“‘Mandala’ is the Sanskrit word for circle. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the mandala symbolizes the universe. Their spiritual origins aside, mandalas appeal to the aesthete in all of us. Their beauty comes not from striking combinations of colors and patterns, but also from their radiant symmetry.” Modern Crochet Mandalas, by the editors at Interweave
When I first saw this book at my local used bookstore, I was drawn to the colorful cover. I see bright colors, I go ‘oooh!’ It reminded me of an adult coloring book cover. What could I do but take it home with me?
Modern Crochet Mandalas contains 53 circular crochet motifs, each unique. There are all sorts of different crochet stitches and techniques, from lacy circles like a traditional doilies, to a fascinating slip-stitch labyrinth design. As a matter of fact, my crochet Sea Glass Tee became a July 1969 by Sandra Eng when I realized about four inches in that I had misread the pattern and felt no desire to frog and restart. It’ll happen someday.
The only thing I wish this book contained is ideas on how to join the finished mandalas. Now, I’m a huge fan of doilies; they live under most of my house plants and lamps (and antique rose dishes), but it is possible to have more than you need. Rather than buy more rose dishes in order to utilize more mandalas, which is a distinct possibility, it would have been nice to get inspiration for joining mandalas into a blanket, or a curtain, etc. Oh, well. Why else would Pinterest exist?