Why To Make a Mandala: 5 simple reasons

I should tell you the truth. I am totally obsessed with making mandalas. Sometimes I have a thought about designing a blanket, or a small accessory. But then another mandala idea pops-up and I forget about everything. Even if I make a bag – it is round shaped and with the mandala on the front. Do you think it is a diagnose? A kind of disease? A mandala virus? I don’t know… But I released a new mandala design again. Though a little bit different this time.

I love to play with colors, but sometimes you need a “color silence” to clear your thoughts and think more about the shape and structure. I had one big ball of Barroco Natural yarn by Circulo, and I decided to play with it a bit and to create a monochrome design. With some simple cabling… and this is how my new Minimalist Cabled Mandala was born. The pattern is available HERE on Ravelry.

I am very often asked how crocheted mandalas can be used. Yes, they are beautiful, and colorful and flat. But what is their practical use? And I’ve got an idea of this post. To show you (on the example of my new Minimalist Cabled Mandala) different ways of using them.

1. Flat decoration: trivet, chair pad, wall hanging

Of course the main function of the mandala is to actually decorate. Mandala is round and flat. Large or small it can be used as a table decoration: as a trivet for a bowl with fruits for example, or vase with flowers.

If your mandala is thick enough – you can also use it as a chair pad. You can use it just as it is (flat) of you can do what I did. I purchased ready chair pads in Ikea and stitched mandalas by hand onto it. As a result – you have a handmade unique accessory with a fabric look.

You can decorate your old pillow cover but stitching a crocheted mandala onto it. Or you can even make a wall hanging! I came across a nice idea of how to frame crocheted mandalas. If you are lucky to find a metal (or plastic, or wooden) ring the same size as your mandala – you can crochet the last round with sc around mandala and over the ring at the same time. Easy and effective!

2. Potholder

Another wonderful way of using mandalas is to make potholders of them. They can be one- or double layered. Lace or structured.

I used cotton yarn Bloom* by Scheepjes to make this pair of monochrome potholders (two skeins for each potholder).

Instructions for the bottom layer are given in the pattern. I suggest to join both layers with one round of sc and then add one round of crab stitches to give your potholder a nice finished look.

To join top and bottom layers of the pot holder put them together facing with the wrong sides. Work joining rnd (with sc) on the right side of top part inserting your hook through both lps on the last rnd of both layers.

You can also make a loop while putting your potholder together:

Continue with sc till you come to the top of any petal, chain 10 and sc into the same stitch of joining round, forming a loop. Continue with the joining round until the end, finish with a slst in the first sc of joining rnd, don’t fasten off. Return making a round of crab stitch. When you reach the ch10-space, turn work, make 15 sc in the loop, turn work and continue with crab stitch until the end of the round. Cut the thread, fasten off.

3. Round stool cover

If you have old round stool and want to give it a new life, you can adjust mandala pattern and make an elegant stool cover.

The size of my stool cover is approx. 32.5 cm (13 inches) across. And here is what I did:

Follow Minimalist Cabled Mandala pattern till rnd 12.

Rnd 12-14. 132 dc
Rnd 15. *1dc in each of next 4 sts, 1dc2tog over next 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 5 dc* 12 times; join with sl st in ch2-sp. (120)
Rnd 16. Note: make ch1 instead of 1st sc.
*1sc in each of next 7 sts, 1sc2tog over next 2 sts, 1sc in next st* 12 times; join with sl st in ch2-sp. (108) You may fasten off now or make one rnd with crab stitch and then fasten off and weave yarn tail in.

To make a stool cover in different size, continue with the mandala pattern till you reach the desired size (the diameter of your stool). If mandala with 2nd rnd of petals turns to be too large but mandala with one rnd of petals is too small – you can stop making mandala pattern after rnd 11 and then add several rnds with dc stitches and 12 increases on each round (see instructions for bottom part of the potholder in the pattern). When you reach the desired size - add several more rounds with dc stitches and NO increases, and then one or two rounds with decreases as mentioned above. When you are satisfied with the stool cover’s shape, make one rnd with crab stitches and fasten off (weave in yarn tail).

4. Pillow

Do you like pillows? I do! But I only have square ones. Crocheted mandala gives you a great chance to easily make a round one, too.

This pillow was made by Cindy Douglass. Cindy was helping me to test the pattern and in the end decided to make one more mandala and turn it into the pillow. She kindly gave me a permission to share her pictures and notes with you:

• I made two mandalas following the pattern. After rnd 15 I added one round of dc and then one round of sc, with no increases in either round. I purchased a 16" pillow form (largest I could find), but had to add some quilt batting around it to fill out the pillow covering. The finished pillow measures about 17" when laid on a yard stick.
• I slip stitched the front and back together through Back Loops only of the sc round (except for the 16" section for the zipper I used).
• I hand sewed the zipper in place using Back Loops of the last round on each mandala (next time I'll probably do the zipper first as it would have been easier).
• Then I crab-stitched in the Front Loop only around both mandalas. This way the zipper is pretty much hidden by the crab stitch when looking at the pillow from either side.

5. Rug

Mandalas will make great rugs. I haven’t tried this particular pattern to make a rug but I believe it will make a very nice rug when made with T-shirt yarn.

Here are all the ways of using crocheted mandala I’ve come up with… Do you know any other? Please, share your ideas in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.

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