Starflower Mandala: Pattern
I posted this photo in online groups and within a few hours I had hundreds of requests for the pattern,
I started making another Starflower Mandala so that I could write up the pattern; while I was writing it up a few lovely ladies from various crochet groups were helping me test the pattern.
We completed the first phase of the testing yesterday morning after I had finished my second mandala:
Another group of lovely ladies helped me run a second test - and I made a THIRD mandala:
I was going to do a complete tutorial for the pattern but the ladies who tested the pattern have assured me that the pattern is very easy to follow.
So, without further ado, here it is:
THE STARFLOWER MANDALA PATTERN
Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK;
Hook: 3.50mm
Size: 33cm in diameter
Pattern Terms: US
(I have included this conversion chart for my UK readers)
Foundation: 6ch, ss to first chain to form a circle
Row 1: Into the circle, 2ch 2dc cluster, 3ch; *3dc cluster, 3ch* crochet *to* 5x (6 clusters), ss into top of first cluster to close, break off yarn
Note: a 3dc cluster is formed as follows - yarn over hook, work the first part of the stitch leaving 2 loops on your hook, repeat this twice more (four loops on hook) Yarn over hook and draw through the loops on the hook to form your cluster
Row 2: Into any 3ch sp, 3ch, 3dc 1ch; *into next 3ch sp, 4dc (4dc group), 1ch* *to* 5x (24dc); ss into top of 3ch at start of row to close
Row 3: Join yarn in sp between 1st and 2nd dc on any 4dc group; 3ch, 1dc into same space; 2dc into each of next 2 spaces between dc; 8ch; *2dc into each sp between dc on next 4dc group, 8ch* *to* 5x; ss into top of 3ch at start of row to close.
Note: 3 x groupings of 2dc formed between each 8ch
Row 4: Join yarn with ss into first dc after any 8ch sp; ss through front and back loops on next 5dc; *into 8ch sp, 1sc, 1hdc, 3dc, 1tr, 3ch, 1tr, 3dc, 1hdc, 1sc (Petal formed); 1ss through front and back loops on next 6dc* *to* x5; into last 8ch sp, 1sc, 1hdc, 3dc, 1tr, 3ch, 1tr, 3dc, 1hdc, 1sc; break off yarn.
I suppose there could be some debate about the correct way to end this row off, but this works for me:
With a tapestry needle, pull the yarn through from front to back on the first ss, pull to tighten neatly. then thread the yarn through the back loops on the next 5 ss.
Row 5: Join yarn into the top of the 3rd dc on Row 3; 3ch, 1dc into top of next dc, *3ch, 1sc into first dc on Petal, 1hdc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 2 stitches; 2dc, 1tr, 3ch, 1tr, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 2 stitches, 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc, 3ch; 1dc into each of the 3rd and 4th dc onRow 3* *to* x5; 3ch, 1sc into first dc on Petal, 1hdc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 2 stitches; 2dc, 1tr, 3ch, 1tr, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 2 stitches, 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc, 3ch, ss into top of 3ch at start of row to close.
Row 6: Join yarn into centre of any "middle" 2dc grouping, 3ch, 1dc; *3ch, 1sc into first dc on Petal, 1hdc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 3 stitches; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 3 stitches, 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc, 3ch; 2dc into the centre of "middle" 2dc grouping* *to* x5; 3ch, 1sc into first dc on Petal, 1hdc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 3 stitches; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 3 stitches, 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc, 3ch, ss into top of start 3ch
Row 7: Join yarn into centre of any "middle" 2dc grouping, 1ch, 1sc; *6ch, 1sc into first dc on Petal, 1hdc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 3 dc; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 3 dc, 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc, 6ch; 1 sc into the centre of "middle" 2dc grouping* *to* x5; 6ch, 1sc into first dc on Petal, 1hdc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 3 dc; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 3 dc, 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc, 6ch, ss into start 1ch
Row 8: Join yarn into first dc on right hand side of any petal 1ch, 1sc into same dc, 1hdc into next dc, 1 dc into each of next 3dc; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 3dc; 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc *6ch, 1sc into 6ch onRow 7; 6ch, 1sc into 6ch on Row 7; 6ch 1sc into first dc on petal, 1hdc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 3dc; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 3dc, 1hdc into next dc, 1sc into next dc* *to* x5; 6ch, 1sc into 6ch on Row 7;6ch, 1sc into 6ch on Row 7; 6ch, ss into 1ch at start of row
Row 9: Join yarn into 4th dc on right hand side of any petal; 3ch, 1dc into next dc; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 2dc; *(6ch, 1sc into 6ch sp) x3; 6ch; 1dc into 4th dc on petal, 1dc into next dc; 2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp; 1dc into each of next 2dc* *to* x5; (6ch, 1sc into 6ch sp) x3; 6ch
Row 10: Join yarn into third dc on right side of any petal; 2ch, 1hdc into next dc; 2hdc, 2ch, 2hdc into 3ch sp; 1hdc into each of next 2dc; *6ch, 1sc into 6ch sp; 6ch, 4dc into next 6ch space; 4dc into next 6ch space; 6ch, 1sc into 6ch sp; 6ch, 1hdc into third dc on petal, 1hdc into next dc; 2hdc, 2ch, 2hdc into 3ch sp; 1hdc into each of next 2dc* *to* x5; 6ch, 1sc into 6ch sp; 6ch, 4dc into next 6ch space; 4dc into next 6ch space; 6ch, 1sc into 6ch sp; 6ch ss into top of 2ch at start of row
Row 11: Join yarn into third hdc on right side of any petal; 2ch, 1hdc into next hdc, 3hdc into 2ch sp, 1hdc into each of next 2hdc; *6ch, 3dc into 6ch sp; 6ch, (1tr into each of next 4 dc) x2; 6ch, skip first 6ch sp, 3dc into next 6ch sp; 6ch 1hdc into third hdc, 1hdc into next hdc, 3hdc into 2ch sp, 1hdc into each of next 2hdc* *to* x5; ss into top of 2ch at start of row to close
Row 12: Join yarn between 3rd and 4th hdc on right hand side of any petal; 2ch, 1hdc between 4th and 5th hdc, *1ch; 6dc, into each of next two 6ch spaces; 1ch, skip 1st tr on Row 11; 1tr into each of next 6 tr; 1ch; 6dc into each of next two 6ch spaces, 1ch; 1hdc between 3rd and 4th hdc; 1hdc between 4th and 5th hdc* *to* x5; 1ch; 6dc, 1ch into each of next 2 6ch spaces; skip 1st tr on Row 11; 1tr into each of next 6 tr; 1ch; 6dc, 1ch into each of next 2 6ch spaces; ss into top of 2ch at start of row to close
Row 13: Join yarn between 2hdc at top of petal; 2ch; *1hdc into 1ch space, 1hdc into each of next 6dc; 1dc into each of next 6dc; 1tr into each of next 6tr; 1dc into each of next 6dc; 1hdc into each of next 6dc; 1hdc into 1 ch space; 1hdc into space between 2hdc at top of petal* *to* x5; 1hdc into 1ch space, 1hdc into each of next 6dc; 1dc into each of next 6dc; 1tr into each of next 6tr; 1dc into each of next 6dc; 1hdc into each of next 6dc; 1hdc into 1 ch space, ss into top of 2ch at start of row to close
Row 14: Join yarn into second tr of any 6tr sequence on Row 13; 4ch, 1tr into each of next 4tr; 1dc into each of next 13 stitches; 1tr into each of next 2hdc; 1dc into each of next 13 stitches; *1tr into each of next 5tr: 1dc into each of next 13 stitches; 1tr into each of next 2hdc; 1dc into each of next 13 stitches* *to* x 5; ss into top of 4ch at start of row to close;
Row 15: (EDITED) Join yarn in space between any 2tr at top of petal; 5ch (counts as 1sc and 4ch), skip two spaces then 1 sc in next space; *4ch, skip 2 spaces, then 1sc in next space* until last 2 spaces, 4ch, ss into 1st chain at start of row
Row 16: Join yarn in any 4ch space, 3ch, 2dc in same space, 1ch; *3dc, 1ch in next 4ch space* to end of row, ss into top of 3ch at start of row to close
Row 17: Join yarn in 2nd dc of any 3dc group on Row 16; 1ch, 1sc in same space as join, 1ch; *dc spike to the left of the sc in Row 15; dc spike to the right of the sc in Row 15 (crossover spike made), 1ch 1sc into the second dc of next 3dc group 1ch* *to* to end of row ss into 1ch at start of row to close.
Note: When doing the spike stitch keep your tension even but not too tight
Row 18: Join yarn with a ss in 1ch sp to the left of any crossover spike, ss in next 1ch sp, *6ch, ss into 4th ch from hook; ss into 1ch sp to the left of next crossover stitch, ss into next 1ch* *to* to the right of the last crossover spike; 6ch, ss into 4th ch from hook, ss into ss at start of row.
PS: I have prepared a row by row photo aid to this pattern, which can be foundHERE
