Yay so it’s time for block 6!!! I can’t believe we are a quarter of the way finished already!

For me Moogly (aka designer Tamara Kelly) and crochet are synonymous! When I first started out re-learning crochet (and still now) this is the blog I follow for inspiration and fabulous tutorials – she is also the inspiration behind this CAL so I wanted to include one of her patterns. 

Amongst her amazing designs is our next block.  I’ve always been fascinated by mandalas and Tamara designed one in a square – perfect! A mandala (if you are not familiar with the term) loosely translated means “circle.  Mandalas can come in many forms and, in the creation, aid meditation – and who doesn’t need a bit of inner peace now and again. 

This square is available for free (and has been since July 2013) on the Moogly Blog

Magic Spike Mandala Square – 12″ by Tamara Kelly

Notes:

• Hook: UK 5.5 mm / US Size I
• Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
• Colours: Works best in at least 4 different colours
• Pattern available in both US and UK terminology

Specialist stitch: Spike Stitch 

Long stitches produce a spike on both sides of your work. Long stitches (or spikes) are usually stitches that you work into either the tops of stitches or spaces between stitches one or more rows below the current row, creating a vertical spike of yarn that extends over several rows of stitches.

See the fab video Moogly put together for this stitch at the following link: http://www.mooglyblog.com/spike-stitches/

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about this here).    I really enjoyed working the mandala part and definitely want to try some more in the future.

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on April 1st (or 2nd)