Finished size: approximately 45–50 cm (18–20 in)
Skill level: Intermediate
Crochet terms: US terminology
Materials
- Cream/off-white cotton yarn
- Red cotton yarn
- Dark green cotton yarn
- Crochet hook appropriate for your yarn, approximately 3–3.5 mm
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
Abbreviations
MR = magic ring
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet
st = stitch
sp = space
sk = skip
inc = increase
Center Flower
Round 1
With red yarn, make a magic ring.
Ch 3, work 11 dc into the ring.
Sl st into the top of the beginning ch-3.
12 dc total.
Round 2
Ch 3.
Work 2 dc in each stitch around.
Sl st to the top of ch-3.
24 dc total.
Round 3 – Red Petals
Skip 1 st, 5 dc in the next stitch, skip 1 st, sl st in the next stitch.
Repeat around to create the red flower petals.
Fasten off.
Round 4 – White Center Petals
Join cream yarn around the center of the flower.
For each small petal:
Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st into the same area.
Repeat around the center to create the white flower.
Fasten off.
Green Leaf Motifs
Make multiple green leaf motifs around the flower.
Leaf
Ch 10.
Starting in the 2nd ch from hook:
sc, hdc, dc, dc, tr, dc, dc, hdc, sc.
Work the same stitches along the opposite side of the chain.
Sl st at the base.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Make approximately 10–12 leaves.
Red Poinsettia Petals
For each red poinsettia:
Ch 8.
Starting in the 2nd ch:
sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc.
Sl st around the base.
Repeat to create approximately 5–7 pointed petals per flower.
Make several red flowers and arrange them between the green leaves.
Cream Square Motifs
These motifs form the openwork border.
Round 1
Make a magic ring.
Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2.
Repeat 4 times.
Join with a sl st.
Round 2
Sl st into the next ch-2 space.
Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same space.
Repeat in each corner.
Join with a sl st.
Round 3
Sl st to the corner.
Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1.
Work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1 in each corner.
Join and fasten off.
Make enough cream squares to create the outer decorative ring.
Main Cream Mandala
Using cream yarn, work a large circular center behind the flowers.
Round 1
Make a magic ring.
Ch 3 and work 11 dc into the ring.
Join.
Round 2
Work 2 dc in every stitch.
Join.
Round 3
1 dc in the next stitch, 2 dc in the next stitch.
Repeat around.
Round 4
1 dc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in the next stitch.
Repeat around.
Round 5
1 dc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 dc in the next stitch.
Repeat around.
Continue increasing evenly in this manner until the center reaches the desired diameter.
Openwork Section
Work a lacy round using:
ch 3, skip 2 stitches, sc in the next stitch.
Repeat around.
For the next round:
Work 5 dc into each chain-3 space, separated by a sc.
Continue with openwork rounds until the cream center matches the size shown in the photograph.
Assembly
- Place the red poinsettias evenly around the cream center.
- Position the green leaves between the red flowers.
- Sew each flower and leaf securely to the cream base.
- Arrange the cream square motifs around the outside.
- Join the squares together using slip stitches or neat sewing.
- Attach the completed outer ring to the main mandala.
- Add additional green leaves and red flowers between the square motifs.
- Weave in all yarn ends securely.
- Gently block the finished mandala so it lies flat.
Color Arrangement
Center: cream + red
Flowers: deep red
Leaves: dark green
Main background: cream/off-white
Outer motifs: alternating cream and green
Decorative accents: red and green