Da's Crochet Connection: Guest Crocheter

This week is a special week, I gave the blog a new look and we have a guest crocheter. My guest crocheter has been crocheting for 10 years and has designed patterns for coasters, garlands, ornaments, and mandalas. She is sharing one of her mini mandala tutorial patterns with us, which can be used for an appliqué, to make a garland, for gift tags, decorations, and ornaments. This featured mandala is one of the three mandalas offered in her mini mandala pattern. The pattern is available at her ESTY shop 4lilBeans.

Mini Mandala Tutorial

FINISHED SIZE: 3 inches (7.62 cm) wide by 3 inches (7.62 cm) high
YARN: Patons 100% Cotton DK

CROCHET HOOK: F-5 (3.75mm)
NOTIONS: Yarn/Tapestry needle
GAUGE: 20 sts by 25 rows in single crochet = 4” square

ABBREVIATIONS
ch………….. chain
dc………….. double crochet
dc2tog……….double crochet 2 together
PT-ch1 join…..Pull thru ch-1 join
sc………….. single crochet
Sl st………. slip stitch
sp(s)………… space(s)
st(s)………. stitch(es)
YO………….. yarn over

SPECIAL STITCHES
Dc2tog (double crochet 2 together) – YO, insert the hook into the specified st/sp, pull up a loop, YO, pull thru 2 loops, YO, insert the hook into the same st/sp, pull up a loop, YO, pull thru 2 loops, YO and pull thru all 3 loops on hook.

ATTACHING NEW YARN
The method that I liked the best and found the most seamless is the Pull thru chain 1 method (That is what I call it, but I have found everyone calls it something different). You can use whatever method you feel the most comfortable with; but I found this method to be the easiest because it creates a clean join. Below are the instructions and I refer to it as the PT- ch1 join.

PT-CH1 JOIN

To start a new round and attach a new piece of yarn, insert the hook into the specified st/sp, pull up a loop, (wrap the tail end of the yarn over the top of the working yarn- this helps to secure the end until it is weaved in), YO, pull yarn thru loop (a ch-1). (Photos PT 1, 2, & 3)

NOTE: The PT-ch1 join counts as a st.

MINI MANDALA

Make a magic circle (slip ring)

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (ch-3 counts as dc), (dc into the circle) 11 times, join with a Sl st into the top of the ch of the ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends, Photo1. (12 dc st)

All the sts for Rnd 2 will be worked into the spaces in-between the sts. (by working in-between the sts you won’t have to work into the top of the join made into the ch-3 and it will look cleaner)

Rnd 2: PT-ch1 join (counts as a st) into any space in-between the sts , ch 1, (sc in next space, ch 1) 11 times, join with a Sl st into the PT-ch1 join, Photo 2a. Fasten off and weave in ends, Photo 2b. (12sts/ 12 ch-1 sps)

*****For instructions on how to work a dc2tog see ‘Special Stitches’ *****

Rnd 3: PT-ch1 join into any ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in same ch-1 sp, (PT-ch1 join, ch-1 and dc count as a dc2tog), ch 2, Photo 3a, * dc2tog in the next ch-1 sp, ch 2, Photo 3b; Repeat from * around to end, join with a Sl st into the top of the 1st dc st, Photo 3c. Fasten off and weave in ends, Photo 3d. (12 dc clusters/ 12 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 4: PT-ch1 join into any ch-2 sp (counts as a st), sc into the same ch-2 sp, ch 2, * 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, Photo 4a; Repeat from * around to end, join with a Sl st into the center of the PT-ch1 join. Fasten off and weave in ends, Photo 4b. (24 sc/ 12 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 5: PT-ch1 join into any ch-2 sp, ch 3, (PT-ch1 join and ch-3 count as a sc and ch-3 sp), sc in same ch-2 sp, Photo 5a, ch 1, * (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, Photo 5b; Repeat from * around to end, After you complete the last ch, fasten off and pull yarn thru, now using a yarn needle, thread the needle with the yarn tail and insert the needle, (from front to back ), under the ch-3, Photo 5c, then back into center of the last ch, Photo 5d. Pull yarn gently to close, then weave in ends, Photo 5e. (24 sc / 12 ch-3 sps/ 12 ch-1 sps)