Mandala Driftwood Decoration
We were in a gift shop while on vacation in the White Mountains of NH when I noticed several pretty summer decorations made out of driftwood and shells. I loved the combination of the found objects with colorful elements and quickly sketched out my own version using crocheted motifs and faceted beads.
A couple of years ago I discovered the beauty of putting coral and mint green together – I love the combination of these colors! So, I thought it was a good idea to put the two colors together in this project. I also love the ombre look so I picked shades of coral (which is easy to do with embroidery floss) for the crocheted motifs. (I enjoy crocheting with embroidery thread – for other FREE patterns that use it, click here and here.)
It was fun to add beads (very similar to how I added beads to the Crystal Crochet Mandala and the Stars and Stripes Sparkle Mandala projects) and see the whole design come together.
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Measurements: 3″ diameter (mandala motifs); Bead lengths = 13″ long; Mandala lengths = 14″ long
Supplies:
(Products listed with ‘affiliate links’ are for your convenience. Affiliate links are special links that allow me to receive a small percentage of your purchase at no extra cost to you. This allows me to continue to offer you free content. Thank you for your support. Click here to read more about our policies.)
- DMC Embroidery Floss – 3 skeins of each color: 350, 351, 352, 353 (Wind onto cards to prevent tangling)
- Size 7/1.5mm steel crochet hook
- 12 eye pins (3”)
- 25 eye pins (2”)
- Jewelry pliers
- Various acrylic beads (see video tutorial for examples)
- Driftwood (approx. 12” long)
- 7 screw eyes (#216 – 1/2in)
- Drill with small bit
- 5 jump rings (6 mm)
- ¼” ribbon (approx. 36” long)
Special Stitches and Abbreviations:
2-dc CL (2 double crochet cluster) = (YO, insert hook into next st, YO, draw up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook) 2 times; YO, pull through all 3 loops on hook
3-dc CL (3 double crochet cluster) = (YO, insert hook into next st, YO, draw up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook) 3 times; YO, pull through all 4 loops on hook
Instructions:
**Text in bold red indicates link to a video tutorial**
Mandala Motif – Make 12 (3 of each color listed above):
Round 1: In an adjustable ring work: [ch 5, (dc, ch 2) 9 times]; join with sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch-5. (10 dc, 10 ch-2 sps)
Round 2: Sl st into 1st ch-2 sp; ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same ch-2 sp; 3 dc in each ch-2 sp around; join with sl st to top of starting ch-3. (30 dc)
Round 3: Ch 2, 2-dc cluster, [(ch 5, 3-dc CL) in each of next 3 dcs] 9 times around ending with a sl st in top of 1st cluster. (10 clusters)
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in top of 1st cluster; (5 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next cluster) around; join with sl st to 1st sc. (60 sc)
Round 5: (Ch 5, sk each of next 2 scs, sl st in next sc) around ending with sl st in base of 1st ch-5. Fasten off. (20 ch-5 sps)
Lightly steam block each motif and let dry completely
Assembly:
Thread 3” eye pins through each Mandala Motif making sure to catch several loops along the wrong side of motif; Create loop on straight end of eye pin
Thread beads onto 2” eye pins and create loop on straight end trimming off excess wire; Elements look best if have an odd number (3 or 5) and varying sizes of beads; See photo for ideas
Bead Elements:
9 total elements used between mandala motifs
8 total elements used for each length of only beads
Finishing:
Using photo as a guide, join all elements together by opening and closing loops at ends of eye pins; Three lengths will start with a Mandala Motif and alternate with bead elements; Two lengths will be all bead elements and end with a large teardrop crystal bead
Lay out all lengths next to piece of driftwood so all spacing even – mark driftwood with a pencil where screw eyes will go
Drill holes (5 along underside of wood and 2 on top for hanger) and attach screw eyes
Attach a jump ring to each screw eye on underside of wood
Attach all lengths to screw eyes in same way that attached elements to each other
Tie on coordinating ribbon for hanger
I hope you enjoyed making this project. I love how it turned out and might make it in other colors. Did you try it in another color? I’d love to see it – please send along a photo or post a photo to this design’s Ravelry page here.
Happy crocheting! (and looking for driftwood 🙂 )
Copyright 2019 – Jennifer E Ryan, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, please see our About page for details.
