I have an oldie, but a goodie for you today from my previous blog! It’s a take on a traditional circle mandala but by using different colors placed strategically on the mandala, it resembles a dartboard. Genius I say! See for yourself below and make one today to adorn your game room or office space.
Original Post from WallflowerGal.com
Lately, I have been extremely taken with the beauty and symbolism that mandalas represent. If you’re unaware of what a mandala is, its typically a circle full of inspiring colors and patterns. Mandalas can be represented in sand, paint, fiber, or any number of materials. Yarn is obviously my favorite interpretation of the mandala.
Mandalas constructed from yarn can adorn many surfaces in your space. They can be hung on walls, used as trivets, used as decorative accents under vases or houseplants, etc. Anywhere you want to put a mandala, I say do it! Get creative!
I was inspired to design a mandala in honor of the #MandalasforMarinke movement and wanted to create a mandala that could be hung from the wall. That, along with memories of my past-time playing darts as a kid at my aunt and uncle’s house, led me to the idea of creating a mandala that looks like a dart board.
Here’s what you’ll need to create your very own dart board mandala.
Crocheted Dartboard Mandala
Crochet Pattern written by Amanda White of Yarnanigans, Copyright 2015
All my patterns are currently available for free. Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or publish this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern on your site or social media, please link back to my site. You may sell items produced using this pattern provided you give credit and do not use my copyrighted photos for your product listing.
Supplies
- Yarn in the following 4 colors: Green, Red, White and Black. I used 100% cotton yarn by various manufacturers like Lily Sugar & Cream, Bernat Handicrafter, and Pisgah Peaches & Creme Yarns. They’re all relatively the same size 4 yarn. You won’t need more than 2 oz of each color.
- A crochet hook (any size suitable for the yarn you’re using. I used a US H/5mm hook for mine)
- A darning needle (for making loose ends disappear neatly into the mandala)
- A pair of scissors
- *Optional: 12×12 cork board for mounting and a set of darts
Pattern Notes
I developed the pattern to work up similarly to Marinke Slump’s 12 round standard mandala. She was the creative being behind the blog acreativebeing.com and was a magnificent designer of many mandala and other crochet patterns. Her passing in June 2015 was a sorrowful loss to her family and the crochet community. I didn’t know her personally, but was an admirer of her talent and creativity and I am dedicating this pattern to her as part of the #MandalasforMarinke movement. I’d also like to help bring awareness to the struggle she had with depression and suicide that ultimately took her from this life.
Each round begins with a starting stitch in the top loops of a stitch from the previous round, and each row ends with cutting the yarn and threading it to the first stitch of the round to create a faux stitch. The faux stitch helps add uniformity and makes it easier to distinguish each round. Avoid beginning the round in a faux stitch for conformity.
Pattern is written with US crochet terms.
Abbreviations & Stitches Used
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- magic ring
- starting stitch
Now onto the pattern!
Begin with a Magic Ring
With your green yarn and hook, make a magic ring and secure with a stitch.
Crochet the First Round
Chain 3 (counts as 1st dc). Work 11 dc into the ring. (12 dc total)
Pull the magic ring closed.
Cut the yarn and pull the yarn through the stitch. Thread the yarn on your darning needle, then insert it through both loops of your first dc, skipping the ch 3.
Pull the needle through, then insert it through the back loop of your last stitch. Pull the needle through to close the stitch.
You’ve just made your faux stitch. You’ll end each round this way from now on. Finish off and weave in ends.
Start each Round with a Standing Stitch
Each round will begin by creating a standing stitch in one of the stitches from the previous round. To create a standing stitch, start with a slip knot on your hook. Insert your hook through both loops of a stitch from the previous round, then yarn over and pull the yarn through all loops on the hook (exactly as you would a slip stitch).
Round 2
Following the starting stitch you already performed in the previous step, ch 2 (this is the 1st hdc of the round). hdc in the same stitch as your standing stitch, then 2 hdc in each stitch around. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (24 hdc total)
Round 3
Create a standing stitch in any hdc from Round 2 with your white yarn. ch 4 (counts as 1st tr), tr in the standing stitch and end the stitch by alternating to your black yarn. * 1 tr in next stitch, then 2 tr in next stitch being sure to alternate the color for the 2nd stitch. 1 tr in next stitch. Alternate color, 2 tr in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (36 tr total)
Round 4
Create a standing stitch in the first stitch of a white 2-tr grouping from Round 3. ch 4 (counts as first tr), tr in the standing stitch. 1 tr in next stitch ending the stitch by alternating to your black yarn. 1 tr in next stitch, then 2 tr in next stitch, ending with alternate color. 1 tr in each of the next 2 stitches, ending with alternate color. *2 tr in next stitch, 1 tr in next stitch – end with alternate color. tr in next stitch, 2 tr in next stitch – end with alternate color. 1 tr in each of the next 2 stitches – end stitch with alternate color (unless it is the last stitch in the round).* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (48 tr total)
Round 5
Create a standing stitch with your white yarn in a white 2-tr grouping from Round 4. ch 4 (counts as first tr), tr in standing stitch. 1 tr in next stitch, ending the stitch by alternating to black. 1 tr in each of the next 2 stitches, then 1 tr in next stitch, alternate color and tr in same stitch. 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches, ending the stitch by alternating color. * 2 tr in next stitch, 1 tr in next stitch – end with alternate color. 1 tr in next 2 stitches, 1 tr in next stitch – end stitch with alternate color, then tr in same stitch. 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches – end with alternate color (unless it is the last stitch of the round).* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (60 tr total)
Round 6
Create a standing stitch with your green yarn in the first stitch of a white 3- tr grouping from Round 5. ch 2 (counts as 1st hdc), hdc in standing stitch. 1 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches and ending by alternating to green. 1 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches, then 2 hdc in next stitch ending with alternate color. 1 hdc in each of the next 4 stitches and ending the last stitch by alternating color. * 2 hdc in next stitch, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches – end with alternate color. 1 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch – end with alternate color. 1 hdc in each of the next 4 stitches – end with alternate color (unless it is the last stitch of the round).* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (72 hdc total)
Round 7
Create standing stitch with your white yarn in a green 4-hdc grouping from Round 6. ch 4 (counts as 1st tr), trin the standing stitch. 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches ending the last stitch by alternating to black. 1 tr in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 tr in next stitch, then 1 tr in next stitch ending by alternating color. 1 tr in each of the next 4 stitches and ending the last stitch by alternating color. * 2 tr in next stitch, 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches – end with alternate color. 1 tr in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 tr in next stitch, 1 tr in next stitch – end with alternate color. 1 tr in each of the next 4 stitches – end with alternate color (unless it is the last stitch of the round).* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (84 tr total)
Round 8
Create a standing stitch with your white yarn in the first stitch of a white 4- tr grouping from Round 7. ch 4 (counts and first tr), tr in the standing stitch. 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches ending the last stitch by alternating to black. 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 tr in next stitch, 1 tr in next stitch ending by alternating colors. 1 tr in each of the next 5 stitches ending the last stitch by alternating colors. * 2 tr in next stitch, 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches – end with alternate color. 1 tr in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 tr in next stitch, 1 tr in next stitch – end with alternate color. 1 tr in each of the next 5 stitches – end with alternate color ( unless it is the last stitch of the round).* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (96 tr total)
Round 9
Create a standing stitch with your green yarn in the first stitch of a white 5- tr grouping. ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), hdc in the standing stitch. 1 hdc in each of the next 4 stitches, ending the last stitch by alternating to your red yarn. 1 hdc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch, then 1 hdc in next stitch – end stitch with alternate color. 1 hdc in each of the next 6 stitches – end stitch with alternate color. * 2 hdcin next stitch, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 stitches – end stitch with alternate color. 1 hdc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch, then 1 hdc in next stitch – end with alternate color. 1 hdc in each of the next 6 stitches – end with alternate color (unless it is the last stitch of the round).* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (108 hdc total)
Round 10
Create a standing stitch with black in any stitch from Round 9. ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc in the standing stitch. 1 dc in each of the next 8 stitches. * 2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in each of the next 8 stitches.* Repeat from * to * until the end of the round. Cut yarn, faux stitch and weave in ends. (120 dc total)
After you’ve completed your mandala and if you’ve carried the yarn behind your stitches throughout each round, the back side will look clean and uniform like the picture below.
If you were to drop the yarn and pick it up after every color change, the back would look like my prototype below. It looks the same in the front but the back just isn’t as flawless as when you carry the yarn throughout. Also, when you pick up the yarn each time, if you don’t leave enough slack, your piece might start to curl and not lay completely flat. Just an FYI!
And voila! The Dartboard mandala is complete. I mounted mine to a 12×12 cork board tile and hung it on the wall proudly! The darts with steel points easily pierce through the mandala into the cork board when thrown.
Enjoy the pattern everyone and feel free to leave comments on this post if you want to share or have questions!
