:  repeat round 3.

Round 14:  repeat round 3.

Round 15:  repeat round 3.

Round 16: repeat round 12.

To make an even larger mandala (like in a hoola hoop), do three rounds without increase and then increase the next round like round 12.

To attach to hoop:

When your mandala is the size of the inside of your hoop by stretching it a little bit,  it is done (if the mandala is too close to the edge or overlaps the hoop, it will not be tight, leading it to sag or flop.)  It will be harder to crochet around the hoop than a regular row; be patient.  Your mandala will stretch as you go and you can adjust by sliding stitches around to make it more even.

Separate your embroidery hoops and use only the inside hoop (you can do both; I like the look of doing just one so that the outside edge is just wood.) Hold mandala near the hoop and then insert the hook through a ch 1 space under the rim of the hoop, as if you are treating the hoop as the top of the ch 1 sp.  Then sc by drawing  up a long loop over the top of the hoop and completing the stitch.  Then ch 1.

*sc, ch 1* around the hoop and repeat until end of round. 

Loop:  Then ch 10 or 20 and sl st to first ch stitch to create a loop.  FO.

Mommy Hungry