The pattern for the Shocking Mandala Rug was published during the summer of 2013 on the Stitch & Unwind blog. And while the finished rug has had a home in our playroom for a while, now I can give it the pattern a home here on Moogly! I hope you enjoy this great free crochet rug pattern!

This pattern features Red Heart Vivid, an amazingly bright and bold yarn that’s crazy squishy! It’s a super bulky, and since I made this rug I’ve seen it at local big box yarn stores. If you can’t find it at a store near you, you can order it online from Red Heart, or substitute the super bulky yarn of your choice – or even hold 2-3 strands of worsted together!

In the four months we’ve had the Shocking Mandala Rug in our playroom it’s been the scene of epic Lego battles, a private tent, a turtle shell, and a safe warm place to land. It’s been dragged all over, even comforting the youngest during a tornado warning. I don’t think mandalas are magic, but this rug has worked it’s magic time and again.

Shocking Mandala Rug

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• US-Q, 15mm or 16mm hook
• 500 yds Red Heart Vivid
  Shown: Electric Blue and Glowing Green
  This yarn has been discontinued. Recommended replacement: Bernat Mega Bulky
• Large Plastic Yarn Needle (the extra large size, not the standard metal kind)
• Finished size: 42″ across
• Related video tutorials: dc2tog – double crochet decrease; FLO – front loop only; for more click here

NOTE: Starting in Round 2 with the introduction of Color B, crochet over the unused color, holding it behind the row at the bottom and enclosing it in each stitch, carrying it along until it is called for again.

Round 1: Using Color A, ch 6 and join to the first ch with a sl st to form a ring. Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), dc 12 in the ring. Join to the first dc with a sl st. (12 sts)

Round 2: Ch 2, dc2tog over the first and second sts, finishing the st with Color B. Work 3 dc between the posts of the previous st and the next st, finishing the last st with Color A. *Dc2tog, finishing st with Color B. Work 3 dc between posts of previous and next st, finishing last st with Color A. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first dc2tog. (24 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in the first st (the top of the dc2tog), finishing the st with Color B. Skip the next st, work 5 dc in the next st, finishing the last st with Color A. Skip the next st. *Sc in the next st, finishing the st with Color B. Skip the next st, work 5 dc in the next st, finishing the last st with Color A. Skip the next st. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (36 sts)

Round 4: Ch 2, (2 dc finishing last st with Color B, 2 dc finishing last st with Color A, 2 dc finishing last st with Color B) in the first st. Skip the next 2 sts, sc in the next st, finishing with Color A. *Skip the next 2 sts, (2 dc finishing last st with Color B, 2 dc finishing last st with Color A, 2 dc finishing last st with Color B) in the next st, skip the next 2 sts, sc in the next st finishing with Color A. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (42 sts)

Round 5: Ch 2, work 2 dc in the first st, then 2 dc in the next st finishing last st with Color B. Dc2tog finishing st with Color A. Work 2 dc in the next st, then 2 dc in the next st, finishing last st with Color B. Dc in next st, finishing with Color A. *Work 2 dc in the next st, then 2 dc in the next st finishing last st with Color B. Dc2tog finishing st with Color A. Work 2 dc in the next st, then 2 dc in the next st, finishing last st with Color B. Dc in next st, finishing with Color A. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (60 sts)

Round 6: Ch 2, *work 2 dc between the the posts of the next and the following st. Ch 1, skip the next 2 sts, 2 dc between the posts of the previous and next st, finishing the last st with Color B. Skip the next st, sc in the next st finishing with Color A. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (72 sts)

Round 7: Ch 2, dc2tog in the first two sts finishing with Color B. Work 3 dc in the ch sp finishing the last st with Color A. Dc2tog finishing with Color B. Work 3 dc in the next st finishing with Color A. *Dc2tog finishing with Color B. Work 3 dc in the ch sp finishing the last st with Color A. Dc2tog finishing with Color B. Work 3 dc in the next st finishing with Color A. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (96 sts)

Round 8: Ch 2, dc in the first st finishing with Color B. Dc in the next 3 sts finishing last st with Color A. *Dc in the next st finishing with Color B, dc in the next 3 sts finishing last st with Color A. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (96 sts)

Round 9: Ch 1, sc in the first st finishing with Color B. Skip the next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st finishing last st with Color A. Skip the next st. *Sc in the first st finishing with Color B. Skip the next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st finishing last st with Color A. Skip the next st. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (144 sts)

Round 10: Ch 1, sc in the first st finishing with Color B. Skip the next 2 sts, work 5 dc in the ch sp finishing last st with Color A. Skip the next 2 sts. *Sc in the next st finishing with Color B. Skip the next 2 sts, work 5 dc in the ch sp finishing last st with Color A. Skip the next 2 sts. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (144 sts)

Round 11: Ch 2, work 3 dc in the first st finishing last st with Color B. *Skip the next 2 sts, sc in the next st finishing with Color A. Skip the next 2 sts, work 5 dc in the next st finishing with Color B. Repeat from * ending with 2 dc in Color A worked in the same st as the first 3 sts of the round. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (144 sts)

Round 12: Ch 2, dc in the first st, dc in the next 2 sts finishing the last st with Color B. *Work 2 dc in the next st finishing the last st with Color A. Dc in the next 5 sts finishing the last st with Color B. Repeat from * until 2 sts remain. Dc in the last 2 sts with Color A, join with a sl st to the top of the first st. (168 sts)

Round 13: Ch 2, work 2 dc in the first st finishing last st with Color B. Skip the next 2 sts, *2 dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st finishing the last st with Color A. Skip the next 2 sts, work 3 dc in the next st finishing the last st with Color B. Skip the next 2 sts. Repeat from * ending with a dc in the same st as the first st of the round. Join with a sl st to the top of the first st using Color B. (168 sts)

Round 14: Leaving Color A behind and no longer enclosing it, use Color B to sl st in the FLO of each st around. Break Color B and seamless join to the first sl st of the round. (168 sts)

Round 15: Pick up Color A and sl st in the FLO of each st of Round 13 behind the sts of Round 14. Break Color A and seamless join to the first sl st of the round. (168 sts)

And that’s all there is to it! With just 15 rows and 500 yards, I’m not sure there’s a faster rug you can make. The Shocking Mandala Rug is fun no matter how bright and shocking or sweet and sophisticated the colors you use. I hope you have a lot of fun with this free crochet rug pattern!

Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2013 – share this pattern via links only! You can use the green Print Friendly button below to print a copy for personal use. Seller’s policy is detailed on the About page. Come join the Moogly fun on your favorite social media sites:  Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest and Tumblr!