EMILY'S JOURNAL ...from the studio

Emily Penn of The Loopy Stitch loves designing and crocheting mandalas, and shares her tips and reasons for making this versatile motif

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There is something therapeutic, relaxing, and mindful when it comes to creating crochet pieces made in the round, like the mandala. I designed my first, called Wheel of Hope, in 2017, and now nearly every design that has come off my hook since has been a mandala. I am drawn to designing them because of the endless possibilities that can be made within each one. All the variables such as stitches, techniques, and colours, come together to make these pieces unique and fun to make.

WHAT IS A MANDALA?

Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle and is a symbol of wholeness and connection. There are three main types of mandalas: Teaching Mandalas, Healing Mandalas and Sand Mandalas, but when it comes to mandalas in the crochet world, we mainly use Healing Mandalas. They are more intuitive, made for a purpose such as meditation, and can awaken feelings of calm, channel focus and concentration.