Stretch your crochet skills with our free crochet mandala patterns – we’ve got three for you to try!

Here’s a fresh makeover for a crochet classic. Mandala symbols have their origins in Hinduism, where they represent the universe. They were later adopted by the psychedelic movement of the 60s, and came to be associated with all things hippy. We’re happy to see them revived and updated though, and these rainbow versions will suit a wide variety of interior styles even if boho’s not really your bag. Use them as potholders, table decorations, coasters, sew them to a cushion or hang them on a wall. Plus, there’s so many stitches to try in one project – we can’t wait to get stuck in.

You will need

• Sport weight or double knit yarn in a variety of colours. We used NAKO Baby Soft Hosgeldin, 60% Bamboo/ 40% Polyamide, 100g/230m per ball, one ball each in:
  Light Melon (99)
  Orange (6973)
  Nile (2587)
  Pale Green (10559)
  Grass Green (11217)
  Bright Green (11216)
  Green (6739)
  White (208)
  Purple (1036)
  Yellow (184)
  Blue (3323)
  Coral (3655)
• 2.5mm (UK 12, US C/2) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle

Finished size

Approximate diameters: large 24cm (9½”), medium 18.5cm (73/8″), small 13cm (5¼”)

Notes

Please note that UK crochet terms are used throughout.

Although tension isn’t too important for this design, mandalas require a firm finish and a slightly smaller hook than usual for the yarn, so create a firm finish that you’re happy with and aim for the approximate sizes given.

Abbreviations

picot ch5, ss to 5th ch from hook

puff st (yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop to the height of a tr) 3 times, inserting the hook in the same st each time, yrh and draw through all 7 loops on hook, ch1 to complete st

Each mandala is made in the round following the colour scheme mentioned (or your preferred colour scheme). If the colour doesn’t change between rounds, then simply ss along to the point where you start the next round, otherwise join the new colour of yarn with a ss into the starting point. When you change colours, fasten off and sew your ends immediately as this will give the neatest finish and save a lot of sewing in at the end.

How to make a large crochet mandala

Colour scheme
Foundation and Round 1: White
Round 2: Green
Round 3: Blue
Round 4: Pale Green
Round 5: Coral
Round 6: Coral
Round 7: Purple
Round 8: White
Round 9: Bright Green
Round 10: White
Round 11: Yellow
Round 12: White
Round 13: Orange
Round 14: White
Round 15: White
Round 16: White
Round 17: Pale Green
Round 18: Bright Green

Foundation
ch7 and join into a ring with a ss.

Round 1
ch2 (does not count as st), 11puff st in the ring, remembering to lock each with a ch1. Join by making a ss into the top of the first puff st. Fasten off.

Round 2
Join yarn between any 2 puff sts, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 2tr in the same place. Work 3tr in each gap between puff sts, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [11 groups of 3tr]

Round 3
Join yarn in the gap between any two 3tr groups, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 2tr in the same place, ch2, (3tr in the next gap between two 3tr groups, ch2) 10 times, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [11 groups of 3tr and 2ch-sps]

Round 4
Join yarn in any 2ch-sp, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 4tr in the same 2ch-sp, ch1, (5tr, ch1) in each 2ch-sp around, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [11 groups of 5tr and 1ch-sps]

Round 5
Join yarn in any 1ch-sp, ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in same 1ch-sp, ch7, (1dc in the next 1ch-sp, ch7) 10 times, ss to 1st dc to join [11 7ch-sps]

Round 6
ss in 7ch-sp, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 7tr in same sp, 8tr in every 7ch-sp around, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [88tr]

Round 7
Join yarn in any tr, ch3 (counts as 1tr), ch1, miss 1 st, *1tr in next st, ch1, miss 1 st; repeat from * to end of round, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [44tr and 1ch-sps]

Round 8
Join yarn in any 1ch-sp, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 1tr in the same space, ch1, (2tr, ch1) in each 1ch-sp around, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [88tr and 44 1ch-sps]

Round 9
Join yarn in any 1ch-sp, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 1tr in the same space, ch2, (2tr, ch2) in each 1ch-sp around, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [88tr and 44 2ch-sps]

Round 10
Join yarn in any 2ch-sp, ch1 (does not count as st), 2dc in the same space, 1dc between the next 2trs along, *2dc in next 2ch-sp, 1dc between next 2 trs along; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off [132dc]

Round 11
Join yarn in any dc, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 1tr in each dc around, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [132tr]

Round 12
Join yarn in any tr, ch1 (does not count a st), 1dc in tr, 1dc in each tr around, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off [132dc]

Round 13
Join yarn in any dc, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 1tr in the same dc, (ch1, miss 1 st, 1tr in next st) twice, ch1, miss 1 st, *2tr in next st, (ch1, miss 1 st, 1tr in next st) twice, ch1, miss 1 st; repeat from * to end of round, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3. Fasten off [22 groups of 2tr, 44 single tr and 66 1ch-sps]

Round 14
Join yarn in the centre of any 2tr group, ch3 (counts as 1tr), 1tr in the same place, 2tr in the next 1ch-sp, 1tr in the next 1ch-sp, 2tr in the next 1ch-sp, *2tr in the centre of the next 2tr group, 2tr in the next 1ch-sp, 1tr in the next 1ch-sp, 2tr in the next 1ch-sp; repeat from * to end of round, join with a ss in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 [154tr]

Round 15
ss along to first gap between a 2tr group and a single tr, ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in gap at base of ch, 1dc in next gap (between the 1tr and the next 2tr group), ch9, miss 6 sts, *1dc in each of next 2 gaps (either side of the next single tr), ch9, miss 6 sts; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off [22 9ch-sps]

Round 16
Join yarn in any 9ch-sp, *(2dc, 5tr, 2dc) in 9ch-sp, 1dc in gap between next 2dc along; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off [22 shells]

Round 17
Join yarn in any dc, ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in each st around, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off.

Round 18
Join yarn in any dc between ‘shells’, ch1 (does not count as st), *1dc in each of next 5 sts (brings you to the st above a centre tr from the shell), 1picot, 1dc in each of next 5 sts; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

How to make a medium crochet mandala

Colour scheme
Foundation and Round 1: Yellow
Round 2: Orange
Round 3: Nile
Round 4: Purple
Round 5: White
Round 6: White
Round 7: Grass Green
Round 8: Light Melon
Round 9: Purple
Round 10: White
Round 11: Bright Green
Round 12: White
Round 13: Orange

Rounds 1-12
Work first 12 rounds as for the large mandala.

Round 13
Join yarn in any dc, ch1 (does not count as st), *1dc in each of next 4 sts, 1 picot; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off [33 picot sts] Weave in all ends.

How to make a small crochet mandala

Colour scheme
Foundation and Round 1: Light Melon
Round 2: Coral
Round 3: Purple
Round 4: Blue
Round 5: Nile
Round 6: Nile
Round 7: Bright Green
Round 8: Bright Green
Round 9: White

Rounds 1-6
Work first 6 rounds as for the large mandala.

Round 7
Join yarn in any gap between 8tr groups, ch11, miss all sts until the next 1ch-sp, 2dc in the 1ch-sp; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st st with a ss [11 11ch-sps]

Round 8
Ss into 1st 11ch-sp, *(2dc, 5tr, 2dc) in 11ch-sp, 1dc in gap betwen next 2dc along; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off [11 shells]

Round 9
Join yarn in any dc between ‘shells’, ch1 (does not count as st), *1dc in each of next 5 sts (brings you to the st above a centre tr from the shell), 1picot, 1dc in each of next 5 sts; repeat from * to end of round, join to 1st dc with a ss. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

About Ayda Algin
Ayda lives in Istanbul and works full time as an engineer, part time as a blogger on cafenoHut, where she shares interior design ideas, inspiring photography, recipes and DIY craft projects. She has recently released a book, Made For Baby, which features sewing projects designed for little ones. www.cafenohut.com.

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