https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/butterfly-peacock-mandala • Posted by wink
Start by making 4 drops. Make a magic ring, chain 3, 1 tr, 17 dc, 1tr, 1 dtr. Close the ring and join the round with your preferred method. I used the needle join. (as seen in this tutorial)
Start in the dtr of the previous round: [dc, ch 1, dc] in the same stitch, 10 dc, inc (two dc’s in one stitch), 9 dc. Finish the round like you did in round 1. Work the same round for all remaining drops.
Start in the second stitch of the increase on the bottom: inc (two dc’s in one stitch), 3 dc, [inc] x 3, 3 dc, inc, [tr, ch 1, tr] in the same stitch, inc, 3 dc, [inc] x 3, 4 dc, inc. Finish the round. Work the same round for the remaining drops.
Alright, let’s join our drops to create a butterfly! Lay out the drops like in the picture below, then start in the second stitch of the increase at the top of the top right drop: ([inc] x 3, 9 dc, dc4tog (two stitches from one drop, two stitches from the second drop), 10 dc, [inc] x 3, 2 dc, [inc] x 3, 4 dc, dc4tog (two stitches from one drop, two stitches from the second drop), 5 dc, [inc] x 3, 2 dc) repeat twice. Finish off.
Start at the top right drop, the 2nd of the two dcs that are in between the increases : (inc, 6 dc, [inc] 3 x, 5 dc, dc3tog, 5dc, [inc] x 3, 7 dc, [inc] x 2, 9 dc, dc3tog, 10 dc, inc) repeat twice. Finish off.
Start at the top right drop, in the 3rd dc increase: (6 sc, sc3tog, 14 sc, 3 hdc, inc (two dc’s in one stitch), [dc, tr], ch 1, [tr, dc], inc (two dc’s in one stitch), 3 hdc, 5 sc, sc3tog, 6 sc, 3 hdc, inc (two dc’s in one stitch), [dc, tr], ch 1, [tr, dc], inc (two dc’s in one stitch), 3 hdc, 7 sc) repeat twice. Finish off.
Start at the top right drop, in the 3rd hdc: (13 sc, sc3tof, 14 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, [2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr] in the ch 1 space of the previous round, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 14 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, [2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr] in the ch1 space of the previous round, 3 dc, 3 hdc) repeat twice. Finish off.
Okay, that was the outside, let’s clean up the inside! :) Start in the ch 1 space of the bottom left drop: (sc, dc4tog (two stitches from the current drop, two stitches from the next drop), sc in the ch1 space, sc4tog (two stitches from the current drop, two stitches from the next drop)) repeat twice. Finish off.
Cut a piece of yarn and flip over your mandala. With your needle, whip stitch the two horizontal openings closed. Finish off.
Your mandala will need a light wet pressing or blocking to help it lay flat. Good job! :) If you can make this mandala, you can make everything!