Crocheted Mandalas

If you have been following me for a while you know I love to turn a crocheted doily into a decorative hanging by putting it onto a metal hoop. I get the hoops from Glitterwitch and Dannells.

I discovered Zoya Matyushenko’s designs in 2017

So textured, intricate and utterly absorbing to make. This one is called Sol

Made with Scheepjes Sweet Treat, 2ply cotton thread, Colour Bridal White and a 1.25mm hook.

I love the way each round is an adventure. I could have stopped at almost any time for a beautiful piece. But this one would not lie flat. Luckily it worked well stretched on a 30m (12inch) diameter hoop. It might have worked better with a larger hook size.

Recently the idea popped into my head that I would like to see a whole bunch of white mandalas hanging up together.

So for the past few months I have been making more

Sol is the central one on the left hand side.

The largest is 70cm diameter and the two small ones are 20cm diameter.

From top left the patterns are: Mako by Zoya Matyushenko, 2.5mm hook, Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat, 2ply cotton, Bridal White. 35cm (14″) hoop

Calla by Zoya Matyushenko, 2.5mm hook, Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat, Snow White, 2ply cotton thread. 50cm

‘A Pleasure’ by Patricia Kristoffersen (free), made with Sirdar 4ply cotton and a 3.25mm hook, 70cm hoop

‘One Mini Mandala’ by Elizabeth Laitila (free) 3mm hook, 20 cm hoop,

then Sol, and below Sol is

another Zoya Matyushenko (ZM) design, Agnes, 2.5mm hook, Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat in Snow White,  on a 50cm (20″) hoop.

Then the 20cm diameter ‘Frozen Lotus’, by Johanna Lindahl, made with 2mm hook

above the 30cm (12″) Frozen Lotus, made with a 2.5mm hook.

Then ‘Bella’ by Olga Mattheis with 3mm hook. This was not the eassiest pattern to follow, but I got there in the end.

I am in awe of the designers of these patterns. It is intrguing to see the design come together.

My fantasy is that these would look good hanging from the ceiling of a wedding venue or a Summer Garden Party marquee. But for now I am enjoying how they twirl in the lightest of breezes and cast beautiful shadows when the light shines through them.

W.I.P. Wednesday

Sharp

~

sharp eyes, sharp scissors

small hooks, smart patterns to please 

each round exciting

~

Joining two challenges together:

Our One-a-Week Photo Challenge

and

Ronaovan’s Haiku Challenge: PLEASURE and EXCITE

 

Inspired by some of the mini crocheted mandalas I’ve seen in online crochet groups I am trying my hand at making a couple whilst me hands and eyes can still cope!

The white one ‘Sol’  by Zoya Matyushenko on Ravelry, her designs are amazing! Each round is a little gem in itself. I’m making this in Cotton thread – Scheepjes BonBon, Bridal White, with a 1.25 mm hook, although if I did it again in this cotton I would choose a 1.5mm.

The turquoise one is Spiro Star by Helen Shrimpton which I am making with the same thread and a 2mm hook. My plan is to make a one colour Mandala Madness with Spiro Star at the centre.

 

Join Cathy and me in our weekly Photo Challenge by leavig a link to your ‘Sharp’ photo in the comments.

 

Monday Mandala

 

Joining Cathy of Rambling in the Garden for her ‘In a Vase on Monday’ international Garden Party. I love this meme so much and enjoy seeing what gardeners from all over the world pop in a vase every Monday.

My garden has slipped way down the list of priorities this year and I don’t have many flowers growing at the moment. Yesterday was the first day for ages that circumstances aligned for me to be able to spend the whole day tackling the jungle it has become. As I cut back, slashed and weeded, I saved the few flowers I found and plonked them in jam jars hoping to be able to make up a vase for today ….

I looked at this sorry collection and realised something was needed for added value.

 

So I lay one of my paintings-in-progress on the floor and then I drifted off into a very happy place playing with petals and leaves

 

 

Click on the photos if you would like to see them larger.

The centre is the beginning of a crochet mandala in cotton called ‘Sol’ by

Zoya Matyushenko

You can see the beginning of this mixed-media-mandala in yesterday’s post.

~

The words are a quote I have adapted from the book ‘Conversations With God’ Book 2 by Neale Donald Walsch, the quote is “a woman hears the melody of flowers in the wind”, but I wanted to change it so that everyone could relate to it.

Little Miss M (5) was here a few days ago, she loves to have music playing – her favourite at the moment is ‘500 miles’ by the Proclaimers, she says she wants to walk 500 miles with me – now there’s an ambition! We were both dancing to the song and she looked out at the wind blowing through the plants in the garden and said,

“Look Granny, the garden is dancing with us!”

 

Silent Sunday