Category: Mandala's

1. Crocheting Mandala's

   Posted on 7:00pm Monday 17th Mar 2025

   Crocheting Mandala's for the Spectrum SHOP project is just beginning to unfold for me—a journey of mindfulness, creativity, and discovery. As a beginner crocheter, I’m finding that each stitch is teaching me something new, not just about crochet but about patience, focus, and the meditative rhythm of making. The repetitive motion is calming, offering a way to be present while creating something beautiful. I'm loving this, especially now, when so much to worry about is happening in the world.

   I’m also exploring the deep cultural and spiritual significance of mandalas, which symbolize unity and balance across many traditions. From Tibetan sand mandalas to Indian rangoli, these circular designs hold meaning beyond their intricate patterns. While I’m still learning, I already appreciate how universal and timeless this art form is.

   The Purpose of a Tibetan Sand Mandala - Sand Mandalas: Creating A Perfectly Harmonious World Sand-painted Mandalas are used as tools for consecrating the earth and its inhabitants. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, in general all Mandalas have outer, inner and secret meanings. On the outer level they represent the world in it s divine form; on the inner level they represent a map by which the ordinary human mind is transformed into an enlightened mind; and on the secret level they depict the primordially perfect balance of the subtle energies of the body and the clear light dimension of the mind. The creation of a sand painting is said to effect purification and healing on all three levels.

   Some Rangoli Design Ideas - Mandala Rangoli Design Images (Kolam Ideas)

   Understanding how to keep crochet circles flat has been an interesting challenge for me. I’m researching different stitch heights, increase methods, and tension control, testing out what works best. I’m also learning a lot from others—through tutorials, discussions, and shared experiences—and I plan to pass this knowledge along, linking to helpful resources.   Click here to read what I've learnt so far

   This is one of my mandala creations where I carried on following the "flat circle" theory that I researched and tested out - read here I'm now at a stage where I can attach it to my wire circle (in this case it was from an old lamp shade I purchased from a local charity shop). I've stretched the circle out and attached it the circle with clips, ready for crocheting to the wire.

   And then with some strategical placed chain lengths I created flower petals for this one. At the moment it looks like there are too many petals but I'm hoping when it's stretched out and fastened to a circle it will look smashing. Watch this space......

   At the end of this project, who knows? I might even create my own free crochet pattern to share my findings! There’s still so much to explore, but that’s part of the excitement.

2. From knitting to paper, mandalas have become a cornerstone of my creative work

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 18th Oct 2024

   This morning, I had the most relaxing and creatively fulfilling experience at a mandala drawing workshop led by Jane at Mandala Holmfirth. I walked in with a stressed mind, but left feeling completely refreshed and centered. The workshop focused on the art of mandalas—a form of circular design often used in meditation and mindfulness practices. A mandala is more than just a beautiful, symmetrical drawing. In many cultures, it represents wholeness, unity, and the universe, making it a powerful tool for mindfulness. The process of drawing helps bring focus and calm as your attention stays in the moment, much like in Zentangle, but with a more circular, structured approach. We started by creating a grid of concentric circles, using a compass at various sizes to form the basis of our mandala. From there, we added symmetrical patterns, some following strict geometric designs, while others were more freeform, using additional circular shapes to build layers of structure. Each ring of the mandala is like a chapter of a story, unfolding with every stroke of the pen. The slow, rhythmic process allowed me to become fully immersed in the creative flow, letting go of any outside stressors.

   What really made the workshop special was how personal each mandala became. No two were the same, even though we all started from similar circular grids. Some people added more intricate details and others stuck with simplicity, yet each design carried a sense of balance and harmony. Drawing mandalas is an excellent practice for mindfulness, bringing a sense of peace and creativity into your day. It was the perfect way to unplug and let my stress melt away, one circle at a time

   Venturing into the world of mandala art has been a bit of a spiritual adventure for me, blending mindfulness with my love of craft. I’ve explored this art form not only through traditional drawing but as you know also in fiber arts. One of my proudest achievements has been translating mandalas into a series of knitted brioche mandala art pieces. Using the intricate brioche stitch—a technique that lends itself to bold, two-color designs—I’ve created patterns that capture the symmetry and meditative qualities of mandalas, but in a soft, textured medium.

   In addition to my art pieces, I’ve designed two knitted patterns developed from the art I created.. Flower Garden Mandala Starburst Mandala These patterns take the core principles of circularity, repetition and meditative brioche offering a peaceful, rhythmic process similar to mandala drawing. Each round builds on the last, resulting in striking, intricate pieces that evoke the same sense of balance and unity.

   I’ve also extended my passion for mandalas into more everyday expressions by creating greeting cards featuring my designs. These cards provide a unique and personal touch for any occasion

   From knitting to paper, mandalas have become a cornerstone of my creative work, offering endless ways to explore mindfulness, symmetry, and beauty in different mediums. Hope you like them xx