Fall in love with the granny stitch in the round and learn how to crochet a granny circle mandala with this step-by-step pattern tutorial.
Even though I used my granny stitch circles to make two mandalas, you can use your granny circles to make anything from doilies to round pillowcases, chair seat covers, dishcloths for your kitchen, or even small decorative patches to stitch on denim jackets and jeans.
In this post, I’ll show you step-by-step how to crochet a granny stitch circle and give you the directions for assembling two mandalas:
- Small mandala – the rainbow-colored one that you see in the pictures;
- Large mandala – the one with the flower appliques.
Find more beautiful granny stitch patterns here on the blog…
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PRINTABLE CROCHET PATTERN
The pattern of the granny circle mandala is available as a printer-friendly PDF file in all my online shops. Get your copy on Ravelry HERE, Lovecrafts HERE, or Etsy HERE.
MATERIALS
Small Mandala:
- Sport (2, Fine) Yarn
- 3.0 mm (11 UK) Crochet Hook
- Tapestry Needle
- Metallic or Wooden Ring, internal diameter ~ 5.7″ (14.5 cm)
Large Mandala:
- DK (3, Light) Yarn
- 3.5 mm (E/4 US, 9 UK) Crochet Hook
- Tapestry Needle
- Metallic or Wooden Ring, internal diameter ~ 8.9″ (22.5 cm)
Yarn
For the small mandala, I used ~5.5 yds (5 m) of Schachenmayr Catania (50 g, 137 yds / 125 m) in the following colors:
- White – Natural White (105)
- Purple – Lilac (226)
- Blue – Turquoise (397)
- Green – Greenery (418)
- Yellow – Sun (208)
- Orange – Mango (411)
- Red – Camellia (252)
For the large mandala, I used ~12 yds (11 m) of Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 (50 g, 115 yds / 105 m) in various colors.
ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMS)
- Ch – Chain
- 2-Dc-Cl – Two Double Crochet Cluster
- 3-Dc-Cl – Three Double Crochet Cluster
- Dc – Double Crochet
- RS – Right Side
- Sl St – Slip Stitch
- Sp – Space
- St – Stitch
- Yo – Yarn Over
Special Stitches
Three Double Crochet Cluster (3-Dc-Cl)
Dc 3 in the same indicated st or sp.
Two Double Crochet Cluster (2-Dc-Cl)
Dc 2 in the same indicated st or sp.
Size
- Small Mandala – 5.7″ (14.5 cm)
- Large Mandala – 8.9″ (22.5 cm)
Gauge
- Small Mandala – 3 rounds in pattern in 2″ (5 cm)
- Large Mandala – 5 rounds in pattern in 4″ (10 cm)
PATTERN NOTES
- If the pattern says “dc 2”, you have to crochet 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts.
- *… – Repeat the instructions from * for the indicated number of times.
- […] – Crochet the instructions within brackets all in the same indicated st.
Crochet Granny Circle Mandala – STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL
- Fasten off at the end of each round and join new yarn as indicated.
Ch 4.
Round 1
Dc 11 in first-made ch. The turning ch-3 counts as your first dc. Sl st in fourth-made ch to join (12 sts)
Round 2
RS facing, join new color in sp between any two dc sts (photo 1).
Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc here and throughout), dc 1 in the same sp as joining to complete the first 2-dc-cl (photo 2), 2-dc-cl in each sp between sts around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (24 sts, photo 3)
Round 3
RS facing, join the new color in sp between any two 2-dc-cls (photo 4).
Ch 3, [dc 2] in the same sp as joining to complete the first 3-dc-cl (photo 5), 3-dc-cl in each sp between 2-dc-cl from the previous round. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (36 sts, photo 6)
Round 4
RS facing, join the new color in any sp between two 3-dc-cls.
Ch 3, [dc 2] in the same sp as joining to complete the first 3-dc-cl, [2-dc-cl 2] in the next sp (photo 7). *[Dc 3] in the next sp, [2-dc-cl 2] in the next sp. Repeat from * all around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (42 sts, photo 8)
Round 5
RS facing, join new color in any sp between two 2-dc-cls (photo 9).
Ch 3, [dc 2] in the same sp as joining to complete the first 3-dc-cl, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 2 sps (photo 10). *3-Dc-cl in the next sp, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 2 sps. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (18 3-dc-cl, 54 sts, photo 11)
Remember that a sp is any sp between:
- two consecutive 2-dc-cls;
- two consecutive 3-dc-cls;
- a 2-dc-cl and a 3-dc-cl;
- a 3-dc-cl and a 2-dc-cl.
Round 6
On round 5, identify two 3-dc-cls between two 2-dc-cls from round 4 (indicated by the pink dots in photo 11). RS facing, join the new color in the sp between the identified 3-dc-cls.
Ch 3, [dc 3] in the same sp as joining to complete the first two 2-dc-cls, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 2 sps (photo 12). *[2-Dc-cl 2] in the next sp, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 2 sps. Repeat from * all around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (12 2-dc-cls, 12 3-dcs, 60 sts, photo 13)
Round 7
RS facing, join the new color in sp between two consecutive 3-dc-cl.
Ch 3, [dc 3] in the same sp as joining to complete the first two 2-dc-cls, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 3 sps (photo 14). *[2-Dc-cl 2] in the next sp, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 3 sps. Repeat from * all around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (12 2-dc-cls, 18 3-dc-cls, 78 sts, photo 15)
Round 8
RS facing, join the new color in any sp from round 7.
Ch 3, [dc 2] in the same sp as joining to complete the first 3-dc-cl, 3-dc-cl in each sp around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (30 3-dc-cls, 90 sts, photo 16)
For the small mandala only: Fasten off and weave in all your ends.
Round 9
On round 8, identify four 3-dc-cls between 2-dc-cls from round 7 (indicated by the pink dots in photo 16). RS facing, join the new color in the middle sp of identified 3-dc-cls.
Ch 3, [dc 3] in the same sp as joining to complete the first two 2-dc-cls, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 4 sps (photo 17). *[2-Dc-cl 2] in the next sp, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 4 sps. Repeat from * all around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (12 2-dc-cls, 24 3-dcs, 96 sts, photo 18)
Round 10
On round 9, identify four consecutive 3-dc-cls (indicated by the pink dots in photo 18). RS facing, join the new color in the central sp.
Ch 3, [dc 3] in the same sp as joining to complete the first two 2-dc-cls, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 5 sps. *[2-Dc-cl 2] in the next sp, 3-dc-cl in each of the next 5 sps. Repeat from * all around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (12 2-dc-cls, 30 3-dcs, 114 sts, photo 19)
Round 11
RS facing, join new color in any sp from round 10.
Ch 3, [dc 2] in the same sp as joining to complete the first 3-dc-cl, 3-dc-cl in each sp around. Sl st in the third-made ch to join. (42 3-dc-cls, 126 sts, photo 20)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Assembly
With a length of yarn of a color of your choice, mount the mandala on the appropriate metal ring.
Add fringes and other decorations as preferred.
For my large mandala, I used these appliques:
And Your Granny Stitch Circle Mandala is Ready!
I’m looking forward to seeing your granny mandalas! Please, share a pic of your work on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #raffamusadesigns!
Find more crochet inspiration here on the blog…
