I interrupted finishing my newest grand niece's baby quilt to throw together a free pattern to share today. It's very hot outside, my garden has become a sunflower forest I attempt to thin nearly every single day (and feel as if I am making absolutely no progress!!!), and today's pattern is inspired by one of the sunflower photos I recently shot during my daily dead-heading routine.
When I first captured this photo, I immediately wanted to find and buy (or make) 12 ladybug beads so I could attempt to crochet a yellow and green snowflake similar to the above photo. Some of my Sisters of the Snowflake suggested I use ladybug buttons instead. Buttons are easier to find and a tad less expensive than lampwork ladybug beads. Yes, I searched for both, and I ended up with buttons and charms.
As it turns out, the beads I bought are perhaps a bit too big for a snowflake, and I couldn't achieve the colors I saw in my head using a single strand of crochet thread, so I doubled up on thread for this project and decided to make a mandala instead of a snowflake. I do hope to one day attempt this pattern in a single strand of white thread, with applicable modifications because I wouldn't need to bind off every round, to see if it would be an attractive snowflake. (Or three… binding off at the end of the third and fourth Rounds as they stand provides me with more real snowflake inspiration…) But I've got baby quilts to finish, so it will be a while. You may do whatever you'd like with mandalas you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!
Finished Size: 8.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in five colors (I used white, light yellow, dark yellow, light green and dark green), 12 ladybug beads or shank buttons, size 4 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line
NOTE: Today's project is worked entirely with two strands of size 10 crochet thread. Also, there are thread ends to bury in each round, so please do not attempt this project if you do not like weaving in your ends.
TIP: I wound some of each of my five chosen thread colors into tiny little balls so I could use two strands of each color as needed.
SPECIAL STITCHES:
Popcorn Stitch (pc)
Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.
Sunflower Kaleidoscope Mandala Instructions
With dark yellow and dark green thread, make magic ring.
Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 3] 6 times, sl st in top of first pc; bind off. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: With white and light yellow, [in any ch 3 sp (or next ch 3 sp in repeats, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.
Round 3: Using 2 strands of white, [1 dc in any ch 2 sp (or same ch 2 sp in repeats), ch 10, sl st in 7th ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch 2 tip, ch 3] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 4: Using 2 strands of light yellow, [1 sc in any ch 3 tip (or next ch 3 tip in repeats), ch 5, in next ch 6 loop work (3 dc, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 5] 6 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 5: Using 1 strand of light yellow and one strand of dark yellow, [2 dcs around any Round 3 left-side dc post (or next Round 3 left-side dc post in repeats), 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 dc, 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 hdc, 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 sc, 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 sl st, 1 sc in next Round 4 dc, 1 hdc in next Round 4 dc, 1 dc in next Round 4 dc, 2 dc in next Round 4 ch 2 sp, ch 3, sl st in same sp, ch 3, from behind next Round 4 spoke sl st in next Round 4 ch 2 sp (you want the ch 3 you just worked at the back of the mandala, not the front), 2 dc in same sp, 1 dc in next Round 4 dc, 1 hdc in next Round 4 dc, 1 sc in next Round 4 dc, 1 dc in next Round 3 sl st, 1 dc in next Round 3 sc, 1 dc in next Round 3 hdc, 1 dc in next Round 3 dc, 2 dc around post of next Round 3 right-side dc post] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 6: This Round is more like 6 motifs because the segments are worked separately instead of in a Round. Using 2 strands of dark yellow, work (2 dc, ch 3, sl st, ch 3, 2 dc) into each of the (white) 6 Round 3 ch 6 loops, binding off after each heart shape and weaving in all ends.
Round 7: String 12 beads or buttons onto dark green and light green thread, making sure ladybug heads are all facing in the same direction. (I strung mine with heads up, and they settle into the crochet stitches head down.) Alternatively, you may sew the buttons or bead into place after your mandala is finished, and you probably can even glue them into place if the mandala will not be handled a lot when done. Buttons also may be tied into place with a piece of crochet thread to match the Round onto which you tie them, weaving in ends on the backside. Using dark green and light green thread, [draw up loop through first 3rd Round joint dc (of 4 dc group closest to center of mandala) (or in next dc on repeats), yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, [[yo and draw up loop through next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook]] 3 times, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook (dc dec made), 1 dc in each of next 9 st, 3 dc in next ch, drawing up bead or button, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 3 dc in ch sp behind Round 5 point, 1 sc in top of Round 5 point, 3 dc in same ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch, drawing up bead or button, one dc in next ch, 3 dc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 9 st] 6 times; sl st in starting dec; bind off.
Round 8: Using 2 strands of dark green, [in any tip sc (or next tip sc on repeats), work (3 dc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 3 dc), 1 dc in each of next 12 st, [[sk next st, yo and draw up loop through next st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook]] 5 times (dc dec made), sk next st, 1 dc in each of next 12 st] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in all ends.
Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin mandala to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.
If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint mandala with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow mandala to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel mandala from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around desired anchor (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch mandala twirl freely whenever you walk by! Mandala also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle. Please be aware that colored crochet thread will fade with time when exposed to daily direct sunlight.
