Naissance Mandala ~ Pattern

Here is the pattern for the Naissance Mandala.  Although a long post, I hope the photos included help support the pattern.  For a concise and on the go version please scroll down to the bottom of the post to find a link to a printable PDF version.  

Pattern Notes

 Pattern is written in UK crochet terms.

 Abbreviations:

• dc     double crochet
• ch    chain
• ch sp    chain space
• htr    half treble
• tr    treble crochet
• ss     slip stitch

 Yarn: DROPS Paris (see all colours available)

• 16 white 
• 02 light turquoise
• 21 light mint green
• 35 vanilla
• 27 peach
• 33 medium pink

 Hook Size: 4.5mm

Pattern

 Foundation Chain: ch5, ss into 1st chain to form a ring

 Round 1:  ch3 (counts as first htr, plus 1 ch), *htr, ch1* into foundation chain 11 times.  Ss into 2^nd chain of initial ch3.  Fasten off.  (12 spokes, see picture below)

 Round 2:  Join new colour, bring loop to front through chain space.  (ch3, tr, ch1), *2tr, ch1* into chain space 11 times.  Ss into 3^rd of initial ch3.  Fasten off. 

 Round 3: Join new colour, bring loop to front through chain space.  (ch3, 4tr cluster) into chain space.  *ch4, 5tr cluster into chain space* 11 times.  ch4, ss into top of first cluster.  Fasten off.

(4 tr Cluster = yarn over hook, work the first part of the treble stitch omitting the last stage to leave two loops on hook, work next three stitches in the same way, you should now have 5 loops on hook, yarn over hook and pull through all five loops).

(5 tr Cluster = yarn over hook, work the first part of the treble stitch omitting the last stage to leave two loops on hook, work next four stitches in the same way, you should now have 6 loops on hook, yarn over hook and pull through all six loops).

 Round 4:  Join new colour, bring loop to front through chain space. ch1, *2 dc, htr, ch1, htr, 2 dc* into chain space 12 times.  Ss to initial ch1.  Fasten off.

 Round 5:  Join new colour, bring loop to front in chain space below ss (top of cluster stitch from row 3).  ch3, ss into chain space between the two htr from the previous row. *5 tr fan into space above cluster stitch (i.e., between 2 dc from round 4), ss into chain space between the two htr from the previous row* repeat 11 times.  (4tr fan, ss into 3^rd of initial ch3.  Fasten off.

 Round 6:  Join new colour, bring loop to front in space at top of triangle (i.e., between the two htr from round 4).   ch1, dc into same space.  *1 dc into each of the next 5 tr, 2 dc into top of triangle (i.e., between the two htr from round 4). * repeat 11 times.   (1 dc into each of the next 5 tr).   Ss into first dc.  Fasten off.

 Round 7:  Join new colour, bring loop through space between 2 dc's. (ch3, 2tr fan into same stitch). ch1, miss 2 stitches, 1 htr, 1 htr, ch1,  miss 2 stitches * 3tr fan into space between 2dc from previous round, ch1, miss 2 stitches, htr, htr, ch1, miss 2 stitches* repeat 11 times.  Ss into 3^rd of initial ch3.  Fasten off.

 Round 8:  Join new colour, bring loop through chain space prior to fan stitch, ch3 2tr fan into chain space, *3tr fan into each chain space 23 times.  Ss into 3^rd of initial ch3.   Fasten off. (72 stitches)

 Round 9:  Join new colour, bring loop to front in chain space between two fans.  ch3 (counts as first htr, plus ch1), *1 htr, ch1, 1 htr across top of fan, ch1, 1 htr into chain space, ch1* Repeat all the way around until initial ch3 is reached, ss into 2^nd chain of initial ch3. Fasten off.

 Round 10: Join new colour, bring loop to front through chain space.  ch1, 1 dc into chain space.  2 dc into each chain space all the way around.  Ss into initial ch1.  Fasten off.

 STEAM BLOCK: the mandala would benefit from being steam blocked at this point.  Place a towel on an ironing board (or a foam pad) and pin the mandala into shape - pin opposite pins and stretch the mandala into shape. Place the iron on a steam setting. Without touching the work (this will flatten your stitches) blast the mandala with steam.  Leave to cool. Remove pins.

NOTE: the following round is worked into only the back loop of each dc on the previous round.

 Round 11:  Join new colour, bring loop through back loop of dc, ch1, ss into back loop of next dc, 1 dc into each of next 2 dc (back loops remember!), 1 htr into each of the next 2 dc, PICOT stitch (picot = ch1, slip stitch into back bump of chain), 1 htr into each of the next 2 dc, 1 dc into each of next 2 dc, 1 ss into each of the next 2 dc.

To simplify this; work the following pattern of stitches across the next 12 dc *2 ss, 2 dc, 2 htr, PICOT, 2 htr, 2 dc, 2 ss*   Repeat to end.  1ss, ss into initial ch1.

Fasten off and darn in ends!

  Mandala is complete! 

   For a printable PDF version of this pattern please click here  

This pattern is also on Ravelry, where I would love to see your mandalas too! 

  NAISSANCE MANDALA STITCH DIAGRAM