There’s just something magical about working up a mandala in crochet – every round feels like adding a new layer of personality and color. This cheerful potholder is one of those projects that looks intricate but is actually just a series of fun, repetitive stitches that build into a stunning sunburst effect.
I designed this piece with scraps from my cotton yarn stash (isn’t it the best when you can turn leftover odds and ends into something beautiful?). The best part is, no two versions ever look the same – change up the colors and it instantly has a whole new vibe. I’ve made it in citrus shades for summer, but I can imagine it in rich jewel tones for fall, or even frosty blues and silvers for a winter kitchen.
This potholder is a practical make too. Worked in cotton yarn, it’s thick enough to handle hot dishes, and pretty enough to leave out on display. If you’re a mandala lover, this one will have you hooked (pun intended) – and if you’ve never tried one before, consider this your invitation. Don’t be intimidated; just take it one round at a time, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly it comes together.
What You’ll Need
- Cotton DK yarn in 4 shades (I used scraps – perfect stash-buster!)
- Crochet hook: 3.5 mm for a snug fabric or 4.5 mm for a looser, larger version
- Scissors
- Yarn needle for sewing in ends
Difficulty: Intermediate
Finished Size: approx. 20 cm (3.5 mm hook) or 22 cm (4.5 mm hook)
Stitches & Abbreviations (US terms)
- mc – magic circle
- ch – chain
- st – stitch
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- trc – treble crochet
- puff st – puff stitch (explained below)
- V-st – (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same stitch
- picot – ch 3, sl st into 1st ch
Puff Stitch Reminder:
Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Repeat this step 2 more times (7 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops. Chain 1 to close the puff.
Pattern Instructions
Round 1: With Color 1, make a mc. Ch 2 (doesn’t count), work 9 puff stitches into the ring. Sl st to the first puff, fasten off. [9 puff sts]
Round 2: Attach Color 2 between any 2 puff sts. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same space. Work 2 dc between each puff around. Sl st into the 3rd ch of start, fasten off. [18 dc]
Round 3: Join Color 3 between any 2 dc groups. Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in the same space. Puff st between the 2 dc of previous round. Work 2 hdc in the next space between dc groups, puff st between next dc around. Sl st to top of beg ch-2, fasten off. [18 hdc, 9 puff sts]
Round 4: With Color 4, sl st into space between any 2 hdc. Ch 2 (counts as hdc), then 3 more hdc in same space. 4 hdc between next 2 hdc around. Sl st to beg ch-2. Do not fasten off. [36 hdc]
Round 5: Ch 2, 2 hdc in same space. Place 2 hdc between 2nd & 3rd hdc of previous round. 3 hdc in next space, 2 hdc between 2nd & 3rd hdc of previous round around. Sl st to beg ch-2, fasten off. [45 hdc]
Round 6: With Color 3, join in any stitch. Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc, fasten off. [45 sc]
Round 7: Attach Color 2. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in same st. Skip 2 sts, work V-st in next st around. Sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch-5, fasten off. [15 V-sts]
Round 8: With Color 1, work into any ch-2 space. Ch 1, 3 sc in same space. Dc into the next 2 sc from Round 6. 4 sc in ch-2 space, dc in next 2 sc (from Round 6) around. Sl st into beg ch-1, fasten off. [60 sc, 30 dc]
Round 9: Attach Color 4 between any 2 dc from previous round. Ch 5, dc in same space. Skip 1 st, sc in next 2 sts, skip 1 st. V-st between dc, skip 1, sc in next 2 sts, skip 1 around. Sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch-5. Do not fasten off. [15 V-st, 30 sc]
Round 10: Sl st into ch-2 space. In same space: sc, hdc, dc, trc, picot, trc, dc, hdc, sc. Repeat this full sequence in each V-st around. Sl st into beg sc, fasten off.
Finishing Touches
Weave in all your ends with a tapestry needle. Lightly block your potholder to even out the points and open up the stitches.
And there you have it – your very own Auntiji’s Mandala Pot Holder!
