Today we are going to talk about crochet Mandalas, you know those pretty round things that inspire you to make them, even though you don't really have a clue what you will actually do with them. There has been a lot of Mandala-love around in Blogland of late, with lots of wonderful patterns cropping up and some lovely sociable crochet-a-longs happening too (see here) . I even found some beautiful and inspirational mediative mandala making (see here), which is a lovely idea. We all know how soothing and theraputic crochet is, and these little yarny circles are the perfect way to indulge a bit of colourful, peaceful contemplation I think.
In the picture above, you can see a few of the mandala flowers I experimented with last year when I was working through some yarn bombing ideas for Yarndale. These pretty, circular articles of crochet ended up being pinned to the wall in my studio and I have grown very fond of seeing them there. They take up the role of "woolly wall art", and make a pleasing visual display in much the same way as plates or old fashioned pot holders would.
Isn't this just a beautiful image? See what I mean about the crochet pot holders being displayed like wall art? Love love love this image {from the visual delights of Norwegian blog Stina Ballernia}.
Woah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that's Woolly-Wall-Art on a fanTABulous scale!!!! I came across this image when searching about for potholder patterns some time ago, and it absolutely blew my creative socks off. It's the work of Finnish artist Anu Tuominen, a truly impressive collection of vintage crochet potholders displayed as art.
Here's another version of it {images found via ArtThreads}. I know these are potholders, but I figured the same idea could easily be applied to Mandala's? Surely if one was bonkers enough to want to do this, one could gather in enough crochet circles to create an absolutely stunning display of creativity? Yeah, I know, completely, utterly Bonkers. But..............insanely appealing, don't you think?!
I'm thinking you might possibly have guessed where this is going. I'm thinking you might possibly remember the Yarndale Granny Bunting from last year?
Remember how almost 600 of you made triangles to send from all over the world, enabling us to create this jaw-dropping display of hooky goodness at Yarndale? Just in case this glorious bunting is new to you (where have you been?), you can read all about it on the Yarndale blog right here. It was a magnificent project on so many levels, and I loved the idea of bringing so much creativity together from all four corners of the world. So many of you wrote to me telling me how much you enjoyed being a part of this huge community project, and I was humbled by the unexpected scale of the emotion involved, it really was one of the most amazing things I have ever been involved with.
Preparations for Yarndale 2014 are now in full swing, and once again I have been getting myself all giddy over the prospect of so much yarny creativity. This year, we have decided to go with a bit of a theme, inspired by the Summer arrival of the Tour de France in our little town. Yes, amazingly our area of Yorkshire is hosting the "Grand Depart" of this famous cycle race, and honestly the whole of the county has gone bicycle mad. We kind of figured that we might as well jump on two wheels along with everyone else, and much of our yarn bombing plans this year will be bicycle orientated (more of that at a later date)
Which brings me back to the mandala's. This year I wanted to do something creative with wheels, and that's when I hit upon the idea of making and using crochet mandalas. They are suitably wheel-like (well enough to justify running with the idea), and when I put it to the rest of the Yarndale team, they all agreed it was completely bonkers, but right up my street.
So no more bunting-making this year folks. No, no. The 6,212 triangles that graced the festival last year will be back in situ this year, and I am really looking forward to seeing it all again. But in addition to the bunting, I want to try and create a large visual display using mandala wheels, much in the way that Ana Tuominen did with the potholders. So I am asking if you would like to play along? Would you like to become a part of another wonderful, big yarny creative project and make a Mandala Wheel for me?
I have designed a very easy Mandala Wheel pattern that you can use, and have written up a tutorial for it. These ones I made using DK weight yarn on a 4mm hook, and they measure 18cm/7 inches across.
That's the sort of size I'm looking for folks. They need to be no bigger than 8 inches across.
I would also like them to be stiffened, to make it easier for me to hang them. I have found the best way to do this is to use white PVA craft glue and simply paint it on the reverse side of the mandala with a stiff little brush. I used this technique when making my Happy Flower and it works a treat.
When it's dry, the glue turns transparent as you can see above, and the mandala wheel takes on a pleasingly neat, perky attitude making it perfect for display purposes.
So you can find the tutorial for making my Mandala Wheel right HERE.
I am also thrilled to tell you that I've been working with designer Zelna Olivier who created the amazing Starflower Mandala that I shared with you last week. Oh, this has been SUCH FUN!!!! Zelna agreed to design a mandala especially with my Yarndale plans in mind, ie a wheel-inspired, 7 inch creation full of colour, and she absolutely did me proud.
You can find the free pattern for her beautiful Granny Mini Mandala right here. Isn't it beautiful?
Not only that, but Zelna (who like me, is suffering a little from mandala-mania) went on to design us two more! Wowsers, how lucky are we??!!
This is her Hakuna Matata design....
and this is her Sunny Flower design.
All three patterns include fabulous photographs of each round to help you create these beautiful circles, so we are hoping that you will feel inspired to get creative and give them a go.
♥
So before I love you and leave you, I thought it might be a good idea to answer some questions about this year's Global Community Crochet Project for Yarndale.
Q :: How many mandalas would you like me to make?
A :: This is VERY IMPORTANT >>> please can I ask that each person makes just ONE MANDALA to send for the Yarndale display. Only ONE per person please.
Q :: What type of yarn would you like me to use?
A :: Any yarn you like! I've found that cotton yarn gives the best results, but any smooth yarn works well, including Stylecraft Special DK.
Q :: What hook size shall I use?
A :: Use whatever hook suits the yarn you are using. The important thing is the finished size....the finished mandala wheel should measure less than 8 inches / 20cm.
Q :: What size should my finished mandala measure?
A :: Please aim for approximately 7 inches / 18cm.
Q :: Should I be using mainly "Lucy" colours?
A :: No! Please feel free to experiment with colours, that's the main attraction with mandala making. But it would be nice if the mandala wheels were colourful, so I would appreciate no black yarn please.
Q :: Can I personalise them in any way? And can I use alternative patterns?
A :: Yes yes!!! Please be creative! So long as your mandala lies flat and arrives stiffened ready for hanging, I am happy for you to embellish, button, bejewel, stitch and personalise your mandala in whatever way you wish. You can use any pattern you like, just so long as the finished mandala does not measure more than 20cm across.
Q :: Do they need blocking/stiffening?
A :: Yes please. The mandala wheels I've made have all benefitted enormously from a light steam press on the reverse side to make them lovely and flat. I would also like them to be stiffened please, using PVA glue on the reverse side as mentioned in the text above.
Q :: When do you need them?
A :: I'm setting a deadline of the end of June 2014, so roughly two months from now.
Q :: Where shall I send them?
A :: To the following address.......
Attic24
PO Box 97
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 9EN
Q :: What information should I include with my mandala?
A :: Please could you give me your name, along with your town/county/state/province and country. I'd like to compile a list of contributors this year, along with their origin.
Q :: What will happen to them after Yarndale?
A :: Well, we are still thinking about this and a lot depends on the quantity we receive. We'll certainly keep you posted.
I absolutely cannot wait for this project to unfold! I am excited beyond words at the thought of it, at the way I can almost (but not quite) visualise the impact of such a display. I think it's going to be so, so, so beautiful.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps another reminder.....mandala's are super-addictive and it really is impossible to make just one. But please, please only send me ONE beauty for the Yarndale project.
♥ THANK YOU!!!! ♥
xxxxxxxxxxxx
I am in too Lucy, and posted the information on my FB fan page, Sanderellas. I think it will be so much fun to participate!
Sandy
Posted by: Sandra Campbell | May 13, 2014 at 03:45 AM
I MUST remember to make one of these! Then I can see it in September. So looking forward to it
Posted by: Siobhan Keens | May 12, 2014 at 08:56 PM
Hi Lucy,
Couldn't resist making a mandala for you! I used Wink's Spoke Mandala pattern in a rainbow effect of colours. Her's a link to her pattern -
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Tinaspice/spoke-mandala
Can't wait to see what you do with them! I wonder how many you'll get?...
Tina
PS Thanks for a lovely blog!
Posted by: Tinaspice | May 12, 2014 at 06:34 PM
Ok Lucy...im up for this challenge. I made couple last year....the question is...which pattern?
Posted by: Fiona Marchant | May 12, 2014 at 12:44 PM
Im a newbee hooker but loving it and love your blog , its my happy time thank you thank you , will try my very bestest to send you one xx
Posted by: Nadine | May 12, 2014 at 11:12 AM
Great idea! I'm sending you one from Argentina. I hope that it will arrive during on The first week of june. That's Ok?
Posted by: Mery | May 12, 2014 at 11:05 AM
i like poshting
Posted by: pasutri pria perkasa | May 11, 2014 at 09:48 AM
Bonjour
J'adore ce que vous faites au crochet.
C'est très beau et très bien crocheté.
Quelle chance d'avoir du temps libre pour faire tout ceci.
Catherine
Posted by: Grenouillat | May 11, 2014 at 06:55 AM
Love the idea Lucy! Would love to send you one from India:)
Vims
Posted by: Vims | May 11, 2014 at 06:39 AM
Hi Lucy my first mandala made and posted off to you so you should receive it soon, i had a bit of a disaster with the glue, I wasn't sure how much to put on and the yarn kept soaking it in so i kept putting more on, never mind if it is wrecked just chuck it in the bin and I will have to do another one for Yarndale
thanks
Wendy
Posted by: Wendybea | May 09, 2014 at 04:07 PM
yes, Yes, YES!!! We have Mandala madness! Can't wait to get working on these, though as others have said, how can we whittle it down to just ONE?? But remembering your pics of the massed bunting parcels last year it would be wrong of us to drown you in mandalas... will just have to make a million for myself and pick one for you! Thanks so much for sharing, as always.
Posted by: sarahstar | May 09, 2014 at 03:41 PM
I'm in again this year.. . have not done a mandala yet and this is the perfect opportunity !!!
And I like the ice of just one so that we concentrate all efforts on that one !!
Love the idea. . .
xEva
Posted by: Eva Martin | May 09, 2014 at 11:29 AM
My mandala is on it's way to you. I can't wait to see the final result!
Good luck with the preperations for Yarndale, enjoy!
Posted by: Coby | May 09, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Oh dear, I don't think I have the right wool for this...I suppose I have to buy new wool *sigh*. I'm in!
Posted by: Thea Whalley | May 09, 2014 at 07:40 AM
I made bunting last year so definitely on for this.Can't wait to get going.I put a post on my blog the other day about yarn bombing and showed some photos of it at Anglesey abbey near Cambridge and Sizergh Castle near Kendal.
Posted by: barbara | May 08, 2014 at 08:13 PM
I made mine last night ... just need to buy some glue and it will be on its way to you from St Louis, Missouri!
Posted by: Fiona | May 08, 2014 at 07:12 PM
I made one yesterday morning, it is blocking, ready to be stiffened then posted off :) I am now going to have to feed my Mandala habit and make more for friends :) xx
Posted by: lynn bamber | May 08, 2014 at 04:57 PM
Hi Lucy, I made my very first Mandala wheel and will be sending it to you today from Loganville, Georgia. I hope you like the colors. I have been crocheting for years but this is the first time I tried this project so I hope you like it. Thank you for all the great instructions I have been crocheting several of your patterns and I really love the colors!
Posted by: Becky Gaar | May 08, 2014 at 04:35 PM
Rainbow stitch cushion (yes), Starflower mandala (yes), Jolly chunky bag (yes), Yarndale mandala wheel (yes), House cleaning (no), ironing (no).
Thank you so much for all your inspiration Lucy, I am loving ALL the fantastic project ideas and have them all on the go at once !!! What to do next? Louise xxx
Posted by: Louise | May 08, 2014 at 03:46 PM
Whoa! is right! That Wooly-Art-Wall is gorgeous!
Great tip for stiffening!
Posted by: blair | May 08, 2014 at 02:31 PM
Lucy, while I love your blog and have been following it for about a year now, I have a real issue with the term "mandala" which is actually a religious term and, not a term I feel should be diluted in a trivial or crafty way. I would have been much happier if you'd just said "wheel" - but that's purely a personal view. However, with all this "mandala-mania", I have sadly decided not to attend the Yarndale festival this year - the word "mandala" makes me so agitated in this crochet context, that I feel I wouldn't enjoy myself as before. I'm sure you'll have a fab event, and I hope to be back next year!
Posted by: Susan | May 08, 2014 at 12:50 PM
WIll certainly enjoy whipping up a Mandela for you. Can completely understand the excitement over the Tour de France. Tomorrow the 'Giro D'Italia' kicks off in Belfast, then runs around the North Antrim Coast on Sat, before the final stretch down to Dublin on Sunday. To say Northern Ireland has gone Giro mad is an understatement. Everything has turned pink - including local sheep and our iconic Harland & Wolff cranes.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/giro-ditalia-pretty-in-pink-as-cycle-fever-grips-northern-ireland-30204541.html
Posted by: Niqi Rainey | May 08, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Great fun! Thanks for the tutorial. Here's a link to mine, which will be winging it's way down to you shortly!https://iamsimplyhooked.wordpress.com
Posted by: Jenny | May 08, 2014 at 09:10 AM
Lucy I would love to make one of these for you. I hope it remains flat travelling internationally...worth a try I think! I'm in. X
Posted by: Jen | May 08, 2014 at 08:29 AM
I can't wait to make one of these cute mandalas! I love your blog, lucy.
Greetings from austria! nina.
Posted by: nina | May 08, 2014 at 07:28 AM