Free pattern · Intermediate · Mandala
Starburst Mandala
Free crochet mandala pattern with chart
A starburst mandala in seven rounds and five colors. It grows from a ring of 12 double crochet through shells and V-stitches to fans of 5 dc, with a single crochet between them that reaches down two rounds, then finishes with 12 chain points. It comes out about 7 inches across in light yarn.
- Yarn
- Light (3), five colorsabout 23 yd in all
- Hook
- 5 mmUS H-8
- Finished
- About 7 in across7 rounds
Chart
Starburst Mandala chart
Reading this chart
- Start at the center and read each round counterclockwise, the way a right-handed crocheter works.
- Start at the center and read each round clockwise, the way a left-handed crocheter works.
- Each round begins at its green mark, its first stitch or chain; its number is printed beside it. Rounds alternate dark and blue.
- The key under the chart names every symbol, following the Craft Yarn Council chart standard.
Drawn by Krowshea from the checked counts. New to charts? How to read crochet charts.
Written pattern
Round by round
Work with the right side facing; do not turn. Fasten off at each color change and join the new color where the round says.
Written in US crochet terms
- 1
saffron Make a magic ring, ch 3 (counts as a dc), 11 dc in ring, pull the ring tight, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off saffron.
12 dc - 2
coral Join coral in any sp between sts, ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in same sp, *2 dc in next sp between sts; rep from * around, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
24 dc - 3
Sl st in next st and in next sp between groups (to move the start; not counted), ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in same sp, *3 dc in next sp between groups; rep from * around, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off coral.
36 dc - 4
plum Join plum in any sp between groups, ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in same sp, sk next st, 3 dc in next st, *sc in next sp between groups, sk next st, 3 dc in next st; rep from * around, join with a sl st to the first st. Fasten off plum.
12 sc, 36 dc - 5
sea Join sea in any sc, ch 3 (counts as a dc), (ch 3, dc) in same st, ch 4, *v in next sc, ch 4; rep from * around, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off sea.
24 dc, 24 sps - 6
cream Join cream in any ch-3 sp, ch 3 (counts as a dc), 4 dc in same sp, sc over next sp into the center dc of the 3-dc group 2 rounds below, *5 dc in next sp, sc over next sp into the center dc of the 3-dc group 2 rounds below; rep from * around, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off cream.
60 dc, 12 sc - 7
saffron Join saffron in any sc, ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts, point in next st, sc in next 2 sts, *sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sts, point in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join with a sl st to the first st.
84 sc, 12 spsFasten off and weave in ends.
Written in UK crochet terms
- 1
saffron Make a magic ring, ch 3 (counts as a tr), 11 tr in ring, pull the ring tight, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off saffron.
12 tr - 2
coral Join coral in any sp between sts, ch 3 (counts as a tr), tr in same sp, *2 tr in next sp between sts; rep from * around, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
24 tr - 3
Ss in next st and in next sp between groups (to move the start; not counted), ch 3 (counts as a tr), 2 tr in same sp, *3 tr in next sp between groups; rep from * around, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off coral.
36 tr - 4
plum Join plum in any sp between groups, ch 1 (does not count as a st), dc in same sp, miss next st, 3 tr in next st, *dc in next sp between groups, miss next st, 3 tr in next st; rep from * around, join with a ss to the first st. Fasten off plum.
12 dc, 36 tr - 5
sea Join sea in any dc, ch 3 (counts as a tr), (ch 3, tr) in same st, ch 4, *v in next dc, ch 4; rep from * around, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off sea.
24 tr, 24 sps - 6
cream Join cream in any ch-3 sp, ch 3 (counts as a tr), 4 tr in same sp, dc over next sp into the center tr of the 3-tr group 2 rounds below, *5 tr in next sp, dc over next sp into the center tr of the 3-tr group 2 rounds below; rep from * around, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off cream.
60 tr, 12 dc - 7
saffron Join saffron in any dc, ch 1 (does not count as a st), dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, point in next st, dc in next 2 sts, *dc in next dc, dc in next 2 sts, point in next st, dc in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join with a ss to the first st.
84 dc, 12 spsFasten off and weave in ends.
Round by round
How the mandala grows
Rounds 1 to 3 are a flat circle of double crochet, 12, 24 and 36. Round 4 turns the groups into small shells with a single crochet between them. Round 5 stands a V-stitch on each single crochet, with chains between. Round 6 fills each V with a fan of 5 dc and anchors a single crochet over the next space, down into the center of the shell two rounds below. Round 7 edges it in single crochet with a point at the top of each fan.
Tips
For a flat mandala
Reach down loosely
The single crochet in round 6 goes down two rounds. Pull its loop up to the height of the round so it doesn't pucker.
Block it
Pin it out round and flat, mist it, and let it dry. Mandalas look their best blocked.
Recolor it
Five colors, one per round or two; try your own palette before you start.
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