Jo's Popcorn Flower Mandala Tutorial

Writing my #wallflowermandala pattern tutorial has been a challenging and enjoyable experience to me. In addition, I have also received quite positive response from both google+ communities and Instagrammers. Thank you so much for your kind comments. It means alot to me.

Today I would like to share with you my latest mandala pattern. I call it Jo's Popcorn Flower Mandala (#jopcfmandala). I made this mandala using cotton yarn (scheepjes cotton 8 and hema fine cotton) and a 3mm hook. The finished mandala has a diameter of approximately 19cm. I would rate the level of difficulty as 'intermediate'. Before we begin, please take a moment to go through the special notes below.

Special Notes:

• For popcorn stitch, I'm making 4 double crochet instead of the standard 5dc in a group. 
• For both popcorn stitch and tr3tog, chain 1 to close the group.  This is not to be confused with the chain stitches mentioned under Steps section.

Abbreviations:

The steps are written in US terms:

beg = beginning
dc = double crochet
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
sl = slip stitch
tr = treble crochet
tr3tog = treble crochet 3 together

For crochet terms conversion, please click here.

Special stitches:

Beg popcorn stitch:

• Ch3 (counts as 1dc)
• Work 3 dc in the same stitch. 
• Remove your hook from your last stitch. 
• Insert your hook into the 3rd chain of initial ch3.
• Grab the dropped loop with your hook and pull it through the first dc. (photo 1)
• Ch1 to close the popcorn. (photo 2)

Popcorn stitch:

• Work 4 dc in the stitch. 
• Remove your hook from your last stitch. 
• Insert your hook into the top of the first dc. 
• Grab the dropped loop with your hook and pull it through the first dc.
• Ch1 to close the popcorn.

Beg Tr3tog:

• Ch3. *YO twice, insert hook into same space, yo, pull up a loop, (yo, draw through 2 loops) twice*. 
• Repeat * to * once more. 
• YO, draw through all 3 loops on hook. 
• Ch 1 to close the group.

Tr3tog:

• *YO twice, insert hook into space, yo, pull up a loop, (yo, draw through 2 loops) twice*.
• Repeat * to * two more times. 
• YO, draw through all 4 loops on hook. 
• Ch 1 to close the group.

Picot dc:

• Work 1dc, ch3 (photo 1)
• Insert your hook into the top loops of the dc and make one sc. (photo2)

I'm working each round with a new color. I hope you will enjoy making this mandala. Let's begin!

Steps:

Round 1:

• Start with a magic ring. Work 8 sc into the ring.
• Sl into the top of the first sc. Fasten off. 
• Total: 8sc

Round 2:

• Join new color in any stitch. Work a beg popcorn stitch in same stitch. (Please refer to special notes above if you have not done so). Mark your closing chain if you are going to have problem identifying it later.
• Chain 1.
• Work (1 popcorn stitch, ch 1) in each stitch all the way around.
• Sl into the closing chain of the first popcorn (see small image above). Fasten off.
• Total: 8 popcorn stitches, 8 ch1 spaces.

Round 3:

• Join new color in any ch1 space. Work a beg popcorn stitch in same chain space. Ch 1.
• Work another popcorn stitch in same space. Ch 1. 
• Work (1 popcorn stitch, ch 1) twice in each chain space all the way around.
• Sl into the closing chain of the first popcorn. Fasten off.
• Total: 16 popcorn stitches, 16 ch1 spaces.

Round 4:

• Join new color in any ch1 space. Ch3 (counts as 1dc).
• Work 2 dc in same space. Ch1.
• Repeat (3dc, ch1) in each chain space all the way around.
• Sl into the 3rd ch of initial ch3. Fasten off.
• Total: 16 groups of 3dc, 16 ch1 spaces.

Round 5:

• Join new color in any ch1 space. Ch4 (counts as 1dc and ch1 space). 
• Skip one stitch. Work 1dc into the next stitch.  Ch1. Skip 1 stitch.
• Repeat  (1dc in ch space, ch1, skip 1, 1dc in the next stitch, ch1, skip 1) all the way around.
• Sl into the 3rd chain of initial ch4. Fasten off.
• Total: 32 dc, 32 ch1 spaces.

Round 6:

• Join new color in any ch1, space. Work beg tr3tog in same space. Ch2.
• Repeat (tr3tog, ch2) in each space all the way around.
• Sl into the closing chain of beg tr3tog. Fasten off.
• Total: 32 tr3tog, 32 ch2 spaces.  

Round 7:

• Join new color in any ch2 space. Work beg tr3tog in same space. Ch1.
• Work 1 tr3tog in next chain space. Ch3.
• Repeat (1 tr3tog in next space, ch1, 1 tr3tog in next space, ch3) all the way around.
• Sl into the closing chain of beg tr3tog.
• Total: 32 tr3tog, 16 ch3 spaces, 16 ch1 spaces.

Round 8:

• Join new color in any ch1 space. Ch2 in same space (counts as 1sc).
• In the next ch3 space, work (1dc, 5 picot dc, 1dc).
• Repeat (1sc in next ch1 space, (1dc, 5 picot dc, 1dc) in next ch3 space) all the way around.
• Sl into the 2nd chain of initial ch2.
• Total: 16 sc, 16 groups of (2 dc, 5 picot dc)

Ta-dah! Done with 8 rounds. Are you satisfied with your mandala?