MANDALA CROCHET RUG
Worked in blocks like patchwork. I’ve used
cheap acrylic 8 ply yarn. I use a 4mm crochet hook, but most would use a
3 or 3.5mm for the same result. In the past, I’ve done these afghans in
all double crochet (English) so they make really thick warm blankets.
Using trebles is quicker and still warm and not as stiff.
Instructions use English terms.
Colours used:
White – small amount for centres – less than 1 ball.
Aqua – I think I used about 3 to 4 x 100g balls.
Jacaranda blue – about the same.
Bright violet – about 2 to 3 balls.
Deep purple – I think about 4 balls.
I
tend to make the patterns up as I go, so make a central design, then
crochet around it in bands of colour. You could get an even more
graduated effect with more colours, though I tried it recently and
preferred the way this one turned out.

CENTRE BLOCK: Make one.
With WHITE, 3 ch (or more if preferred),
sl st into a ring. 2 ch, 2 tr (English), (1 ch, 3 tr) 3 times, 1 ch, sl
st to starting ch. Break off.
(I weave the ends through the backs of
the st loops when I finish a colour. The next row is crocheted over it.
Very strong and no finishing off!)
With AQUA, join to the tr in
middle of row. Work 1 row of tr around centre. TRICK – When you get to
the chain worked in each corner, turn the work 90 degrees so the side
just worked is down the right side. Work 2 ch for first st of the side.
Work 1 tr into the body of the last tr worked (It’s now lying across,
not standing up. I find if you insert the needle close to what was the
bottom of the st, it works fine. There are 3 strands in the st. You need
to pick up 2 of them for the st to sit well) and then work 1 tr into
the ch st in the corner (makes 2 sts worked into it). Then complete the
side, turn and continue to end. Sl st into the first ch st. Break off.
With
JACARANDA, join to middle of row (or a st not in the 3 sts of the
corner. It’s just easier) and work 1 row of tr as for previous row. I
then turned the work over and worked a row of double crochet (English)
in the same way, except that when you turn the work at the corner, work
just one ch as first st. Break off.
With BRIGHT VIOLET, work 2 rows of tr.
With DEEP PURPLE, work 4 rows of tr. End of centre block.

Side blocks around centre: Make 4.
With WHITE, work same centre. With AQUA, work 1 row tr.
With DEEP PURPLE, work 4 rows tr.
With BRIGHT VIOLET, work 2 rows of tr.
With JACARANDA, work 1 row tr, 1 row dc. End.

CORNER BLOCKS AROUND CENTRE: Make 4 = 16 small blocks for this part. These are worked in 4 small blocks joined.

Start with the same WHITE centre.
SMALL BLOCK 1 – join AQUA to the ch st in the corner. Work 1 row of tr ON TWO SIDES ONLY. Break off.
Join
JACARANDA to first aqua st, work 1 row tr on same two sides. You can
either turn over and work 1 row dc back around last row, or you can
break off, rejoin at the beginning if you don’t want the “backs” of sts
showing. I found with the dc row amongst the tr rows, it made no
difference. Break off.
Join BRIGHT VIOLET to beginning, work 2 rows of tr. Break off.
Join DEEP PURPLE, work 3 rows tr. Break off.
(Because this is a quarter block, and a whole centre is used, 1 less row of tr is required) Make 8 of this small block.

SMALL BLOCK 2 – basically the same, only reversing the order of colours.
WHITE
centre. DEEP PURPLE – 1 half row tr. BRIGHT VIOLET – 1 half row tr, 1
half row dc. JACARANDA – 2 half rows. AQUA – 3 half rows.
Make 8 of this small block.

Follow the picture to join these blocks. All white centres face into the centre of the centre block. What a mouthful!

BLOCK AT CENTRE OF NEXT ROW:
Repeat the previous 4 blocks, but
join differently – turn the 2 aqua blocks so centres are touching, turn
deep purple blocks so centres are facing away. (see pic)

BLOCKS SURROUNDING PREV BLOCK: Make 8.
Make as for small blocks.
Start with white centre. Work 1 tr row in AQUA. Work 2 tr rows, 1 dc row
in JACARANDA. Work 4 tr rows in BRIGHT VIOLET. Work 10 tr rows in DEEP
PURPLE.

CORNER BLOCK: Make 4 = 16 small blocks.
For each block, make 3 of SMALL BLOCK 2 + 1 of SMALL BLOCK 1.
(see picture for placement)

All of the above, joined make the square centre of the rug. To make it rectangular, I added some small squares down to sides.
AQUA SMALL SQUARE: Make 4.
WHITE centre. DEEP PURPLE – 1 tr row. BRIGHT VIOLET – 1 row dc. JACARANDA – 1 row dc. AQUA – 1 row tr, 1 row dc.

DEEP PURPLE SMALL SQUARE: Make 5.
WHITE centre. AQUA – 1 row dc. JACARANDA – 1 row dc. BRIGHT VIOLET – 1 row dc. DEEP PURPLE – 2 tr row.

CENTRAL SECTION: Take one of the deep purple squares. Join BRIGHT
VIOLET to one corner and work tr along one side only. Break off. Join
JACARANDA and work 1 row tr. Join AQUA and work 1 row dc. Join Join
JACARANDA and work 1 row tr. Join BRIGHT VIOLET and work tr row.
Join to opposite side and work same colours. Join squares so they alternate, ending with aqua at each end.

At this point, I joined all blocks (with some fiddling at some places
to match colours, but where one block had a solid colour at the edge, I
used that colour.)
I then crocheted around the blanket using the
same method at the corners, just alternating the colours depending on
whim and availability. I usually finish with a row of what I know as
crab stitch – just work dc from left to right, ie backwards. It gives a
nice solid edge, though I tend to skip about every 20th st because it
can make the edge flute a little.

Please contact me on Facebook (Toni Andmarc) if you have any questions. Hope you enjoy!

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