Sunrise Mandala

This is the first Tunisian crochet pattern that I’ve ever written down. This isn’t the first time I’ve done this, though. When I want to make something mindless and soothing, I make a mandala. If you notice an error or have a question about something you don’t understand, please leave a friendly remark.

Sunrise Mandala

 

Nicole Cormier

Twitter: @_nicolecormier_

IG: @tunisiancrochetchick

FB: fb.com/tunisiancrochet

©2015

 

Sunrise Mandala

 

6.0mm crochet hook

6.0mm Tunisian crochet hook

2 skeins Red Heart Boutique”Sunrise”

darning needle

stitch marker(s)

 

 

Notes:

 

1. In Tunisian crochet, the working loop corresponds to the very first stitch, which is the selvedge. It is often not charted or counted in patterns. When the instructions tell you to draw up a loop in the vertical bar, they do not mean this stitch.
2. There is no gauge. It isn’t really important for this project. When done with a 6.0mm hook, the finished mandala is 57cm across (a shade under 22.5”) unblocked. Blocking adds about 5cm/2” to this measurement.
3. In the video instructions (to come later) and the photographs, you will note that I am left-handed. Everything you do will be the same, but in the opposite direction.
4. The mandala is worked from the centre out, and begins as a hexagonal motif. The rounds are not joined or turned. Throughout the project, the right side is always facing.

Centre Motif:

Chain 5, join with a ss to form a ring.

 

 

 

 

 

Round 1: Ch 1 (sc, ch5) 5 times in the ring, ch 2, dc in first sc. 6 sc with “flower petals” in between.

 

Mark the end of the round and keep slipping the marker as you work each round.

 

 

 

 

Round 2: *Ch 4, sc in next ch 5 space. Rep from * around to last ch 5 space, ch 4, sc around post of dc. 6 sc.

 

 

 

 

 

Round 3: *Ch 4, 2 sc in ch 4 space, sc in next sc, rep from * 18 sc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round 4: *Ch 4, 2 sc in ch 4 space, sc in each sc up to last sc – skip this sc. Rep around, 24 sc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue working Round 4 until each of the six segments of the motif has a ch 4 space plus 20 sc.

 

 

Close off the last round with a ss into the sc that you would normally skip, if you were continuing the rounds.

Ss into the first chain stitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Tunisian Round (Base Triangles):

 

Switch to Tunisian hook.

Row 1: Remember, the working loop on the hook counts as drawing up a loop in the first stitch. Draw up a loop in the next chain st.

 

 

 

 

 

Work return pass: YO, pull through 1 loop. YO pull through 2 loops. First row of triangle done

 

 

 

 

 

Row 2: Draw up a loop in the vertical bar, draw up a loop in the next chain st. Work return pass: YO, pull through 1 loop. YO pull through 2 loops until 1 loop is left on the hook. Second row done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Row 3: Draw up a loop in the next two vertical bars, draw up a loop in the next st. Work return pass: YO, pull through 1 loop. YO pull through 2 loops until 1 loop is left on the hook. Third row done.

Continue until all chain sts and 20 sc have been worked and you have a triangle that looks like the one to the left. It will curl. This is normal.

Bind Off Row: Chain 1, draw up a loop in the next vertical bar as shown on the left, pull this loop through the working loop – 1 stitch bound off. Carry on like this across the last row, placing a ss in the last  stitch worked in the previous row.

 

SS into next chain st. Follow the same process to make the next triangle. You will make six triangles in total. Cut yarn. Weave in ends as you go.

 

Second Tunisian Round (Squares):

 

First Square:

 

From that last ss, count back up the bound off edge 12 sts and attach yarn to this st. If it helps, mark the side edge of the first row of the next triangle so that you know where to put your hook to eventually join the square.

 

 

 

Draw up 12 loops on hook, working across the bound off sts, toward the “valley” between the two triangles. Draw up loop in next side edge of first row of next triangle, which you have marked. 13 loops on hook. Return pass: YO, pull through 2 loops across, until 1 loop is left on hook.

 

 

 

Second row: repeat as for first row.

 

Follow this process for 12 rows.

BO row: follow as for triangle, working ss into same stitch as joining at end of 12th row. Cut yarn, weave in ends. Follow this process around for six squares.

 

Now, at this point, you could make another round of even smaller squares, following the above process, or you could round off with inverted triangles. You could actually do a whole lot of other things with this mandala, because it would make a fine and dandy central motif to a larger project, but here is what I did:

 

Third Tunisian Round (Inverted triangles):

 

Attach yarn to any triangle point.

Row one: pick up loops in this row as you did for the squares. Work the same return pass.

Row two: SKIP THE SECOND VERTICAL BAR. (The first one corresponds to the working loop on your hook. By skipping the second one you will create a decrease. This creates the inverted triangle) Go to the third stitch and pick up a loop in that, working across the  row as per normal. Work return pass as established.

Rows three to six: work as row two.

Row 6A (short row): work the second vertical bar (there is no need to make the decrease as the row will be short anyway) and the next four bars. 6 loops on hook. Return pass: YO, pull through 1 loop, YO pull through 2 across until 1 loop is left on hook.

Row 7: work as established in rows 2-6, skipping the second vertical bar. Draw up a loop in the last stitch of the short row and then pick up loops in the unworked stitches of the 6th full row. Continue as per normal.

Continue decreasing one stitch at a time until only the working loop is left on the hook. Join with ss in the next point to complete inverted triangle and continue working next one. 12 inverted triangles.

At end of round, join with ss, cut yarn and weave in ends.

Here is another one that I did a couple of years ago in a similar fashion. Instead of a mandala, I made a hex sign:

 

 

 

 

 

This one was done in lace weight yarn for the Ravelry group “Harry Potter Knit Crochet House Cup” for a class in which we were to create a project inspired by a particular dragon from the books:

Copyright 2015 Nicole Cormier.

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