This elegant pillow showcases a beautiful textured mandala crochet design, meticulously crafted with intricate details and desert colors. The pattern features a harmonious blend of turquoise, sage green and beige hues, creating a refreshing and timeless look.

Time: 2 days (front), 1 day (back)

Skill level: Advanced

Size: 35×35 cm

Gauge: 5 rnd = 10 cm (diameter)

Materials

Yarn: Sheng Tang Fangzhi 4 ply (80% cotton, 20 % manufactured fibers-milk)

(CC1: cream; CC2: baby blue; CC3: sage)

Hook size: US size 4.00mm

Notions: stitch markers, buttons

Special stitches

Big Picot: ch 7, sl st at the top of st.

Puff: yarn over, insert hook in indicated st, yarn over, pull up loop, [yarn over, insert hook in same, yarn over, pull up loop] 3 times, yarn over, pull through 9 loops on hook, ch 1 to secure.

FPsc (Front Post single crochet): insert your hook around the indicated post of the stitch from front to back and to front again. Finish as a normal sc.

FPhdc (Front Post half double crochet): yarn over, insert your hook around the indicated post of the stitch from front to back and to front again. Finish as a normal hdc.

FPdc (Front Post double crochet): yarn over, insert your hook around the indicated post of the stitch from front to back and to front again. Finish as a normal dc.

FPtr (Front Post treble crochet): yarn over twice, insert your hook around the indicated post of the stitch from front to back and to front again. Finish as a normal tr.

FPpuff (Front Post Puff): yarn over, insert hook around indicated post of the stitch from front to back and front again. Finish as normal puff.

BPdc (Back Post double crochet): yarn over, insert your hook around the indicated post of the stitch from back to front and to back again. Finish as a normal dc.

BLOsc (black loop single crochet): insert the hook in the back loop only of the indicated stitch and make a normal sc.

2dc-cl (cluster of 2 double crochet): (yarn over, insert the hook in the indicated stitch or space, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook) 2 times, yarn over, pull through 3 loops on the hook.

Pattern notes

1. Similar weight of yarn can be substituted, check gauge.
2. Ch 1 doesn’t count as st
3. Ch 3 in the beginning of the new round counts as dc, unless mentioned otherwise.

Pattern

FRONT SIDE

Rnd 1: With CC1 make magic ring, ch 1, [2dc-cl, ch 2] 8 times in the ring, join with sl st to beg 2dc-cl. (8 2dc-cl, 8 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC1.

Rnd 2: Join CC2 in any ch-2 sp, ch 1, ([2dc-cl, ch 1] 3 times) in same ch-2 sp -pm 1st 2dc-cl-, sk 2dc-cl, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk 2dc-cl, *[(2dc-cl, ch 1) 3 times] in next ch-2 sp, sk 2dc-cl, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk 2dc-cl, repeat from * around, join with sl st to beg 2dc-cl. (4 dc, 12 2dc-cl, 16 ch-1 sps). Fasten off CC2.

Rnd 3: Join CC3 in marked 2dc-cl, ch 1, FPdc around same st -pm-, [2 dc in next ch-1 sp, FPdc around next st] twice, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, FPdc around next st, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, *FPdc around next st, [2 dc in next ch-1 sp, FPdc around next st] twice, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, FPdc around next st, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, repeat from * around, join. (16 dc, 16 FPdc, 8 ch-1 sps).

Fasten off CC3.

Rnd 4: Join CC2 in marked FPdc, ch 1, BPdc around same and next 2 sts, ch 5, sk FPdc, BPdc around next 3 sts, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, BPdc around FPdc, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, *BPdc around next 3 sts, ch 5, sk FPdc, BPdc around next 3 sts, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, BPdc around FPdc, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, repeat from * around, join with sl st to beg BPdc. (28 BPdc, 8 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-5 sps).

Fasten off CC2.

Rnd 5: Join CC1 in any ch-5 sp, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 2, 4 dc) in same sp, BPdc around next 2 sts, sk 2 sts –BPdc, ch-1 sp-, 5 dc in next BPdc, sk 2 sts –ch-1 sp, BPdc-, BPdc around next 2 sts, *(4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc) in next ch-5 sp, BPdc around next 2 sts, sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next BPdc, sk 2 sts, BPdc around next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch. (52 dc, 16 BPdc, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC1.

Rnd 6: Join CC3 in any ch-2 sp, ch 3, [ch 1, dc] 2 times in same sp -pm 1st ch-sp-, BPdc around next 4 sts, sk 2 sts, BPdc around next st, (ch 1, BPdc around next st) 4 times, sk 2 sts, BPdc around next 4 sts, *(dc, [ch 1, dc] 2 times) in next ch-2 sp, BPdc around next 4 sts, sk 2 sts, BPdc around next st, [ch 1, BPdc around next st] 4 times, sk 2 sts, BPdc around next 4 sts, repeat from * around, join. (12 dc, 52 BPdc, 24 ch-1 sps). Fasten off CC3.

Rnd 7: Join CC2 in marked ch-1 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in same ch-1 sp, sk dc, 5 dc in next ch-1 sp, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 3 sts, [(2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in next ch-1 sp, sk BPdc] 4 times, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, *5 dc in next ch-1 sp, sk dc, 5 dc in next ch-1 sp, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 3 sts, [(2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in next ch-1 sp, sk BPdc] 4 times, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch. (8 sc, 40 dc, 32 2dc-cl, 16 ch-1 sps).

Fasten off CC2.

Rnd 8: Join CC1 in any space between groups of 5-dcs, ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same sp, BPhdc around next 5 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, [FPsc around 2dc-cl, sc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next 2dc-cl] twice, FPtr around BPdc of rnd 6, [FPsc around 2dc-cl, sc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next 2dc-cl] twice, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, BPhdc around next 5 sts, *(sc, ch 2, sc) in sp, BPhdc around next 5 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, [FPsc around 2dc-cl, sc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next 2dc-cl] twice, FPtr around BPdc of rnd 6, [FPsc around 2dc-cl, sc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next 2dc-cl] twice, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, BPhdc around next 5 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to beg sc. (40 sc, 32 FPsc, 40 BPhdc, 4 FPtr, 12 ch-2 sps).

Fasten off CC1.

Rnd 9: Join CC3 in ch-2 sp of any corner, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, sk 2 sts, BLOsc in next 3 sts, sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next ch-2 sp, sk 3 sts, BLOsc in next 9 sts, sk 3 sts, 5 dc in next ch-2 sp, sk 2 sts, BLOsc in next 3 sts, sk 2 sts, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, sk 2 sts, BLOsc in next 3 sts, sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next ch-2 sp, sk 3 sts, BLOsc in next 9 sts, sk 3 sts, 5 dc in next ch-2 sp, sk 2 sts, BLOsc in next 3 sts, sk 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch. (60 BLOsc, 64 dc, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC3.

Rnd 10: Join CC2 in ch-2 sp of any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, BPdc around next 3 sts, sk 1 st, BLOsc in next st, sk 1 st, FPPuff around next 5 sts, sk 2 sts, BLOsc in next 2 sts, FPPuff around FPtr of rnd 8 -sk st behind FPtr-, BLOsc in next 2 sts, sk 2 sts, FPPuff around next 5 sts, sk 1 st, BLOsc in next st, sk 1 st, BPdc around next 3 sts, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, BPdc around next 3 sts, sk 1 st, BLOsc in next st, sk 1 st, FPPuff around next 5 sts, sk 2 sts, BLOsc in next 2 sts, FPPuff around FPtr of rnd 8 -sk st behind FPtr-, BLOsc in next 2 sts, sk 2 sts, FPPuff around next 5 sts, sk 1 st, BLOsc in next st, sk 1 st, BPdc around next 3 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch. (16 dc, 24 BPdc, 44 FPPuff, 24 BLOsc, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC2.

Rnd 11: Join CC1 in ch-2 sp of any corner, (2dc-cl, ch 2, 2dc-cl, ch 3, 2dc-cl, ch 2, 2dc-cl) in same sp, sk 2 sts, BPdc around next 3 sts, hdc in next st, FPdc around next 5 sts, BLOsc in next 2 sts, FPsc around next st, BLOsc in next 2 sts, FPdc around next 5 sts, hdc in next st, BPdc around next 3 sts, sk 2 sts, *(2dc-cl, ch 2, 2dc-cl, ch 3, 2dc-cl, ch 2, 2dc-cl) in next ch-2 sp, sk 2 sts, BPdc around next 3 sts, hdc in next st, FPdc around next 5 sts, BLOsc in next 2 sts, FPsc around next st, BLOsc in next 2 sts, FPdc around next 5 sts, hdc in next st, BPdc around next 3 sts, sk 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 1st 2dc-cl. (8 hdc, 16 BLOsc, 24 BPdc, 4 FPsc, 40 FPdc, 16 2dc-cl, 8 ch-2 sps, 4 ch-3 sps). Fasten off CC1.

Rnd 12: Join CC3 in ch-3 sp of any corner, ch 3, [ch 1, dc] 4 times in same sp -pm in 1st ch-1 sp-, FPdc around 2dc-cl, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, FPdc around next 2dc-cl, ch 1, sk 2 sts, hdc in next 19 sts, ch 1, sk 2 sts, FPdc around next st, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, FPdc around next st, *(dc, [ch 1, dc] 4 times) in next ch-3 sp, FPdc around 2dc-cl, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, FPdc around next 2dc-cl, ch 1, sk 2 sts, hdc in next 19 sts, ch 1, sk 2 sts, FPdc around next st, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, FPdc around next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch. (76 hdc, 36 dc, 16 FPdc, 24 ch-1 sps). Fasten off CC3.

Rnd 13: Join CC2 in marked ch-1 sp, ch 2, (2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in same sp, sk 1 st, (2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, sk 1 st, [(2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in next ch-1 sp, sk dc] twice, FPdc-2tog around next 2 FPdc -sk 2 dc between FPdc-, ch 4, sk 3 sts –ch-1 sp, 2 hdc-, BPhdc around next 5 sts, sc in next 5 sts, BPhdc in next 5 sts, ch 4, sk 3 sts –2 hdc, ch-1 sp-, FPdc-2tog around next 2 FPdc -sk 2 dc-, sk next st, *[(2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in next ch-1 sp, sk 1 st] twice, ch 3, sk 1 st, [(2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in next ch-1 sp, sk dc] twice, FPdc-2tog around next 2 FPdc -sk 2 dc-, ch 4, sk 3 sts, BPhdc around next 5 sts, sc in next 5 sts, BPhdc in next 5 sts, ch 4, sk 3 sts, FPdc-2tog around next 2 FPdc -sk 2 dc-, sk next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 1st 2dc-cl. (20 sc, 40 BPhdc, 8 FPdc-2tog, 32 2dc-cl, 16 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-3 sps, 8 ch-4 sps). Fasten off CC2.

Rnd 14: Join CC1 in ch-3 sp of any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, [FPdc around 2dc-cl, dc in next ch-1 sp, FPdc around next 2dc-cl] twice, FPdc around next st, 4 dc in next ch-4 sp, sk 1 st, dc in next 4 sts, BLOdc in next 5 sts, dc in next 4 sts, sk 1 st, 4 dc in next ch-4 sp, FPdc around next st, [FPdc around 2dc-cl, dc in next ch-1 sp, FPdc around next 2dc-cl] twice, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, [FPdc around 2dc-cl, dc in next ch-1 sp, FPdc around next 2dc-cl] twice, FPdc around next st, 4 dc in next ch-4 sp, sk 1 st, dc in next 4 sts, BLOdc in next 5 sts, dc in next 4 sts, sk 1 st, 4 dc in next ch-4 sp, FPdc around next st, [FPdc around 2dc-cl, dc in next ch-1 sp, FPdc around next 2dc-cl] twice, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch. (96 dc, 20 BLOdc, 40 FPdc, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC1.

Rnd 15: Join CC3 in ch-2 sp of any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, BPdc around next 9 sts, hdc in next 8 sts, 2tr-cl in 3rd sc of rnd 13 -work in free front loop-, BLOsc in next 5 sts, 2tr-cl in same st as 1st 2tr-cl, hdc in next 8 sts, BPdc around next 9 sts, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, BPdc around next 9 sts, hdc in next 8 sts, 2tr-cl in 3rd sc of rnd 13 -work in free front loop-, sc in next 5 sts, 2tr-cl in same st as 1st 2tr-cl, hdc in next 8 sts, BPdc around next 9 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3d ch of beg. (20 BLOsc, 64 hdc, 72 BPdc, 8 2tr-cl, 16 dc, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC3.

Rnd 16: Join CC2 in ch-2 sp of any corner, [(2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl), ch 2, (2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl)] in same sp, sk 2 sts, [hdc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st] 9 times, sk 1 –1st BLOsc-, popcorn in next 3 front loop of prev rnd, ch 1, sk 2 sts -last BLOsc, FLO2tr-cl-, hdc in next st, [ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc in next st] 8 times, sk 2 sts, *[(2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl), ch 2, (2dc-cl, ch 1, 2dc-cl)] in next ch-2 sp, sk 2 sts, [hdc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st] 9 times, sk 2 sts -FLO2tr-cl, 1st BLOsc-, popcorn in next 3 front loop of prev rnd, ch 1, sk 2 sts -last BLosc, FLO2tr-cl-, hdc in next st, [ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc in next st] 8 times, sk 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 1st 2dc-cl. (12 popcorn, 72 hdc, 16 2dc-cl, 80 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC2.

Rnd 17: Join CC1 in ch-2 sp of any corner, ch 5 -count as dc and ch-2 sp-, dc in same ch-2 sp, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, [sc in next st, dc in skipped st of rnd 15] 8 times, sc in next st, sk ch-1 sp, [FPhdc around next popcorn, hdc in sp between 2 popcorn] twice, FPhdc around next popcorn, sk ch-1 sp, [sc in next st, dc in next skipped st of rnd 15] 8 times, sc in next st, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, *(dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch-2 sp, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, (sc in next st, dc in skipped st of rnd 15) 8 times, sc in next st, sk ch-1 sp, [FPhdc around next popcorn, hdc in sp between 2 popcorn] twice, FPhdc around next popcorn, sk ch-1 sp, [sc in next st, dc in next skipped st of rnd 15] 8 times, sc in next st, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next 2dc-cl, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg. (72 sc, 16 hdc, 72 dc, 28 FPhdc, 4 ch-2 sps).

Fasten off CC1.

Rnd 18: Join CC3 in ch-2 sp of any corner, ch 4 -count as hdc and ch-2 sp-, hdc in same ch-2 sp, BPdc around next 4 sts, [3 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sk 2 sts] 3 times, sk 3 sts, (dc, [ch 1, dc] 4 times) in next st, sk 3 sts, [(sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sk 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, sk 2 sts] twice, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sk 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, BPhdc in next 4 sts, *(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp, BPdc around next 4 sts, [3 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sk 2 sts] twice, 3 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sk 3 sts, (dc, [ch 1, dc] 4 times) in next st, sk 3 sts, [(sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sk 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, sk 2 sts] twice, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sk 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, BPhdc in next 4 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 2nd ch of beg. (48 sc, 8 hdc, 92 dc, 32 BPdc, 16 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-2 sps, 24 ch-3 sps).

Fasten off CC3.

Rnd 19: Join CC1 in ch-2 sp of any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, sk 1 st, dc in next 4 sts, sk 1 st, [sc in next st, sk 2 sts, (2dc-cl, [ch 1, 2dc-cl] twice) in next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts] 3 times, sk ch-sp, FPPuff around next st, (ch 1, FPPuff around next st) twice, sk 3 sts –ch-sp, dc, sc-, [(2dc-cl, [ch 1, 2dc-cl] twice) in next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts] twice, (2dc-cl, [ch 1, 2dc-cl] twice) in next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 1 st, dc in next 4 sts, sk 1 st, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, sk 1 st, dc in next 4 sts, sk 1 st, [sc in next st, sk 2 sts, (2dc-cl, [ch 1, 2dc-cl] twice) in next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts] 3 times, sk ch-sp, FPPuff around next st, [ch 1, FPPuff around next st] twice, sk 3 sts –ch-sp, dc, sc-, [(2dc-cl, [ch 1, 2dc-cl] twice) in next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts] twice, (2dc-cl, [ch 1, 2dc-cl] twice) in next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 1 st, dc in next 4 sts, sk 1 st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg. (24 sc, 48 dc, 72 2dc-cl, 12 FPPuff, 56 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC1.

Rnd 20: Join CC2 in any ch-2 sp in any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, BPdc around next 6 sts, [hdc in next st, FPhdc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next st] 3 times, [FPhdc around next, hdc in next ch-1 sp] twice, FPhdc around next st, [FPhdc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next st, hdc around next st] 3 times, BPdc around next 6 sts, *(dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same, BPdc around next 6 sts, [hdc in next st, FPhdc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next st] 3 times, [FPhdc around next, hdc in next ch-1 sp] twice, FPhdc around next st, [FPhdc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPsc around next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, FPhdc around next st, hdc in next st] 3 times, BPdc around next 6 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg. (80 hdc, 16 dc, 24 FPsc, 60 FPhdc,48 BPdc, 4 ch-2 sps). Fasten off CC2.

Rnd 21: Join CC3 in ch-2 sp in any corner, ch 3 (dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in same, BPdc around next 8 sts, hdc in next 41 sts, BPdc around next 8 sts, *(2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, BPdc around next 8 sts, hdc in next 41 sts, BPdc around next 8 sts, repeat from * twice, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, BPdc around next 8 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, (hdc, big picot) in next st, [hdc in next 16 sts, (hdc, big picot) in next st] twice, hdc in next 3 sts, BPdc around next 8 sts, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg. –164 hdc, 64 BPdc, 4 ch-3 sps, 3 big picot.

BACK SIDE

Rnd 1: With preferred color, make magic ring, ch 3, 11 dc in ring, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch. (12 dc).

Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as (dc, ch 2)), (dc, ch 2) in each st around join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg. (12 dc, 12 ch-2 sps).

*Note – from here and throughout, rounds will be worked in ch-sps only, skipping sts.

Rnd 3: Sl st to next ch-sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in same sp (new corner), ch 2, [[dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] twice, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] 3 times, [dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] twice, sl st to 3rd ch of beg.

Rnd 4-17: Repeat rnd 3 and add more (dc, ch 2) in the additional ch-sp on each side in every following round until rnd 17.

*Note – following round is worked in stitches where indicated and ch-sps.

Rnd 18: Sl st twice, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same sp, dc in next 2 sts, [3 dc in next ch-sp, sk dc] 16 times, 3 dc in next ch-sp, dc in next 2 sts, *(3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 sts, [3 dc in next ch-sp, sk dc] 16 times, 3 dc in next ch-sp, dc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to 3rd ch of beg, leave a tail about 100-120cm for joining.

JOINING

Place the front and back sides of the pillowcase together with the front side facing up.

Note: the side with big picot at the top leaves out, don’t sew up.

Using tapestry sew 3 sides of the front and back side of the pillowcase. Add button.