Book Review: Crochet Yourself Calm by Carmen Heffernan with Excerpted Pattern: Petal Mandala

Book review: Crochet Yourself Calm with Petal Mandala pattern by Carmen Heffernan via Underground CrafterIn today’s Granny Square Month post, I’m sharing a review of relaxing, repetitive crochet patterns, along with the pattern excerpt for the Petal Mandala, and your chance to win a copy, so read on for details!

Granny Square Month 2018 on Underground Crafter ] 30 days of granny square patterns, inspiration, and giveaways!

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. A free review copy of Crochet Yourself Calm: 50 Motifs & 15 Projects for Mindful Relaxation by Carmen Heffernan was provided to me by Lark. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.

Book Review

Crochet Yourself Calm: 50 Motifs & 15 Projects for Mindful Relaxation by Carmen Heffernan is a book inspired by the “mindful crochet” movement, which emphasizes the benefits of crocheting repetitive motifs and stitch patterns to create calm. The book starts with a brief introduction by Carmen, and then divides into five project chapters: Circles (which also includes hexagons), Squares, Triangles, Stripes, and ZigZags. Each of these chapters includes 10 motif or stitch patterns and 3 project patterns made from the motifs or stitches in that chapter. The patterns are mostly arranged in order of difficulty. The Circles chapter includes 4 beginner, 4 intermediate, and 2 advanced patterns; the Squares chapter includes 1 beginner, 7 intermediate, and 2 advanced patterns; the Triangles chapter includes 4 beginner, 3 intermediate, and 3 advanced patterns; the Stripes chapter includes 4 beginner and 6 intermediate patterns; and the ZigZags chapter includes 3 beginner and 7 intermediate patterns.

Each motif or stitch pattern includes a brief introduction to the pattern, a materials list (including the yarn brand and color), the hook size used, skill level, gauge, finished size, and any special stitches used. The patterns are written with both US pattern abbreviations and an international stitch symbol chart. The project patterns include additional information about assembly. Stitch and motif patterns are shown in large photographs against organic looking backgrounds (e.g., wood, stone) while project pictures are shown in styled photos.

The book ends with the Crochet Essentials chapter which includes information about yarn, hooks, and notions; written and illustrated instructions for the slip knot, holding the yarn and hook, making and working into chains, and 5 basic crochet stitches; information about gauge; tips for variations methods for working in the round; special stitches; joining methods; finishing techniques; and a primer for reading both abbreviation and symbol patterns. The book ends with an index, acknowledgements, and a yarn resource page.

If you enjoy crocheting mindfully (or, the complete opposite: crocheting mindlessly, while binging on your favorite show or waiting or commuting), then you’ll find a lot of pretty patterns in Crochet Yourself Calm: 50 Motifs & 15 Projects for Mindful Relaxation.


Petal Mandala

Crochet Pattern by Carmen Heffernan

Published in Crochet Yourself Calm: 50 Motifs & 15 Projects for Mindful Relaxation

© 2016 by Toucan Books Ltd and shared with permission from Sterling Publishing Co.

Petal Mandala, free crochet pattern by Carmen Heffernan via Underground CrafterNotes from Underground Crafter:

  • This pattern uses US crochet pattern abbreviations. You can find a master list of abbreviations here.
  • This pattern also uses international stitch symbols. You can find a chart of these symbols here.
  • This pattern uses the dc2tog and dc3tog cluster stitches.
    • You can find a video tutorial by Jessie At Home for the dc2tog cluster stitch here.
    • You can find a video tutorial by New Stitch A Day for the dc3tog cluster stitch here.

Layers of stitches and color combine to make an appealing motif with a flower as the focus of a striped border. Dusky pastel shades are ideal for this motif, but it would work just as well—and provide a burst of color—if made in a selection of bright yarns.

Materials

  • Cascade Ultra Pima Fine (100% pima cotton; 1.75 oz/50 g; 136.5 yds /125 m): Yellow Rose 3743 (yarn A), Sand 3717 (yarn B), Ice 3736 (yarn C), Buff 3719 (yarn D), Deep Coral 3767 (yarn E), Dark Sea Foam 3797 (yarn F).

Hook Size

  • G-6 (4 mm) crochet hook

Skill Level

  • Intermediate

Gauge

  • Rounds 1–3 measure 2.5 in. (6 cm), so follow pattern, and at end of Round 3, you should have a measurement of 2.5 in. (6 cm).

Finished Size

  • 4.5 in. (11.5 cm) in diameter

Instructions

  • With yarn A, ch5; join with a sl st into a ring.
  • Round 1 Ch1, make 12 sc into the ring and join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (12 sc)
  • Round 2 With yarn B, join in any sc from previous round. Ch3 (counts as 1hdc, ch1), * 1hdc, ch1 into the next st; repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to the 2nd ch of the beg ch3. Fasten off. (12 hdc, 12 ch-1 sps)
  • Round 3 With yarn C, join in any ch-1 sp. Ch3, dc2tog in the same space (counts as dc3tog), ch2, * dc3tog in the next ch-1 sp, ch2; repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to the top of the beg cluster. Fasten off. (12 clusters)
  • Round 4 With yarn D, join in any ch-2 sp. Ch3 (counts as 1dc), make 3dc in the same space, * 4dc in the next ch-2 sp; repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to the top of the beg ch3. Fasten off.
  • Round 5 With yarn E, join in the space between any 4dc. Ch1, make 1sc in the same space, ch2, skip 2 sts, * 1sc in the next space (between dc), ch2, skip 2 sts; repeat from * around (making each sc in the space between 2dc sts). Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
  • Round 6 With yarn F, join in any ch-2 sp. Ch1, make 1sc in the same space, (1dc, ch1, 1dc, ch1, 1dc) in the next ch-2 sp, * 1sc in the next ch-2 sp, (1dc, ch1, 1dc, ch1, 1dc) in the next ch-2 sp; repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Giveaway

Book review: Crochet Yourself Calm with Petal Mandala pattern by Carmen Heffernan via Underground Crafter - giveawayNow that you’ve read my review and sampled a pattern, are you excited about getting your hands on a copy of Crochet Yourself Calm? The nice folks at Lark have been kind enough to set aside a copy for one lucky reader.

This giveaway is open to readers in the United States and Canada, except where prohibited by law. Enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, July 2, 2018. One winner will be chosen at random from the entries submitted via the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will receive a copy of Crochet Yourself Calm, courtesy of Lark. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3 thoughts on “Book Review: Crochet Yourself Calm by Carmen Heffernan with Excerpted Pattern: Petal Mandala”

Leave a Comment

Subscribe to the newsletter to get my secrets and access to the subscriber vault!

5 Secrets for Improving Your Crochet Skills