The Marigold Sunburst Dreamcatcher is a bright boho wall hanging in mustard yellow and soft off-white. A ten-point lacy star mandala sits inside a crochet-covered hoop, and a white five-petal flower rests in its center like a small sun.
Five mirrored cords hang below the hoop. They carry wooden beads, little white flowers, textured mustard leaves and full tassels, and they alternate in color so the piece looks balanced from across a room.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The covered hoop is 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide, and the whole hanging is about 22 in (55.9 cm) long including the loop and tassels.
You crochet the mandala in eight rounds, block it, and tie its ten tips into a hoop covered with single crochet. Then you add the center flower and build the five beaded cords with their appliqués and tassels.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide, about 22 in (55.9 cm) long overall
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light (3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: One assembled hanging. It is built from 1 mandala, 1 covered hoop, 1 large flower, 5 small flowers, 3 leaves, 5 cords and 5 tassels.
- Layout: Mandala centered in the hoop, with 5 cords hanging from the lower half
- Mandala size: 7.4 in (18.8 cm) from tip to opposite tip
- Size before border: Bare metal ring, 8 in (20.3 cm) across
- Border depth: The single crochet hoop cover adds about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) all around
Materials
Use a smooth, firm cotton so the stitch definition and the tassel strands stay crisp. The amounts below assume about 115 m per 50 g (2.3 m per gram).
- Mustard yellow: 55 g, about 127 m (139 yd). This covers the mandala, hoop cover, leaves, cords, mustard tassels, ties and hanging loop.
- Off-white: 30 g, about 69 m (75 yd). This covers the flowers and white tassels.
All quantities include a margin of roughly 20 percent.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- 8 in (20.3 cm) metal macramé ring
- 8 mustard wooden beads, 12 mm, with holes large enough for doubled DK yarn
- Tapestry needle and a fine beading needle or floss threader
- Cardboard rectangle, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, for the tassels
- Rustproof pins, a blocking mat and a spray bottle
- Sharp scissors and stitch markers
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rep: repeat
Special stitch – Bead chain (Bch): Slide one pre-threaded bead up against the hook, then yarn over and pull through so the chain closes around the bead. A Bch counts as 1 chain.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Crochet the mandala first. It controls the fit inside the hoop, so measure it before you make anything else.
Gauge: Rounds 1–3 of the mandala measure 3 in (7.6 cm) across.
Measure flat, across the center, at each of these stages:
- After Round 1: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- After Round 2: 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- After Round 3: 3 in (7.6 cm)
- After Round 4: 4 in (10.2 cm)
- After Round 5: 5 in (12.7 cm)
- After Round 6: 6 in (15.2 cm)
- After Round 7: 7 in (17.8 cm), from tip to opposite tip
- After Round 8: 7.4 in (18.8 cm), from tip to opposite tip
If Round 3 measures more than 3.1 in (7.9 cm), go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it measures less than 2.9 in (7.4 cm), go up to a 3.75 mm hook.
A finished mandala between 7.2 in (18.3 cm) and 7.6 in (19.3 cm) still fits. Adjust the tie length when you mount it.
Mandala (Mustard)
Start with a ch 6 joined into a ring with a sl st. This leaves a small open center.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 19 dc in ring. Join with sl st to the top of ch-3. (20 dc)
Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in next dc, ch 1. Rep from * 18 times. Join to 3rd ch of ch-4. (20 dc, 20 ch-1 sps)
This round forms the eyelet ring.
Round 3: Sl st into the first ch-1 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, skip next ch-1 sp. 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, skip next ch-1 sp. Rep from * 8 times. Join. (30 dc in 10 groups, 10 ch-2 sps)
Round 4: Sl st in next dc (the center dc of the group). Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 5, sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5. Sc in center dc of next group, ch 5, sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5. Rep from * 8 times. Join to first sc. (20 sc, 20 ch-5 loops)
This round forms the open mesh ring.
Round 5: Sl st into the first ch-5 loop. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then (dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in same loop, ch 2, sc in next loop, ch 2. (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next loop, ch 2, sc in next loop, ch 2. Rep from * 8 times. Join. (40 dc, 10 sc, 10 ch-3 sps, 20 ch-2 sps)
The ten ch-3 spaces are where the points start.
Round 6: Sl st in next dc and into the ch-3 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2. (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2. Rep from * 8 times. Join to top of ch-3. (70 dc: 60 in shells + 10 valley dc; 10 ch-3 tips, 20 ch-2 sps)
Round 7: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in ch-3 tip, dc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip ch-2 sp, sc in valley dc, ch 1, skip ch-2 sp. Dc in next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in tip, dc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip ch-2 sp, sc in valley dc, ch 1, skip ch-2 sp. Rep from * 8 times. Join. (100 dc, 10 per point; 10 sc, 10 ch-3 tips, 20 ch-1 sps)
The points are now clearly pointed. Each side of a point has 5 dc: 3 worked into dc and 2 worked into the tip.
Round 8 (petal edging): Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 4 dc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in ch-3 tip, sc in next 5 dc, skip ch-1, sl st in sc, skip ch-1. Sc in next 5 dc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in tip, sc in next 5 dc, skip ch-1, sl st in sc, skip ch-1. Rep from * 8 times. Join to first sc.
(140 sc, 14 per point = 10 worked 1-per-dc + 4 added at the tip; 10 sl sts, 10 ch-2 tips)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Large Center Flower (Off-White)
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1, 10 sc in ring, then pull the ring snug but leave a tiny hole. Join. (10 sc)
Round 2: Ch 4, skip 1 sc, sl st in next sc. Rep from * 4 times, ending with the last sl st in the joining st. (5 ch-4 loops)
Round 3: In each ch-4 loop, work (sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc). Join. (45 sts, 9 per petal)
The flower measures 2.4 in (6.1 cm) across. Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.
Small Flowers (Make 5, Off-White)
Rounds 1–2: Work as for the large flower, but make ch-3 loops in Round 2. (5 ch-3 loops)
Round 3: In each ch-3 loop, work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc). Join. (35 sts, 7 per petal)
Each flower measures 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across. Leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Leaves (Mustard)
Small leaf (make 2): Ch 10.
Round 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 5 ch, hdc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Now work along the other side of the chain: hdc in next ch, dc in next 5 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. Join. (19 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in first st, sc in next 7 sts, sc in next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st (the center sc of the tip), sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts. Join. (21 sc, 2 ch-2 points)
The small leaf measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) long and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide.
Large leaf (make 1): Ch 14.
Round 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 9 ch, hdc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Along the other side: hdc in next ch, dc in next 9 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. Join. (27 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in first st, sc in next 11 sts, sc in next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, sc in next st, sc in next 12 sts. Join. (29 sc, 2 ch-2 points)
The large leaf measures 3 in (7.6 cm) long and 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide.
Vein (all leaves): Using mustard yarn, surface sl st along the foundation-chain line from point to point. This makes a raised center vein, and the dc posts on either side give the ribbed texture.
Tassels (Make 3 Off-White, 2 Mustard)
- Wrap the yarn 40 times around the 4.5 in (11.4 cm) card.
- Slide an 8 in (20.3 cm) strand under the wraps at the top edge and tie it tight. Keep the tails long; you will use them to attach the tassel.
- Cut through the wraps at the bottom edge.
- Measure 0.75 in (1.9 cm) down from the top and wrap the neck 8 times with mustard yarn. Knot the wrap and bury its ends inside the tassel.
- Trim the tassel to 4 in (10.2 cm) long.
Cords (Mustard)
Cord gauge: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Before you start each cord, thread its beads onto the yarn. Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) starting tail on every cord.
- Cords 1 and 5 (outer, 1 bead each): Ch 5, Bch, ch 29. (35 ch, 7 in / 17.8 cm)
- Cords 2 and 4 (2 beads each): Ch 7, Bch, ch 10, Bch, ch 6. (25 ch, 5 in / 12.7 cm)
- Cord 3 (center, 2 beads): Ch 4, Bch, ch 16, Bch, ch 14. (36 ch, 7.2 in / 18.3 cm)
Fasten off each cord with a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
Sewing the appliqués onto the cords. Sew each flower and leaf flat over the front of its cord. The cord runs straight down behind the piece, and you catch it at the top and bottom of the motif.
- Cords 1 and 5: Place a small flower 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the bead, then a small leaf 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the flower.
- Cords 2 and 4: Center a small flower in the 10-ch section between the two beads.
- Cord 3: Center the large leaf in the 16-ch section, then a small flower in the 14-ch section below the second bead.
Adding the tassels. Tie the tassel tails around the last chain of each cord:
- Cords 1, 3 and 5: off-white tassels
- Cords 2 and 4: mustard tassels
Border: Hoop Cover Round
The hoop cover acts as the border, or frame, of the piece.
Border gauge: 4.8 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm) along the ring.
The ring’s circumference is about 25.1 in (63.8 cm), so you need 120 sc to cover it.
Round 1: Hold the mustard yarn behind the ring. Insert the hook through the ring, pull up a loop and ch 1. Work sc over the ring 120 times, pushing the stitches together as you go. Join with sl st to the first sc. (120 sc)
Hanging loop: Count the starting stitch as sc 1 and place it at the top. Ch 20 and sl st back into sc 1. (Loop 2 in / 5.1 cm tall)
Mark every 12th stitch: sc 1, 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85, 97 and 109.
Why the math works: The mandala has 10 points. 120 sc ÷ 10 = 12 sc between tips. Each tip therefore lands on a marker and the points space evenly at 36 degrees apart.
The five cords hang from sc 37, 49, 61, 73 and 85. That spaces them 12 sc apart and centers them on the bottom stitch, sc 61.
If the metal shows between stitches, work 130 sc instead and space the markers 13 sc apart. Keep the total a multiple of 10.
Final Blocking
- Wet the mandala and gently press out the water in a towel.
- Pin it to a 7.4 in (18.8 cm) circle, with one pin through each ch-2 tip and the tips spaced evenly.
- Pin each valley sl st 0.5 in (1.3 cm) inside the tip line so the star shape stays sharp.
- Let it dry completely.
- Tie each tip to its marked sc with an 8 in (20.3 cm) strand of mustard, leaving a 0.1 in (0.3 cm) gap. Square-knot each tie, then trim the ends to 0.25 in (0.6 cm) and hide them behind the hoop.
- Sew the large flower over the center, tacking each petal base so it covers Rounds 1–2.
- Tie each cord’s starting tail around its marked sc and knot it at the back.
- Steam the flowers and leaves flat. Comb out the tassels and trim them evenly.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The mandala measures 7.4 in (18.8 cm) from tip to tip, with 10 evenly spaced points.
- Round 8 has 14 sc per point and a crisp ch-2 at each tip.
- The hoop cover has 120 sc, with no metal showing through.
- All 10 ties sit at 12-sc intervals and the mandala lies flat, neither cupping nor sagging.
- The center flower sits in the exact center.
- The cords are mirrored left to right: white tassels on the outer and center cords, mustard tassels on the second and fourth.
- All 5 tassels are 4 in (10.2 cm) long.
- All ends are woven in or hidden behind the hoop.
Troubleshooting
- Mandala ruffles: Your tension is too loose or your dc are too tall. Go down a hook size and redo it from Round 5.
- Mandala cups: Your chain loops are too tight. Loosen your tension on the ch-5 loops in Round 4.
- Points look rounded: Check that you worked (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in each Round 8 tip, then re-block with pins in each tip.
- Mandala too small for the hoop: Lengthen the ties evenly so the gap is the same at every tip.
- Cords twist: Steam them lightly and let each one hang with its tassel attached.
- Bead won’t pass over the yarn: Use a floss threader, or swap for a bead with a larger hole.
Care
Spot-clean with cool water and mild soap, then lay flat to dry. Never wash the hoop in a machine, and re-comb the tassels once they are dry.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other in a chain:
- Rounds 1–3 of the mandala measure 3 in (7.6 cm).
- The full mandala measures 7.4 in (18.8 cm) from tip to tip.
- The ring covered with 120 sc measures 8.5 in (21.6 cm) across.
- The ten tips are tied 12 sc apart.
- The cords are 5 ch per inch and end in 4 in (10.2 cm) tassels.
If each link in that chain matches, the dreamcatcher finishes at about 22 in (55.9 cm) long and hangs balanced and bright.
Happy crocheting!