Mar
Getting Started With The Actual Circle Part
So you wanna make a mandala blanket, okay so first thing is you gotta pick your starting ring size and honestly I messed this up when I made mine in spring 2022. I was going through this whole thing with my ex and thought crocheting would be therapeutic or whatever, and I started with like a magic ring that was way too tight. The whole center puckered and I didn’t notice until I was like 8 rounds in.
Start with a magic ring but make it loose. Like looser than you think. Do 12 double crochets into that ring for round one. Pull it closed but not CLOSED closed, you know? Leave it with some give. I used Red Heart Super Saver in like this burgundy color called Claret I think, because it was cheap and I was broke from the move.
The Pattern Structure Nobody Explains Right
Here’s what actually happens with mandala patterns. Each round builds on the previous one but the stitch count increases. Round 2 you’re gonna do 2 dc in each stitch around so now you have 24 stitches. Round 3 is usually *1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* repeated, giving you 36 stitches. It keeps going like that.
The thing that annoyed me SO much was that every pattern I found online had different increases. Like some would jump from 12 to 24 to 48, skipping the 36 entirely, and others would do this gradual thing. You have to commit to one system or your circle will ruffle up like a dinner plate gone wrong.
I followed a pattern from some blog that’s probably dead now, but the basic math is: decide if you want 12-stitch increases or 6-stitch increases. Twelve-stitch means every round adds 12 stitches total (12, 24, 36, 48, 60…). Six-stitch is more gradual but takes longer.
Joining Rounds vs Continuous Spiral
You can either join each round with a slip stitch and chain to start the next round, or you can spiral continuously without joining. I did the joining method because I wanted clean color changes, but it creates this visible seam line that honestly I didn’t love. My cat kept trying to sit on the blanket while I was working and getting hair all over the burgundy yarn which was just great.
For joining: slip stitch to first dc of round, chain 3 (counts as first dc of next round), continue pattern.
For spiral: just keep going around and use a stitch marker to track where rounds begin or you’ll lose your mind trying to count.
Color Changes And Yarn Management
I used like five different colors for mine. Started with that Claret Red Heart, then added this cream color (Aran I think it was called?), then a dark teal. I can’t remember the teal brand name but it was softer than Red Heart, maybe Caron Simply Soft? The texture difference between brands shows up more than you’d think.
When you change colors in a joined round, do the last yarn over of your final stitch with the new color. So if you’re finishing round 5 in burgundy and starting round 6 in cream, when you do that last slip stitch to join round 5, pull through with the cream yarn. Then your chain 3 is already in the new color.
Cut your old color leaving like 6 inches to weave in later. Don’t leave those tails too short or they’ll pull out and you’ll have gaps, learned that the hard way.
How Many Rounds Before It’s Actually A Blanket
This depends on your gauge and yarn weight. I used worsted weight (the medium size, number 4) and a 5.5mm hook. After like 15 rounds I had something maybe 20 inches across? Which is not a blanket, that’s a weird decorative circle.
For an actual lap blanket you need like 25-30 rounds minimum. For a throw blanket that covers a person on a couch, you’re looking at 35-40 rounds. I stopped at 32 because I ran out of patience and also yarn, and it ended up being like 45 inches across which is decent for curling up but not huge.
The problem is the later rounds take FOREVER because you’re working so many stitches. Round 5 might have 60 stitches and take 10 minutes. Round 30 has like 360 stitches and you’re there for an hour watching Netflix wondering why you started this project. I was watching this whole series about cults which probably wasn’t the best choice for my mental state but whatever.
Stitch Variations To Keep It Interesting
Pure double crochet rounds get boring fast. Most mandala patterns mix it up with clusters, shells, V-stitches, and spaces.
Shell stitch round example: *skip 2 stitches, 5 dc in next stitch, skip 2 stitches, 1 sc in next stitch* repeat around. This creates these fan shapes that look fancy but are pretty easy.
V-stitch round: *(dc, chain 1, dc) in same stitch, skip 1 stitch* repeat around. Makes little V shapes and adds some openness.
Cluster stitch: This is where you do like 3 or 4 dc that aren’t completed (leave last loop of each on hook), then yarn over and pull through all loops at once. Creates a bobble texture.
I alternated between solid rounds and textured rounds every 3-4 rounds. Solid rounds in one color, then a textured round in a different color. It breaks up the monotony and also you can actually see the pattern variations instead of everything blending together.
The Actual Problem With Circular Blankets
Okay so here’s what nobody tells you. Circular blankets are weird functionally. Like they look gorgeous spread out on a bed or folded on a couch, very Instagram-worthy. But actually USING one? The geometry doesn’t match how humans sit or lay down.
When you’re on a couch you want length more than width. A circle gives you the same dimension in all directions which means parts of it hang off weird or bunch up. I still use mine but I had to accept it’s more of a decorative thing that occasionally functions as a blanket rather than a primary blanket.
If I did it again I’d maybe do an oval mandala instead, starting with a chain foundation instead of a circle. That gives you more length. But I haven’t actually tried that yet so I can’t tell you exactly how.
Tension And The Ruffling Issue
If your blanket starts ruffling around the edges like a petticoat, your tension is too loose OR you’re increasing stitches too fast. The circle should lay flat. Put it on the floor after every few rounds and check.
If it’s ruffling: skip some increases in the next round. Instead of adding 12 stitches, add like 8.
If it’s cupping up like a bowl: you need MORE increases. Add extra stitches in the next round.
I had to frog back (rip out) three rounds around round 18 because I messed up my stitch count and it started doing this wavy thing. That was the most annoying part honestly, losing like 4 hours of work because I wasn’t paying attention while watching TV.
Finishing The Edge
You need a border round or the edge looks unfinished and will curl. I did a simple single crochet round in the starting burgundy color to tie it all together visually. Just sc in each stitch around, join, done.
Some people do these elaborate scalloped edges or picot borders but I was so tired of the project by that point I just wanted it finished. The sc border was enough to make it look intentional.
Then you gotta weave in all those ends. I had like 40 yarn tails because of all the color changes. Get a yarn needle and weave each tail through the backs of stitches for like 3-4 inches, then trim. Don’t skip this or the whole thing will fall apart in the wash.
Washing And Blocking
I didn’t block mine and honestly it’s fine? Blocking is where you wet it, pin it out to perfect shape, and let it dry. It’s supposed to even out stitches and make everything look professional.
I just washed it in cold water on gentle cycle with Woolite or whatever detergent I had, then laid it flat on towels to dry. Took like two days to fully dry because it’s thick. The Red Heart Super Saver is acrylic so it’s not gonna felt or shrink, which is why I used it even though it’s kinda squeaky feeling.
If you use wool yarn you HAVE to hand wash cold and block it or it’ll shrink into a tiny felted disc and you’ll cry.
Yarn Amounts You’ll Actually Need
I used about 6 skeins total for my 32-round blanket. Two skeins of the burgundy (one for center rounds, one for border and scattered accent rounds), one skein each of cream, teal, and two other colors I’m forgetting now. Maybe a gray?
Each skein of Red Heart Super Saver is like 364 yards I think. So roughly 2000+ yards total. If you’re making something bigger add more. A full 40-round blanket probably needs 3000-3500 yards.
Buy extra of your main color. You’ll run out at the worst possible moment otherwise and dye lots vary so the new skein might not match perfectly.
Pattern Resources That Don’t Suck
I mostly winged it based on a Sophie’s Universe pattern I found which is this famous mandala blanket pattern. I didn’t follow it exactly but used it as a structure guide. It’s free online and has like a million parts.
Ravelry has tons of mandala patterns, search “mandala blanket” and filter by free. Most follow similar principles, just with different stitch combinations.
YouTube has video tutorials if you’re a visual learner but they’re all like 45 minutes long and spend 10 minutes on intro fluff which drives me crazy. Look for ones that have timestamps in the description.
The main thing is understanding the increase math and stitch basics. Once you get that you can literally make up your own pattern by mixing stitches you know. That’s what I ended up doing after round 10 or so, just improvising based on what looked good.
Stuff I’d Do Different Next Time
Use better yarn. The Red Heart works but it’s not soft and it squeaks when you work with it. Caron Simply Soft or Lion Brand Heartland would’ve been nicer.
Plan the color pattern before starting. I just grabbed colors I liked and ended up with this kind of random look instead of a cohesive gradient or something intentional.
Maybe do a hexagon or square mandala instead of a circle for better functionality. Still has that radiating pattern look but shapes that actually work as blankets.
Keep better stitch count notes. I lost track multiple times and had to count entire rounds which sucks when you’re at round 28 with 336 stitches.
But honestly even with the annoying parts it turned out decent and people always comment on it when they come over, so I guess it was worth the like 40 hours I put into it during that weird spring breakup phase. Now it lives on my reading chair and my cat has claimed it as his territory which means it’s covered in orange fur but that’s fine I guess.
