More Mandala Hoops

So I have been struck down yet again with a serious case of Mandala Madness, I just cannot get enough of these colourful circles at the moment. I was really inspired by seeing my big hula hoop creations hanging from the trees at Yarndale, and it has got me all giddy for making the display even bigger and better for next year. Plus, mandalas really are the perfect project to immerse one's worn-out self in, as the colours and hooky rounds deliver a therapeutic meditation which is very soothing and extremely satisfying. If you've never had an urge to crochet a mandala, I can highly recommend it - you just need to let go of the "what-do-you-do-with-it?" question and dive right in with your hook and yarn and enjoy the creative journey.

I designed a simple mandala if you are looking for somewhere to start (the pattern is here), or you can join me and go LaRgE and see how good that feels!!

Following on from the 45cm mandala hoops I made a few weeks ago, I wanted to make something similar but using a different pattern. I happened to remember a picture that caught my eye back in the summer - this was a really lovely free booklet that came with issue 47 of Simply Crochet magazine in July, featuring five beautiful summer shawl patterns by five different designers. That Mandala Shawl really logged itself firmly inside my creative mind I can tell you. It's designed by Spanish crocheter Elisabeth Davis de Herraiz (Elizy Art on Ravelry and social media), and I fell hook, line and sinker for the prettiness of it.

The original shawl was made using 4ply yarn and a 3.5mm hook, but for my large mandala making I like to use  DK weight cotton (Stylecraft Classique Cotton) and a 4.5mm hook.

This was me at the weekend, starting the day with some in-bed crochet therapy, oh boy, it felt sooooooo good to tell myself that this was a perfectly acceptable way to spend a Saturday morning. J was away visiting friends so I was doing a spot of solo parenting, and as you can see it worked out just fine. Little B and I spent many hours like this, with a few trips down to the kitchen to make coffee and toast crumpets in between the loafing.

I was once asked in an interview for a magazine where my favourite place was to crochet, and I seem to remember that I said In Bed - well it's true! Possibly on the beach comes a very close second, but you cannot beat the comfort of bed hooky. Yes, I said hooky, not nooky!

It didn't take me long at all to work up nineteen rounds of Elisabeth's shawl pattern, and I love the way it turned out. I didn't plan the colours at all, each round was chosen at random as I worked. If you are making a mandala to stretch around a hoop, you can see from the above picture that it needs to be quite a bit smaller than the hoop itself. These hoops that I use measure 45cm {from Amazon UK} and are a great size for making decorative hanging mandalas.

I've been asked so many times about my method for crocheting mandalas onto the hoops, that I took a bit of extra time on Saturday to photograph the process for you. The basic idea is to create two sets of chain loops, one worked from the front of the mandala, and one worked from the reverse. These are then connected with crochet around the circumference of the hoop.

Front Loops :: work these with the front of the mandala facing you and space them evenly - for this particular mandala I worked out of each tr-cluster stitch in the final mandala round. The repeating pattern is very simple (1 tr in the stitch; chain 3}

Back Loops :: flip the mandala over so the reverse is facing you. You need to work the same {1 tr in the stitch; chain 3} pattern, but off-set it with the front loops you made (don't line them up, or the joining bit won't work!). For this particular mandala I stuck my hook into the centre of the chain that separated the tr-clusters in the final mandala round.

What you should end up with is shown above - two rounds of loops (a treble crochet separated by a chain-3) that don't line up with each other. Hope that makes sense!

When you come to make the joining round, please don't attempt to do this without stretching the whole thing out first as it makes it reeeeeeeeeally hard and you may end up having a minor breakdown. Use locking stitch markers {from Amazon UK} and draw the two sets of loops together around the hoop, securing the crochet at regular intervals. It should be a tight stretch - the loops won't meet (as in above picture) but that's OK!

I used about eight stitch markers around my hoop to stretch the whole thing out and keep it in place.

Now you will be working a series of chains and slip stitches. The number of chains depends on how tight your crochet is and how fat your hoop is (!) - either chain-2 or chain-3 should do it. I did a chain-2, so that's how I'm going to say it.....

Secure your yarn under a chain loop on the side nearest to you. Chain-2, then slip stitch under the chain loop off-set on the opposite side. Chain 2, then slip stitch under the next chain loop on the side nearest to you. Repeat the {chain-2; slip stitch} on alternate sides, and you should see a bit of a zig-zag beginning to form around the edge of the hoop (as in the above picture).

You need to try and keep your tension nice and tight - make your chains and slip stitches as even and tight as you can. It's a little bit fiddly as the whole thing will be under tension as you are stretching it out at the same time, but keep at it and it does get easier......

Work your way around the hoop, removing stitch markers as you go - you will need to hold your hoop vertically as you work (not flat on the table).

The surface of your mandala should stretch quite taught which really does make the stitch patterns open up beautifully.

Your joining edge should look pretty neat around the hoop (especially if you use a matching colour yarn).....

.....and the overall effect is really rather pleasing to the eye!

I've hung my hoop up on the wall for now (I'll put my Autumn wreath up there soon) and think it looks right at home above my blanket-laden sofa.

Yes, I know. I know!!! I told you that Mandala Madness has gripped me!! On Monday I started on another, after Christine emailed me a link and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Would you like to see what Christine saw when she immediately thought of me?

Well you need to hop over to visit Oh Milly right HERE.

An Autumn Doily, isn't that just lovely???

 

So this is quite a tricky pattern for my pattern-hating brain, and after round 8 I ground to a stuttering halt (might've been the gin and tonic and the pub atmosphere hindering me to be honest). But oh the pattern is  just so pretty and clever and lovely, I am determined to crack it. I've even worked out my colours in advance for this one and can't wait to see the magical Autumn Leaf pattern appear, providing I can get my trebles and chains lined up properly. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

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Comments

[Cynthia Wilson]

I love the mandalas on this site but I want to crochet a very large mandala for a wall hanging. I am so tired of searching for a pattern!! Wondering why no one seems to make a large one of about 3 or 4 feet in diameter? Do you know of such a pattern???

[ode]

Ohhhhhhhhhh,
Comme c'est joli !!
Bravo Lucy
J'adore votre site

[JUMI]

Nice to meet you

wonderful!
It is look from Japan.
I want to make, the cute mandala
but, I can't do cute knitting well

[Rose]

I really love the idea! it gives so much life in the room!
Rose, xx

[Robin Summers]

Your mandala hoops are fabulous. Love the design and colors!!

[Iris]

Dear Lucy,
I love reading your blog and I love your inspiring ideas!
As far as I know it's your birthday today. Wishing you all the best and have a great day today with your family!!

[Leah Lynch]

Lucy how hard would it be to make an afghan with one of these beautiful mandalas in the middle with small ones all around?

[Catherine]

Wow this is such a good idea and so beautiful. I have never tried making mandalas before but would love one hanging on my wall. I have the magazine and loads of cotton yarn in my stash, must go buy some hoops!

Thanks Lucy

Catherine

[mamiyomani]

So pretty!!!!

[Winifred Waite]

Wow that's so colourful & you have a great way of explaining how to do things. Brilliant!

[Summer]

Beautiful crafting and colours! Happy Sunday ♥

[lilia vanini]

Hello, fist time on this fabulous blog, love the colors and tutorial on this post, I´m knitting and crochet design too but I never made or create something with mandalas, this is very inspiring, and maybe soon I will add some mandalas for my designs, maybe another crochet blanket will be lovely using mandalas.
Happy crocheting
Lilia/Liliacraftparty

[Holly]

Interesting to see how you join in to the hoop - it turned out wonderfully for you.

[Jo]

I made a long mandala sleeveless jacket thingy once and it looked like my bum had a circle on it for target practice! HAHA. i waved goodbye to it. Jo x

[Kate]

Have you ever thought of crocheting a mandala blanket?

[Lesley]

Hi Lucy

I've used a lampshade frame to stretch my mandalas following on from making one as a narrowboat window cover

[Ondrea]

Ooops! I have missed quite a few posts and need to catch up. Your mandalas make me smile as they are so vibrant and cheery to look at. Great idea putting them in hoops and hanging them, although I have no idea how to do that.So many awesome things that have been made. So innovative and very very creative. Thankyou for sharing such lovely pics.

[Amanda Smith]

Absolutely love these hoop Mandalas....I am going to work hard at convincing myself that it doesn't matter if I don't know what I am going to do with!!!!
I must make one!!!

keep well

Amanda x

[Angela-Southern USA]

They are fabulous! Good luck with the autumn one. I too love mandalas, and have been thinking about adding some in the corner of my craft room from the ceiling (smaller of course) and possible on my porch. lol Here's one I made into a throw a few years back, basically three rounds of double crochet (where I added the increases) then three rows of chains and single crochet. I adore it thrown over a chair to just be pretty.lol
https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftygal/8339538908/in/album-72157632417301524/

[Brenda Cupryna]

what a great idea using the stitch markers to hold it in place.

[Teresa Kasner]

That is just beautiful.. real "eye candy". I would love to make one to hang in my tree someday. I'm glad to see you resting up after YD.. what a big production it must be! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Robin W.]

Hi Lucy!
This is just the project I needed today. I just finished a fall blanket and I am ready for something quick and fun. I love following your blog. I know I will always enjoy the read and find a treasure or two.
Thank you for all you do!
Robin W.

[Kathy]

Really pretty! I only wish that the beautiful Wink could see how mandala making has taken the crochet community by storm. She would be so proud :)

[Katie B]

Sorry I didn't make it to Yarndale after all Lucy, but I expect you were rather overwhelmed by fans - hope to make it again next year. Looks like it was amazing - loved the look of the Thirsk bollards & the giant sheep puppets - fabulous!
Well done Luce - you deserve every success.
Much love, lovely friend
Katie B x x x

[Oran]

Oh lors more stuff to put on the to do list. This is lovely. I loved that shawl pattern but couldn't think that I would actually use it if I made it, except on the hottest of summer days and there aren't that many of those in Wales! :) This though gives me the best excuse to at least make part of it and just hang it on the wall. Splendid idea! :)
Love O. xx