Mandala Granny Square – Square 9 of the Casual Granny CAL
The Mandala Granny Square is square number nine of the Casual Granny CAL. This square features a front post treble and popcorns for a textural finish. Using the related colours of pink, dark pink and orange this little square is soft and warm. Of course, you can make your Happy Hippy Granny Square in any colour you prefer.
UK and US Terms
Step by step images accompany the pattern in UK terms below. There are US instructions written at the end. You will also find a universal chart towards the end of the post.
Newbies to the Casual Granny CAL
It’s not too late to join the CAL! Pick and choose one or two squares to play with and apply to any project you like. Don’t forget to tag #casualgrannyCAL if you share your squares on social media.
If you are making the blanket, you should have 72 squares made at the end of this month. Eight of each of the 9 squares.
Mandala Granny Square – Square 9 (make 8)
Paintbox Yarn Cotton DK, 100% Cotton, 50g ball/125m per ball: Bubblegum Pink (451), Lipstick Pink (452) Blush Pink and Peach Orange (455) (0r your own choice of yarn with compatible hook)
3.5mm crochet hook (you might prefer to use a size 4mm)
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Finished Size
Approximately 12 x 12cm (5 x 5 inches)
Abbreviations UK (US) terms in brackets
St(s) = stitch(es)
Sp(s) = space(s)
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
slst = slip stitch
dc = double crochet (sc)
htr = half treble (hdc)
tr = treble (dc)
rep = repeat
beg = beginning
Special Stitches
Stpc – Starting Popcorn:
Chain three (counts as tr) (dc)
Work four trebles (double crochets) in the same st (or sp), pull up the working yarn from the last tr and remove hook
Insert hook into top of 3rdch that was made and then replace the working loop onto the hook
Pull this loop back through the 3ch to complete your first popcorn stitch
Front Post Treble – fptr (fpdc)
Yarn over hook, insert hook from front, to back, to front again
Yarn over hook and pull up
Complete stitch as normal – yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through two loops
Half Treble Two Together – htr2tog (hdc2tog)
Yarn over hook, insert into st, yarn over and pull through (3 loops on hook)
Yarn over hook, insert into next st, yarn over and pull through (5 loops on hook)
Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops.
Double Treble –
Yarn over hook twice and insert into stitch or space
Yarn over hook and pull up (4 loops on hook)
Yarn over hook and pull though 2 loops
Yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops
Yarn over hook and pull through the last 2 loops
Mandala Granny Square Pattern
Round 1: with Yarn A, ch5, sl st to first ch to make ring, ch 3 (counts as first tr), 11 tr in ring, sl st to top of initial ch 3, fasten off. [12 tr]
Round 2: {Attach Yarn B in between any two tr} stpc, ch 2, (pc, ch 2) 11 times, sl st into back of initial pc, fasten off. [12 pc, 24 ch]
Round 3: {Attach Yarn C in any ch-sp} ch 3 (counts as tr), 2 tr in same sp, 3 tr in each remaining ch-sp around, sl st into top of initial ch 3, fasten off. [12 x 3 tr cluster]
Round 4:
{Attach Yarn D in gap between any of the 3 tr clusters from Rnd 3} ch 3 (counts as tr) 2 tr in same gap, ch 2, * 3 tr in gap between next two 3 tr cluster, ch 2, rep from * 10 more times, sl st into top of initial ch 3, fatsen off [12 x 3 tr clusters, 24 ch]
Round 5:
{Attach Yarn B in any ch-sp} (dc, fptr into middle tr from round 3, dc), dc in next 3 st, * (dc in next ch-sp, fptr into middle tr from round 3, dc in same ch-sp), dc in next 3 st, rep from * 10 more times, sl st in initial dc, fasten off [12 x fptr, 60 dc]
Round 6:
{Attach Yarn D in any fptr} ch 4 (counts as dtr), dtr, ch 3 , 2 dtr in same st, * ch 3, dc in next fptr, dc in next 5 st, dc in fptr, ch 3, *(2 dtr, ch 3, 2dtr) in next fptr, ch 3, dc in next fptr, dc in next 5 st, dc in fptr, ch 3, rep from * twice more, sl st into top of initial ch 4 [16 x dtr, 28 x dc, 12 x ch-3]
Round 7:
sl st into corner sp, ch 2 (counts as htr), htr, ch 3, 2 htr in same sp, htr in next 2 st, 3 htr in ch-sp, htr2tog over next 2 st, htr in next 3 st, htr2tog over next 2 st, 3 htr in next ch-sp, htr in next 2 st, *(2htr, ch 3, 2htr) at corner, htr in next 2 st, 3 htr in ch-sp, htr2tog over next 2 st, htr in next 3 st, htr2tog over next 2 st, 3 htr in next ch-sp, htr in next 2 st, rep from 2 more times, sl st into top of initial ch-2, fasten off. [4 x ch-3, 8 x htr2tog, 68 htr]
Mandala Granny Square US Terms
Round 1: with Yarn A, ch5, sl st to first ch to make ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of initial ch 3, fasten off. [12 dc]
Round 2: {Attach Yarn B in between any two dc} stpc, ch 2, (pc, ch 2) 11 times, sl st into back of initial pc, fasten off. [12 pc, 24 ch]
Round 3: {Attach Yarn C in any ch-sp} ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sp, 3 dc in each remaining ch-sp around, sl st into top of initial ch 3, fasten off. [12 x 3 dc cluster]
Round 4:
{Attach Yarn D in gap between any of the 3 dc clusters from Rnd 3} ch 3 (counts as dc) 2 dc in same gap, ch 2, * 3 dc in gap between next two 3 dc cluster, ch 2, rep from * 10 more times, sl st into top of initial ch 3, fasten off [12 x 3 dc clusters, 24 ch]
Round 5: {Attach Yarn B in any ch-sp} (sc, fpdc into middle dc from round 3, sc), sc in next 3 st, * (sc in next ch-sp, fpdc into middle dc from round 3, sc in same ch-sp), sc in next 3 st, rep from * 10 more times, sl st in initial sc, fasten off [12 x fpdc, 60 sc]
Round 6:
{Attach Yarn D in any fpdc} ch 4 (counts as tr), tr, ch 3 , 2 tr in same st, * ch 3, sc in next fpdc, sc in next 5 st, sc in fptr, ch 3, *(2 tr, ch 3, 2tr) in next fpdc, ch 3, sc in next fpdc, sc in next 5 st, sc in fptr, ch 3, rep from * twice more, sl st into top of initial ch 4 [16 x tr, 28 x sc, 12 x ch-3]
Round 7:
sl st into corner sp, ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc, ch 3, 2 hdc in same sp, hdc in next 2 st, 3 hdc in ch-sp, hdc2tog over next 2 st, hdc in next 3 st, hdc2tog over next 2 st, 3 hdc in next ch-sp, hdc in next 2 st, *(2hdc, ch 3, 2hdc) at corner, hdc in next 2 st, 3 hdc in ch-sp, hdc2tog over next 2 st, hdc in next 3 st, hdc2tog over next 2 st, 3 hdc in next ch-sp, hdc in next 2 st, rep from 2 more times, sl st into top of initial ch-2, fasten off. [4 x ch-3, 8 x hdc2tog, 68 hdc]
Another beautiful pattern and I love the colour combination. So pretty. I can’t wait to try it!
I was just trying out the pattern last night, but couldn’t see mention of the pale pink in the third row. Could it be Ballet Pink or Candy Floss Pink? I don’t have either of those and have to order my yarns abroad here in Switzerland. I usually do it from LoveCrochet, so I need to pay the postage each time! I see that these two pale pinks are out of stock right now. I’m crocheting in the Paintbox Acrylics. It’s so lovely and soft.
Hi sandra, sorry for the late reply. I’ve been taking a little break. That lighter shade of pink is Blush Pink. Thanks for letting me know it’s missing at the top.
Mandy xx
Those are absolutely beautiful! I love that you show picture by picture of how to crochet, but you also give the pattern, I am slowly learning how to read a pattern, and your blog is the perfect way to learn. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback Tammy! I love step my step images too, because sometimes you need to see what it’s meant to look like to help understand the pattern. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Mandy xx
This has been my favourite block thus far, a lovey pattern, I am really enjoying this CAL, thanks
it’s my favourite too Meegan. I’m going to use it in other projects too. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the CAL.
MAndy xx
Another beautiful pattern. Thank you Mandy!
Thanks Jessie! This one is my fave 🙂
Hi Mandy, I have been making these squares and am now going to try this one. Where do you get the pegs to wind the wool on?
Thanks for your inspirational work. I love your blog.
Hi! Thanks for leaving a comment here. I appreciate it. I found the pegs at Spotlight. 😊
Hi Mandy, I started the CAL in August so just catching up to square 9! The raspberry pink in your photos here looks more like the lipstick pink than the raspberry pink used in the centre of square 8. Am I going crazy? Thanks for your help!
Yikes! You’re 100% right Paige. Thanks for picking this up. I’ve fixed up the post.
Mandy xx