In Rounds 1–9, the starting impulse did its work. The seed cracked open, the first roots reached into the soil. Now something new begins.
Rounds 10–16 are all about growth. Here the mandala starts to unfold: new shapes appear, textures emerge. More and more leaves — and a new round with popcorn stitches — make their entrance like the very first blossoms.
This is where Aries energy really begins to bloom. Let’s watch what wants to unfold.
Crochet Terms: US
Abbreviations: st – stitch, sl-st – slip stitch, ch – chain, sc – single crochet, hdc – half double crochet, dc – double crochet, tr – treble crochet, dtr – double treble crochet, fp – front post, bp – back post, bl – back loop, tbl – third back loop, cluster of 3dc – yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Repeat twice more in the same stitch or space. 4 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops, cluster of 3tr – yarn over twice, insert hook into indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops twice. Repeat two more times in the same stitch or space. 4 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops, Popcorn – 5dc in same st, remove hook from loop and insert from front to back of 1st dc and into a dropped loop and pull through. To close popcorn ch1. Ch1 counts as a part of popcorn st.
ROUND 10 (Color A). ch1 (does not count as stitch), sc in same st, *sc in next 2 sts, ch1, skip next 3 sts, in next st (2dc cluster, ch2, 2dc cluster), ch1, skip next 3 sts, sc in next 7 sts*, repeat ** 8 times, omit last sc. Join to 1st sc with a sl-st, fasten off, and secure ends. Stitch count: 72 sc, 16 2dc cluster, 16 ch1 space, 8 ch2 space
ROUND 11 (Color E). Join with a standing sc in any 3rd sc, *{ch1, skip next st, sc in next st} 2 times, skip next 2 sts, 2dc in ch1 space, fpdc around next st, 5dc in ch2 space, fpdc around next st, 2dc in ch1 space, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st*, repeat ** 8 times, omit last sc. Join to standing sc with a sl-st. Stitch count: 24 sc, 72 dc, 16 fpdc, 16 ch1 spaces
ROUND 12 (Color E). ch1 (does not count as stitch), fpsc aroud same st, *{sc in ch1 space, fpsc around next st} 2 times, sc in next st, ch2, skip next 3 sts, in next st (3dc cluster, ch2, 3dc cluster), ch2, 3tr cluster in next st, ch2, in next st (3dc cluster, ch2, 3dc cluster), ch2, skip next 3 sts, sc in next st, fpsc around next st*, repeat ** 8 times, omit last fpsc. Join to 1st fpsc with a sl-st, fasten off, and secure ends. Stitch count: 32 sc, 12 fpsc, 32 3dc cluster, 8 3tr cluster, 48 ch2 spaces
ROUND 13 (Color C). Join with a standing fpsc around any 3tr cluster, *{3sc in ch2 space, fpsc around next st} 2 times, sc in ch2 space, working in front of round 12 fpdc around last dc of round 11, ch1, working behind round 12 bpdc around 2nd sc of round 11, ch1, working in front of round 12 fpdc around 1st dc of round 11, sc in ch2 space of round 12, fpsc around next st, {3sc in ch2 space, fpsc around next st} 2 times*, repeat ** 8 times, omit last fpsc. Join to standing fpsc with a sl-st. Stitch count: 112 sc, 40 fpsc, 16 fpdc, 8 bpdc, 16 ch1 spaces
ROUND 14 (Color C). ch1 (does not count as stitch), sc in same st, *sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, ch1, skip next 5 sts, 3tr cluster in ch1 space, ch2, 3tr cluster in next st, ch2, 3tr cluster in ch1 space, ch1, skip next 5 sts, sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts*, repeat ** 8 times, omit last fpsc. Join to 1st fpsc with a sl-st, fasten off, and secure ends. Stitch count: 104 sc, 24 3tr clusters, 16 ch1 spaces, 16 ch2 spaces
ROUND 15 (Color B). Join with a standing sc in any 9th sc, *ch3, skip next 4 sts, popcorn in ch1 space, {ch2, skip next st, popcorn in ch2 space} 2 times, ch2, skip next st, popcorn in ch1 space, ch3, skip next 4 sts, sc in next st, [ch1, skip next st, sc in next st] 2 times*, repeat ** 8 times, omit last sc. Join to standing sc with a sl-st, fasten off, and secure ends. Stitch count: 24 sc, 32 popcorns, 16 ch3 spaces, 24 ch2 spaces
ROUND 16 (Color D). Join with a standing fpsc around any 1st popcorn, *{in ch2 space (hdc, 3dc, hdc), fpsc around next st} 3 times, 4sc in ch3 space, fpsc around next st, [sc in ch1 space, fpsc around next st] 2 times, 4sc in ch3 space, fpsc around next st*, repeat ** 8 times, omit last fpsc. Join to standing fpsc with a sl-st, fasten off, and secure ends. Stitch count: 80 sc, 56 fpsc, 48 hdc, 72 dc
