This is a pattern overview, not a full step-by-step tutorial. It summarizes the design, materials, and construction of the Stars and Stripes Sparkle Mandala so you can decide whether to make it. For the complete row-by-row instructions, please visit the Original designer’s pattern and instructions, which remain the authoritative source for this project.
Patriotic Crochet Mandala
This mandala is described as simple to crochet and makes a lovely outdoor accent for patriotic holidays. Red, white, and blue run through the design, echoing the colors, stripes, and stars of the American flag. The finished piece combines textured crochet with sparkling beadwork, giving it a festive, one-of-a-kind look that stands out from ordinary holiday decorations.
Stars and Stripes - a Reminder of our Precious Freedom
The design grew out of a love of patriotic symbols. Seeing the American flag flying, yards dressed with red, white, and blue ribbons and bunting, and hearing patriotic music all fed the designer’s sense of pride. Wanting something truly original for the season, the designer dreamed up a mandala that mixes a star crochet center with many sparkling beads, and the Stars and Stripes Sparkle Mandala was created.
Features of this Patriotic Crochet Mandala
Texture leads this design. It uses clusters and puff stitches, several of the same stitches found in the Crystal Crochet Mandala, and the same yarn, Sinfonia by Omega. The source notes a love for the texture of puff stitches and how well they show in mandala projects. Red and blue beads, found at Hobby Lobby, sit around the star center and cascade down from the lower edge. The source describes the result as unlike any other red, white, and blue decoration the designer had seen, and as a one-of-a-kind patriotic tribute.
Skill Level: Easy
The source lists the skill level as Easy, and the finished piece measures 10-inch diameter. Check both facts before you start, so you know the experience level and the display space the finished mandala will need.
Supplies for the Patriotic Crochet Mandala
Gather everything before you begin so the project flows smoothly. The source lists the following supplies, and the checklist below restates them in one place.
- Yarn: Sinfonia by Omega, one skein each of Blue (833), Red (823), and White (801).
- Hook: F/3.75mm crochet hook.
- One 8-inch metal ring.
- Fifty eye pins, each 2 inches long.
- Approximately 110 clear plastic faceted beads in a variety of sizes, including 5 larger teardrop shapes.
- An assortment of red and blue beads. In the photos shown: 6 large hearts, 10 blue stars, 11 round red faceted beads, 8 red bicone beads, and 14 thin tube (bugle) beads measuring half an inch.
- Jewelry pliers.
Special Stitches and Abbreviations
The glossary covers two and three double crochet clusters, plus the puff stitch, which the source values for texture in mandala projects. It also defines slip stitch, double crochet, half double crochet, treble crochet, chain, and single crochet, along with shorthand for yarn over, hook, loop, stitch, and space.
Two special techniques need care. Back Loop Only means inserting the hook only into the back loop at the top of the stitch. A short video tutorial for this technique is available here for a visual reference before you start. The other special technique is single crochet around the ring, used while working into existing crochet stitches, which joins the fabric to the metal ring with the yarn held behind the ring and the mandala in front.
Construction Overview for the Patriotic Crochet Mandala
The mandala is built in thirteen rounds, worked from the center outward, then finished with beaded dangles. The source marks its special stitches in bold italic type and defines them in the glossary above. What follows is a plain-language tour of how each round shapes the piece, so you can see the overall construction at a glance.
Round 1
The piece opens in Blue (833) with chain 3. A 2 double crochet cluster is worked into the third chain from the hook, then chain spaces and 3 double crochet clusters in the same chain build the star shape. The round closes with a slip stitch in the top of the first cluster.
Round 2
The second round works (3 double crochet, chain 3, 3 double crochet) in each chain-3 space, with a slip stitch in the top of each cluster. It ends with a slip stitch in the slip stitch that ended Round 1.
Round 3
The third round begins with slip stitches in back loop only of the first double crochet and the next double crochet, followed by chain 2 and a puff stitch in the same stitch. Around the piece, puff stitches sit in chain-3 spaces and in double crochet stitches, with chain-1 separations and skipped stitches shaping the band. It ends with a slip stitch in the top of the first cluster.
Round 4
Half double crochet stitches shape this round, worked in chain spaces, in puff stitches, and in chain-3 spaces with 2 half double crochet, chain 3, 2 half double crochet at the corners. Chain-1 and slip stitch details sit in the spaces between puff stitches, and the round ends with a slip stitch in the starting slip stitch. The yarn is fastened off.
Round 5
White (801) joins with a single crochet in any chain-3 space, plus a second single crochet in the same space. Working in back loop only, single crochet stitches run across 5 half double crochet stitches on each side, with chain-1 and slip stitch details between panels and 3 single crochet stitches in each chain-3 space. The round ends with a single crochet in the last chain-3 space, where 2 single crochet stitches already sit.
Round 6
Chain 1 and a single crochet in the next single crochet start this round. Chain-15 loops then arch around the piece, each anchored by a single crochet in the center single crochet that was worked in the next chain-3 space. The round ends with a slip stitch in the first single crochet.
Round 7
A slip stitch into the next chain-15 space leads into the first chain-15 space: chain 2, then 17 half double crochet stitches in the chain-15 space. Each following chain-15 space holds 18 half double crochet stitches. The round joins with a slip stitch to the top of the starting chain-2, and the yarn is fastened off.
Round 8
Red (823) joins with a slip stitch in the space between sets of 18 half double crochet stitches. Chain 5 starts an open mesh of double crochet stitches and chain-2 spaces, with skipped stitches between, worked around the piece. The round ends with a slip stitch.
Round 9
A slip stitch into the next chain-2 space leads into chain 3 and 2 double crochet stitches in the same space. Around the piece, 3 double crochet stitches fill each chain-2 space.
Round 10
Chain 1 starts this round. A single crochet in each double crochet and each chain-1 space is worked around the piece while also working single crochet around the metal ring. The round ends with a slip stitch in the first single crochet.
Round 11
Chain 3 and double crochet in each of the next 2 stitches start this round. Around the piece, chain 1, a skipped stitch, and groups of 3 double crochet stitches repeat. The round ends with chain 1 and a slip stitch in the top of the starting chain-3.
Round 12
Chain 1 and a single crochet in the chain-1 space just made, working slightly to the right, start this round. Chain 1 follows, then 7 treble crochet stitches in the next chain-1 space. The repeat of single crochet, chain 1, 7 treble crochet, chain 1 continues around. The round ends with a slip stitch in the first single crochet, and the yarn is fastened off.
Round 13
Blue joins with a slip stitch in any single crochet. Around the piece, single crochet stitches fill the chain-1 spaces and treble crochet groups, with 2 single crochet stitches in the middle treble of each group and a slip stitch in the next single crochet. The round ends with a slip stitch in the first slip stitch of the round, and the yarn is fastened off.
Finishing & Assembly
Using the photo as a guide, thread beads onto eye pins and create another loop for each pin, trimming off excess wire. The project shown has 45 bead elements that hang below the mandala: 9 bead elements in each length, with 5 lengths total, each ending with a larger teardrop-shaped bead. A video tutorial shows how to make each bead element as done for the Crystal Crochet Mandala; watch it here.
Attach eye pins to stitches around the star in the center, to single crochet stitches along the metal ring at the bottom edge, and to each other to create the design shown in the photos. Attach a wire or yarn loop at the top and hang the mandala in a sunny window to watch it sparkle and shine.
Your Patriotic Crochet Mandala is complete!
Once the beads are in place, the mandala is ready to shine. It makes a charming decoration for the home, with beads that sparkle in sunlight and cotton yarn that highlights the stitches and star shape.
If you would like to see more crochet mandala patterns, then click here. You can also find my FREE crochet patterns here. The design is credited to Jennifer E Ryan, with all rights reserved. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, please see the About page for details.
