The Coastal Bloom Dreamcatcher pairs soft cornflower blue with cream. A lacy mandala sits inside a yarn-wrapped hoop. Five strands of flowers, leaves, beads, and tassels hang below it.
The mandala starts with a cream flower of eight puff petals. Blue openwork rounds with small windows follow, and twelve rounded scallops finish the edge. A thin cream outline goes around the scallops, and short cream ties hold the mandala in the hoop.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The hoop is 10 in (25.4 cm) across. The finished hanging is about 27 in (68.6 cm) long from the top of the loop to the bottom of the center tassel.
You will crochet the mandala in the round, cover the hoop with sc, and tie the mandala in. Then you make the small parts, build five strands, and add a hanging loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Hoop diameter: 10 in (25.4 cm)
- Total length: 27 in (68.6 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 mandala, 5 flowers, 10 leaves, 6 beads, 5 tassels, 5 strand chains, 1 hanging loop
- Layout: mandala centered in hoop; 5 strands across the bottom of the hoop
- Mandala size before edging: 8 in (20.3 cm)
- Mandala size after edging: 8.5 in (21.6 cm)
- Edging depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) all around
- Gap between mandala and hoop: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) all around, filled by the ties
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or soft cotton in DK weight, about 110 m per 50 g. Cotton holds the scallops crisp and makes neat tassels.
- Blue: 70 g (154 m) – mandala outer rounds, hoop cover, leaves, tassels, hanging loop
- Cream: 60 g (132 m) – mandala center, edging, ties, flowers, beads, strand chains, tassels
Quantities include a margin of about 15 percent, so you will not run short if your tension is a little loose.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) hook
- 10 in (25.4 cm) metal ring
- Small amount of polyester stuffing
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Stiff card, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, for tassels
- Scissors, ruler, rustproof pins, blocking mat, spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog / dc3tog – double crochet 2 / 3 together
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
Puff stitch (puff): (Yarn over, insert hook in st, pull up a loop to 0.5 in / 1.3 cm) 3 times, yarn over, pull through all 7 loops, ch 1 to close. The closing ch does not count as a st.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make the cream center (Rounds 1–5) first and measure it before you continue. It should be 4.25 in (10.8 cm) across.
Measure flat, without stretching, at these points:
- After Round 1: 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
- After Round 2: 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- After Round 4: 3.75 in (9.5 cm)
- After Round 5: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- After Round 7: 5.75 in (14.6 cm)
- After Round 8: 6.75 in (17.1 cm)
- After Round 9: 8 in (20.3 cm)
- After Round 10: 8.5 in (21.6 cm)
If the center is too big, go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 3.75 mm hook. The edging must end at 8.5 in (21.6 cm) to leave a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) gap all around in a 10 in (25.4 cm) hoop.
Mandala
Cream Center
With cream, make a MR.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. (16 dc)
Round 2: Sl st in next st. (Puff in same st, ch 3, sk next st) 8 times. Join with sl st to top of first puff. (8 puffs, 8 ch-3 sps)
Each puff makes one petal. The ch-3 sps make the gaps between petals.
Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in next ch-3 sp. (Dc in top of next puff, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp) 7 times. Join. (40 dc)
Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st. (Dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st) 7 times. Join. (48 dc)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off cream. (48 sc)
This sc round is the thin cream outline around the center. Check that it measures 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
Blue Openwork
Round 6: Join blue in any st. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 sts, ch 2, sk next st. (Dc in next 3 sts, ch 2, sk next st) 11 times. Join. (36 dc, 12 ch-2 sps)
Round 7: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 dc, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch-2 sp. (Dc in next 3 dc, [dc, ch 2, dc] in next ch-2 sp) 11 times. Join. (60 dc, 12 ch-2 sps)
Each repeat now has 5 dc: a group of 3 and a V-stitch.
Round 8: Ch 2, dc2tog over next 2 dc (counts as first dc3tog). Ch 3, dc in next dc, 3 dc in ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, ch 3. (Dc3tog over next 3 dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, 3 dc in ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, ch 3) 11 times. Join to top of first cluster. (12 clusters, 60 dc in 12 fans of 5, 24 ch-3 sps)
The ch-3 sps on each side of the clusters make the small windows.
Round 9: Ch 1, sc in top of first cluster. Ch 2, sk ch-3 sp, 2 dc in each of next 5 dc, ch 2, sk ch-3 sp. (Sc in next cluster, ch 2, sk ch-3 sp, 2 dc in each of next 5 dc, ch 2, sk ch-3 sp) 11 times. Join. Fasten off blue. (12 sc, 120 dc in 12 scallops of 10, 24 ch-2 sps)
The mandala should measure 8 in (20.3 cm) across, scallop tip to scallop tip.
Make All Pieces
Flowers (make 5, cream)
Round 1: MR, 10 sc in ring. Join. (10 sc)
Round 2: (Sc in next st, [hdc, 2 dc, hdc] in next st) 5 times. Join and fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. (5 petals, 25 sts)
Each flower is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
Leaves (make 10, blue)
Ch 9. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc in next 7 ch. Work 3 sc in last ch. Rotate and work along the other side of the foundation: sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc. Join to first sc and fasten off, leaving a tail. (17 sts)
Each leaf is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long with a pointed tip. The foundation chain forms a center vein.
Beads (make 6, cream)
Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12 sc)
Round 3: Sc in each st. (12 sc)
Round 4: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sts)
Stuff firmly before closing. Fasten off, weave the tail through the front loops, and pull closed. Each bead is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
Tassels (make 5)
Wrap the yarn around the 4.5 in (11.4 cm) card:
- Tassel A (make 2, outer strands): 20 wraps cream and 20 wraps blue, held together
- Tassel B (make 2, strands 2 and 4): 30 wraps blue and 10 wraps cream
- Tassel C (make 1, center): 35 wraps cream and 5 wraps blue
Tie the top with a 12 in (30.5 cm) cream strand, and keep its tails long to sew on later. Cut the bottom loops. Wrap the neck 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top with blue, 8 times, and tie it off. Trim to 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Strand Chains (make 5, cream)
- Strands 1 and 5: chain to 5.5 in (14.0 cm), about 22 ch
- Strands 2 and 4: chain to 7.25 in (18.4 cm), about 29 ch
- Strand 3: chain to 8.5 in (21.6 cm), about 34 ch
Strand Layout
Read each column from the hoop down:
1 2 3 4 5
Flower Leaves Flower Leaves Flower
Leaves Flower Leaves Flower Leaves
Bead Bead Bead Bead Bead
Tassel A Tassel B Tassel C Tassel B Tassel A
The sixth bead goes on the hanging loop.
Joining
Cover the Hoop
With blue, work sc tightly around the 10 in (25.4 cm) ring. Its circumference is 31.4 in (79.8 cm), so at 5 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm) you need about 157 sc. Push the sts together as you go so no metal shows. Join to the first sc and fasten off.
Tie the Mandala In
The 12 scallop tips line up with 12 evenly spaced points on the hoop. Mark 12 points on the hoop, 2.6 in (6.6 cm) apart along the curve.
Join cream in the 7th sc of any 13-sc repeat of Round 10 (the scallop tip). Ch 4, work 3 sc around the hoop at a marked point, ch 4, sl st back into the same tip st. Sl st loosely in the next 13 sts to the next tip. Repeat from * to * 11 more times, ending at the first tip. Fasten off.
Work 1 tie to each tip: 12 ties and 12 × 13 = 156 sl sts, so you end exactly where you started.
Tension: Make the first 4 ties at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock to center the mandala. Then fill in the others. Keep all chains the same length so the mandala does not pull to one side.
Checkpoint: The gap from the edging to the hoop should be 0.75 in (1.9 cm) all around.
Attach the Strands
Strand 3 hangs at 6 o’clock. Place strands 2 and 4 on each side, 2 in (5.1 cm) away along the hoop. Place strands 1 and 5 another 2 in (5.1 cm) beyond those. Tie each chain around the hoop with a double knot.
Sew the flowers, leaf pairs, and beads onto each chain in the order on the layout grid. Leave about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) between the parts. Sew each tassel to the end of its chain with the tassel’s tie tails.
Strand lengths, measured from the hoop to the bottom of the tassel:
- Strands 1 and 5: 10 in (25.4 cm)
- Strands 2 and 4: 11.75 in (29.8 cm)
- Strand 3: 13 in (33.0 cm)
Hanging Loop
With blue, chain to 8 in (20.3 cm). Thread on the sixth bead, fold the chain into a loop, and tie both ends around the top of the hoop at 12 o’clock. Push the bead down to the hoop. The loop stands 4 in (10.2 cm) above the hoop.
Border
The border is Round 10, a cream sc outline worked around the scallops before the mandala is tied in.
Border gauge: 156 sc around an 8.5 in (21.6 cm) circle.
Round 10: Join cream in any Round 9 sc. Ch 1. (Sc in sc, sc in ch-2 sp, sc in each of next 10 dc, sc in ch-2 sp) 12 times. Join and fasten off. (156 sc)
Count per scallop: 1 + 1 + 10 + 1 = 13 sc. With 12 scallops, 12 × 13 = 156 sc.
Why the math works: Round 10 puts exactly 1 sc in each st and space of Round 9. Round 9 has 12 sc, 120 dc, and 24 ch-2 sps, and 12 + 120 + 24 = 156. Nothing is added, so the edge lies flat. It outlines the scallops without ruffling and adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) all around, so 8 in (20.3 cm) becomes 8.5 in (21.6 cm).
The 7th sc of each repeat is the scallop tip, where the ties go.
Final Blocking
Block the mandala before you tie it into the hoop.
- Lightly spray the mandala until damp.
- Pin the center flat, then pin out each puff petal.
- Pin the outside to an 8.5 in (21.6 cm) circle, with 1 pin at each scallop tip.
- Open each window gently with your fingertip.
- Let it dry completely, then unpin.
- Mist the flowers and leaves, flatten them, and pin the leaf tips to a point.
- Comb the tassels with damp fingers and trim them straight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Center measures 4.25 in (10.8 cm); mandala measures 8.5 in (21.6 cm)
- 8 puffs, 12 clusters, 12 scallops of 10 dc
- Round 10 has 156 sc
- 12 ties, all the same length, with a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) gap all around
- Hoop fully covered; no metal shows
- 5 strands in mirror order, center hanging lowest
- All tassels trimmed to 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
- Hanging loop centered at 12 o’clock
- All ends woven in securely
Troubleshooting
- Center cups: Your puffs are too tight. Pull up longer loops, or go up one hook size for Round 2 only.
- Scallops ruffle: The 2-dc increases in Round 9 are too loose. Use a smaller hook for Round 9.
- Mandala is too big for the hoop: Shorten the ties to ch 3, or go down one hook size and work it again.
- Mandala sits off-center: Undo the ties and start again from the four quarter points.
- Hoop cover twists: Keep each sc pulled snug and the hook moving in the same direction.
- Tassels look thin: Add 5 more wraps of each color.
Care
Dust gently or spot clean with cool water and mild soap. Lay the mandala flat to dry, and do not machine wash the finished hanging.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. The 4.25 in (10.8 cm) center becomes an 8 in (20.3 cm) mandala. The edging brings it to 8.5 in (21.6 cm), and the 0.75 in (1.9 cm) ties fill the 10 in (25.4 cm) hoop. The strands hang 10 in (25.4 cm), 11.75 in (29.8 cm), and 13 in (33.0 cm) below the hoop, so the finished piece is 27 in (68.6 cm) long. Check each of these numbers as you go, and the parts will fit together.
Happy crocheting!