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I’m so excited to be here this week sharing the pattern for the crochet Rainbow Mandala Hanging pattern!
I decided to crochet the mandala on a complete whim. I have several deadlines that I should have been focussing on and a pile of ironing that still needs doing but I just couldn’t help myself! I have been so inspired by all the beautiful rainbow drawings and paintings that are adorning the windows of all of our neighbours when we go out for walks with the dog and children that I couldn’t resist making this for our front door.
The best thing is that the entire thing was made from scraps of yarn from my stash that I’ve had for years but haven’t known what to do with. I’m not naturally a rainbow colours kind of girl but I’m really getting into them and I’ve got more rainbow-inspired projects in the pipeline so keep your eyes peeled if you like this kind of thing!
I didn’t have one of those gorgeous huge embroidery hoops hidden away anywhere that everyone uses for hanging mandalas so I had to make do with some old garden wire that I twisted around itself until it resembled something like a circle. It wasn’t very happy about being bent that way but with a set of pliers and a bit of ‘gentle’ persuasion, I got there!
I crocheted the main rainbow mandala motif as per the pattern (which I will share below in both UK and US terms) and then joined it to the wire frame with the final colour by working a round of double (UK)/single (US) crochet. Pop a little hanging loop on it and away you go. Super easy, super fast and such an impact.
The pattern is shared here for free in both UK and US terms. I really hope you enjoy it. If you’d like to purchase an ad-free PDF copy of the pattern then you can here:
Purchase an ad-free PDF of the Rainbow Mandala Hanging.
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Yarn
I used Scheepjes Cahlista which is 100% natural cotton Aran, 50g/85m but any aran weight yarn would work really nicely (like Paintbox Cotton Aran) or if you’d like a slightly smaller hanging then just go for something in double knit and go down a hook size to suit you. (I think a smaller one in a window would look so cute!)
The colours were from my stash so I’m not entirely sure exactly which shades they are but any rainbow selection of 7 colours from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet will work really well. Or maybe go for a pastel rainbow, or a neutral one, can you tell I want to make more?!
Tension and Sizing
My rainbow mandala measures 64cm in diameter but it really doesn’t matter how big yours is as I would recommend making the frame once you’ve completed the mandala so that you can decide how much to stretch it so that it looks nice.
So, tension is most definitely not essential for this project, just get hooking and it will be fabulous!
Materials
Along with the yarn you will also need:
| 5mm (US 8/H) crochet hook – my favourites are Furls Streamline Swirl crochet hooks or Clover Amour crochet hooks. |
| Tapestry needle |
| Scissors |
| Stitch markers if desired |
| A few metres of garden wire or something to create a frame with |
| Some pliers or very strong fingers! |
Special Stitches
UK: 3-tr cluster (3-tr cl), US: 3-dc cluster (3-dc cl)
(Yrh, insert hook in space/st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) 3 times, inserting the hook in the same space/st each time, yrh and draw through all loops on hook.
UK: 2-dtr cluster (2-dtr cl), US: 2-tr cluster (2-tr cluster)
(Yrh twice, insert hook in space/st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, [yrh and draw through 2 loops] twice) 2 times, inserting the hook in the same space/st each time, yrh and draw through all loops on hook.
UK and US: ch-3 picot
Ch3, ss in 3rd ch from hook
Glossary/Abbreviations
ch(s) – chain(s)
ss – slip stitch
sk – skip
st(s) – stitch (es)
RS – right side
rep – repeat
sp – space
beg – beginning
2 tog – 2 together
Stitches –
| UK terms | US terms |
| dc – double crochet | sc – single crochet |
| htr – half treble crochet | hdc – half double crochet |
| tr – treble crochet | dc – double crochet |
| dtr – double treble | tr – triple crochet |
Rainbow Mandala Crochet Pattern
(In standard UK terms – please scroll down for pattern in US terms)
Foundation chain: using Red, ch4, ss into first ch to join into a ring.
Round 1: RS: ch4 (counts as tr, ch1), (tr, ch1) into ring 7 times, ss to 3rd ch of beg ch4 to join. [8tr, 8 ch1-sps]
Round 2: ch3 (counts as tr) tr in st at base of ch, (ch1, tr, ch1) in next ch1-sp, *2tr in next tr, (ch1, tr, ch1) in next ch1-sp; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch3 [24tr, 16 ch1-sps]
Round 3: ch3 (counts as tr), tr2tog (over same st and next tr), tr in second st just used in tr2tog, ch1, tr in next tr, ch1 *tr in next tr, tr2tog (over same st and next tr), tr in second st just used in tr2tog, ch1, tr in next tr, ch1; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch3 [32tr, 16 ch1-sps] change to Orange.
Round 4: ch3 (counts as tr), tr in same st, ch1, skip next st, 2tr in next tr, ch1, tr in next tr, ch1, *2tr in next tr, ch1, skip next st, 2tr in next tr, ch1, tr in next tr, ch1; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch3 [40tr, 24 ch1-sps]
Round 5: ss in next tr, ss in next ch1-sp, ch3 (counts as tr), 2tr in same ch-sp, ch2, skip (2tr, ch1), (tr, ch1, tr) in next tr, *ch2, skip next (ch1, 2tr), 3tr in next ch1-sp, ch2, skip next (2tr, ch1), (tr, ch1, tr) in next tr; rep from * around, ch2, ss in top of beg ch3 [40tr, 16 ch2-sps, 8 ch1-sps]
Round 6: ss in next tr, ch6, (counts as tr, ch3), skip next (tr, ch2, tr), (tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch3, skip next (tr, ch2, tr), *tr in next tr, ch3, skip next (tr, ch2, tr), (tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch3, skip next (tr, ch2, tr); rep from * around, ss in 3rd ch3 of beg ch6 [32tr, 16 ch3-sps, 16 ch1-sps] change to Yellow.
Round 7: ch7 (counts as tr, ch4) skip next ch3 and tr, *(tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch2, skip next tr, (tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch4, skip next ch3-sp**, tr in next tr, ch4, skip next ch3 and tr; rep from * around; ending last rep at **, ss in 3rd ch of beg ch7 [40tr, 16 ch1-sps, 16 ch4-sps, 8 ch2-sps]
Round 8: ch1 (does not count as st), dc in same st, *ch3, (tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, (5dtr, ch-3 picot, 4dtr) in next ch2-sp, (tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch3**, dc in next tr; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, ss in first dc to join [16 ch1-sps, 8dc, 8 ch-3 picot] change to Green.
Round 9: ch6 (counts as dtr, ch2), *(tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch6, ss in ch-3 picot, ch6, (tr, ch1, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch2**, dtr in dc, ch2; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, ss in 4th ch of beg ch6 [8dtr, 8ss, 16 ch1-sps]
Round 10: ch4 (counts as tr, ch1), *htr in next ch1-sp, ch6, 3dc in ss in ch-3 picot, ch6, htr in next ch1-sp, ch1, tr in dtr, ch1; rep from * around, ss in 3rd ch of beg ch4 [24dc, 8tr] change to Blue.
Round 11: ch11 (counts as tr, ch8), *dc in next dc, ch1, htr in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch8**, tr in next tr, ch8; rep from *around, ending last rep at **, ss in 3rd ch of be ch11 [8tr, 16 ch1-sps, 16 ch8-sps]
Round 12: ch3 (counts as tr), 5tr in same st, *ch2, skip next 3ch, ss in next ch, ch2, (tr, ch2, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch3, (tr, ch2, tr) in next ch1-sp, ch2, skip next 3ch, ss in next ch, ch2**, 6tr in next tr; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, ss in 3rd ch of beg ch3 [8 6tr groups, 48 ch2-sps, 8 ch3-sps] change to Indigo
Round 13: ch1 (does not count as a st), *htr in each tr of next 6tr group, ch6, skip next 2 ch2-sps, htr in next ch2-sp, 4htr in ch3-sp, htr in next ch2-sp, ch6; rep from * around, ss in first htr to join [96htr, 16 ch6-sps]
Round 14: ss in each of next 2htr, ch4 (counts as dtr), 7dtr in same st, ch1, 8dtr in next htr, dc in next ch6-sp, (tr, ch1) in each of next 5htr, tr in next htr, dc in next ch6-sp, *skip 2htr, 8dtr in next htr, ch1, 8dtr in next htr, dc in next ch6-sp, (tr, ch1) in each of next 5htr, tr in next htr, dc in next ch6-sp; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch4 [48tr, 56 ch1-sps] change to Violet
Round 15: Join to next ch1-sp, ch1 (does not count as a st), *(3-tr cl, ch4, 3-tr cl) in ch1-sp, ch6, 3dtr in next tr, ch2, dtr in next tr, ch2, tr in next tr, ch2, tr in next tr, ch2, dtr in next tr, ch2, 3dtr in next tr, ch6; rep from * around, ss in top of first 3-tr cl. [64dtr, 16tr, 16 ch6-sps, 8 ch4-sps]
Round 16: ss in next ch4-sp, ch1 (does not count as a st), *3-tr cl in ch4-sp, ch4, dc in next ch6-sp, ch4, dtr in next dtr, 2-dtr cl in next dtr, dtr in next dtr, ch2, (skip ch2-sp, 2-dtr cl in next st, ch2) 4 times, dtr in next dtr, 2-dtr cl in next dtr, dtr in next dtr, ch4, dc in next ch6-sp, ch4; rep from * around, ss in top of first 3-tr cl.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Scroll down to read how to create the frame and attach your mandala.
Rainbow Mandala Pattern
In standard US terms.
Foundation chain: using Red, ch4, ss into first ch to join into a ring.
Round 1: RS: ch4 (counts as dc, ch1), (dc, ch1) into ring 7 times, ss to 3rd ch of beg ch4 to join. [8dc, 8 ch1-sps]
Round 2: ch3 (counts as dc) dc in st at base of ch, (ch1, dc, ch1) in next ch1-sp, *2dc in next dc, (ch1, dc, ch1) in next ch1-sp; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch3 [24dc, 16 ch1-sps]
Round 3: ch3 (counts as dc), dc2tog (over same st and next dc), dc in second st just used in dc2tog, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1 *dc in next dc, dc2tog (over same st and next dc), dc in second st just used in dc2tog, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch3 [32dc, 16 ch1-sps] change to Orange.
Round 4: ch3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, ch1, skip next st, 2dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, *2dc in next dc, ch1, skip next st, 2dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch3 [40dc, 24 ch1-sps]
Round 5: ss in next dc, ss in next ch1-sp, ch3 (counts as dc), 2dc in same ch-sp, ch2, skip (2dc, ch1), (dc, ch1, dc) in next dc, *ch2, skip next (ch1, 2dc), 3dc in next ch1-sp, ch2, skip next (2dc, ch1), (dc, ch1, dc) in next dc; rep from * around, ch2, ss in top of beg ch3 [40dc, 16 ch2-sps, 8 ch1-sps]
Round 6: ss in next dc, ch6, (counts as dc, ch3), skip next (dc, ch2, dc), (dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch3, skip next (dc, ch2, dc), *dc in next dc, ch3, skip next (dc, ch2, dc), (dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch3, skip next (dc, ch2, dc); rep from * around, ss in 3rd ch3 of beg ch6 [32dc, 16 ch3-sps, 16 ch1-sps] change to Yellow.
Round 7: ch7 (counts as dc, ch4) skip next ch3 and dc, *(dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch2, skip next dc, (dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch4, skip next ch3-sp**, dc in next dc, ch4, skip next ch3 and dc; rep from * around; ending last rep at **, ss in 3rd ch of beg ch7 [40dc, 16 ch1-sps, 16 ch4-sps, 8 ch2-sps]
Round 8: ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, *ch3, (dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, (5tr, ch-3 picot, 4tr) in next ch2-sp, (dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch3**, sc in next dc; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, ss in first sc to join [16 ch1-sps, 8sc, 8 ch-3 picot] change to Green.
Round 9: ch6 (counts as tr, ch2), *(dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch6, ss in ch-3 picot, ch6, (dc, ch1, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch2**, tr in sc, ch2; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, ss in 4th ch of beg ch6 [8tr, 8ss, 16 ch1-sps]
Round 10: ch4 (counts as dc, ch1), *hdc in next ch1-sp, ch6, 3sc in ss in ch-3 picot, ch6, hdc in next ch1-sp, ch1, dc in tr, ch1; rep from * around, ss in 3rd ch of beg ch4 [24sc, 8dc] change to Blue.
Round 11: ch11 (counts as dc, ch8), *sc in next sc, ch1, hdc in next sc, ch1, sc in next sc, ch8**, dc in next dc, ch8; rep from *around, ending last rep at **, ss in 3rd ch of beg ch11 [8dc, 16 ch1-sps, 16 ch8-sps]
Round 12: ch3 (counts as dc), 5dc in same st, *ch2, skip next 3ch, ss in next ch, ch2, (dc, ch2, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch3, (dc, ch2, dc) in next ch1-sp, ch2, skip next 3ch, ss in next ch, ch2**, 6dc in next dc; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, ss in 3rd ch of beg ch3 [8 6dc groups, 48 ch2-sps, 8 ch3-sps] change to Indigo
Round 13: ch1 (does not count as a st), *hdc in each dc of next 6dc group, ch6, skip next 2 ch2-sps, hdc in next ch2-sp, 4hdc in ch3-sp, hdc in next ch2-sp, ch6; rep from * around, ss in first htr to join [96hdc, 16 ch6-sps]
Round 14: ss in each of next 2hdc, ch4 (counts as tr), 7tr in same st, ch1, 8tr in next hdc, sc in next ch6-sp, (dc, ch1) in each of next 5hdc, dc in next hdc, sc in next ch6-sp, *skip 2hdc, 8tr in next hdc, ch1, 8tr in next hdc, sc in next ch6-sp, (dc, ch1) in each of next 5hdc, dc in next hdc, sc in next ch6-sp; rep from * around, ss in top of beg ch4 [48dc, 56 ch1-sps] change to Violet
Round 15: Join to next ch1-sp, ch1 (does not count as a st), *(3-dc cl, ch4, 3-dc cl) in ch1-sp, ch6, 3tr in next dc, ch2, tr in next dc, ch2, dc in next dc, ch2, dc in next dc, ch2, tr in next dc, ch2, 3tr in next dc, ch6; rep from * around, ss in top of first 3-dc cl. [64tr, 16dc, 16 ch6-sps, 8 ch4-sps]
Round 16: ss in next ch4-sp, ch1 (does not count as a st), *3-dc cl in ch4-sp, ch4, sc in next ch6-sp, ch4, tr in next tr, 2-tr cl in next tr, tr in next tr, ch2, (skip ch2-sp, 2-tr cl in next st, ch2) 4 times, tr in next tr, 2-tr cl in next tr, tr in next tr, ch4, sc in next ch6-sp, ch4; rep from * around, ss in top of first 3-dc cl.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
How to make your frame and attach your rainbow mandala
This might sound terribly unscientific but I literally just stretched out my rainbow mandala on a table and then went about bending a circle type shape of wire together. I made it about 6cm or so bigger than the mandala so that it stretched nicely when it was joined. Your mandala will stretch really well. It’s better to be too tight than too loose (nobody wants a saggy mandala!) I wound the ends of the wire around the circle but made sure they weren’t too secure until I knew it was the right size.
Once you are happy with your frame (I promise it doesn’t have to be perfect so don’t worry too much) you need to crochet a dc (US sc) in each of the stitches and chains of the final round. Make sure that you crochet around the frame to secure in each stitch. This was easy going to start with but I warn you it gets trickier as you go! So I’d pace yourself and take plenty of breaks. I ended up standing up with my foot on a chair and balancing the mandala on my knee. There is no photographic evidence of this for a jolly good reason! Finish the round by slip stitching into your first stitch and then weaving in your ends.
I just added a simple thread of yarn at either side of the mandala to use for hanging but you can be as creative as you like with this. Make it as long or as short as it needs to be for where you want to hang it. There you have it, your beautiful rainbow mandala to make you and everyone else smile.
If you enjoyed the rainbow mandala then here are some other free patterns using Scheepjes Cahlista you might enjoy too:
The Kaleidoscope Mandala Throw
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