Crochet Mandala Wall Art in a 12 Inch Hoop

Crochet mandala wall art looks intricate, but it is only a flat circle with a color change at every round. This one has 10 rounds in four colors, grows by a steady 12 stitches per round and is stretched and laced into a 12 in (30 cm) hoop so it stays perfectly round on the wall.

Yarn, Hoop and Tools

Smooth worsted-weight cotton shows each round clearly and does not go fuzzy when stretched. Pick four colors, called A, B, C and D below. The guide to crochet color palettes for home decor can help you choose a set that suits the room.

• #4 worsted cotton, about 25 yd (23 m) each of four colors
• G-6 (4 mm) crochet hook
• 12 in (30 cm) wooden embroidery hoop (inner ring only) or a 12 in metal ring
• Yarn needle and scissors
• 4 locking stitch markers

Gauge, Size and Abbreviations

Gauge: Rounds 1 to 3 measure about 3.25 in (8 cm) across. The finished mandala is about 10.5 in (27 cm) across before stretching, which leaves a gap of roughly 0.75 in (2 cm) all around inside the hoop for the lacing. If your circle is much larger than 11 in (28 cm), use a smaller hook or leave out Round 9 and work Round 10 over 96 stitches.

• MR = magic ring
• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• BLO = back loop only
• sk = skip
• sp = space
• st/sts = stitch/stitches

How the Rounds Work

Each round is worked with the right side facing and closed with a sl st in its first stitch, then the yarn is fastened off. Join the next color with a sl st where the round says to begin. At the start of a dc round, ch 3 counts as the first dc. In Round 6 only, ch 4 counts as the first dc plus ch 1.

The circle stays flat because each round adds 12 stitches, the standard increase for double crochet. In the lacy rounds a chain counts as one stitch toward that total.

10-Round Mandala Pattern

1. Round 1 (A): Make a MR, ch 3, work 11 dc in the ring. Pull the ring closed and join (12 dc).
2. Round 2 (B): Join in any st. Work 2 dc in each st around (24 dc).
3. Round 3 (C): Join in any st. *2 dc in the next st, dc in the next st; rep from * around (36 dc).
4. Round 4 (D): Join in any st. *Dc in the next 3 sts, ch 1; rep from * around (36 dc and 12 ch-1 sps).
5. Round 5 (A): Join in any ch-1 sp. *2 dc in the ch-1 sp, dc in the next 3 dc; rep from * around (60 dc).
6. Round 6 (B): Join in any st. *[Dc in the next st, ch 1, sk the next st] twice, dc in the next st, ch 1; rep from * around. Each repeat uses 5 sts (36 dc and 36 ch-1 sps).
7. Round 7 (C): Join in any ch-1 sp. Working only in the spaces and skipping every dc, *2 dc in each of the next 2 ch-1 sps, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp; rep from * around (84 dc).
8. Round 8 (D): Join in the BLO of any st. Working in BLO throughout, *dc in the next 6 sts, 2 dc in the next st; rep from * around (96 dc). The unworked front loops form a raised ring.
9. Round 9 (A): Join in any st. Working in both loops, *dc in the next 7 sts, 2 dc in the next st; rep from * around (108 dc).
10. Round 10 (B): Join in any st, ch 1. Sc in each st around (108 sc). Join and fasten off.

Every repeat from Round 3 onward is worked 12 times, which makes the counts easy to check: Round 7 is 12 groups of 7, Round 8 is 12 groups of 8 and Round 9 is 12 groups of 9. The first few rounds follow the same logic as a set of easy crochet coasters, just carried further.

Weave In and Block

Ten rounds leave twenty tails. Weave each one into stitches of its own color on the wrong side, running it in one direction and then back for a short distance. Then pin the mandala out to an even circle, mist it with water and let it dry. A slight wave or a slight cup at this stage is not a problem, because the hoop will pull the piece flat. The guide to finishing crochet home decor explains both steps in more detail.

Lace the Mandala Into the Hoop

The mandala is tied to the hoop at 36 points, one in every third stitch of Round 10.

1. Anchor four points: Place markers in stitches 1, 28, 55 and 82 of Round 10, which are 27 stitches apart. Lay the mandala inside the hoop and tie each marked stitch to the hoop with a short scrap of yarn, at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. The mandala should sit centered with an even gap.
2. Start lacing: Cut 3 yd (2.75 m) of color B, or a contrast color, and thread the yarn needle. Tie one end to the hoop beside the first marker.
3. Lace: Bring the needle through stitch 1 from back to front, then carry the yarn over the outside of the hoop to the back. Skip 2 stitches and bring the needle through the next one. Continue around, wrapping the hoop once after every stitch you enter.
4. Tension: Pull each wrap just firm enough to hold the edge in a smooth curve. Remove the scrap ties as you reach them.
5. Finish: After the 36th stitch, tie off to the starting tail on the back of the hoop and weave both ends into the lacing.

Hang It on the Wall

A laced hoop is light enough to hang from one small nail or a removable hook under the top of the ring. For hanging heights, spacing and keeping pieces dust-free, see how to hang crochet wall decor.