About This Pattern
The motif is worked from the center outward.
The first few rounds create the floral mandala. Eight heart-shaped motifs are then worked around the flower, followed by an open round that prepares the piece for shaping.
The square is formed by treating every other space as a corner. Taller stitches are used in the corners, while shorter stitches fill the sides. The final rounds are worked in a granny-style construction to straighten and balance the edges.
The finished square measures approximately 7½ to 8 inches after blocking when made with DK yarn and a 3.5 mm crochet hook.
Because yarn thickness and tension vary, your finished measurement may be slightly different.
Skill level: Intermediate.
Materials
You will need DK weight yarn, #3, in approximately four or five colors; a 3.5 mm crochet hook; scissors; a tapestry needle; and blocking supplies.
You can also use light worsted yarn with a 4 mm hook if you would like a slightly larger square.
For the color changes used below, I will refer to the yarns as Color A, Color B, Color C, Color D and Color E.
Abbreviations
MR = magic ring
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet
sl st = slip stitch
sp = space
st(s) = stitch(es)
3dc-cl = 3 double crochet cluster
Special Stitch
3 Double Crochet Cluster
Yarn over, insert your hook into the indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops.
Repeat this process two more times in the same stitch or space.
You should now have 4 loops remaining on your hook.
Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.
Pattern Notes
Chains at the beginning of rounds do not count as stitches unless specifically stated.
Join each round with a slip stitch where instructed.
You can change colors at the end of every round or use fewer colors for a more subtle look.
The eight heart motifs are worked directly into the chain spaces from the previous round. They are not made separately or sewn on afterward.
The square-off begins only after the entire mandala portion is complete.
Heart Petal Mandala Square Pattern
Round 1
With Color A, make an MR.
Ch 1 and work 8 sc into the ring.
Pull the ring closed.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Stitch count: 8 sc
Fasten off.
Round 2
Join Color B in any stitch.
Work a 3dc-cl in the same stitch, ch 2.
Work a 3dc-cl in the next st, ch 2.
Repeat from * to * around.
Join with a sl st to the top of the first cluster.
Stitch count: 8 clusters and 8 ch-2 spaces
Fasten off.
Round 3
Join Color C in any ch-2 space.
In the same space work:
sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc.
Repeat the same sequence in each remaining ch-2 space around.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
You should now have 8 flower petals.
Fasten off.
Round 4
Join Color D with a sc in the center dc of any petal. This is the second dc of the 3-dc group.
Ch 6.
Sc in the center dc of the next petal, ch 6.
Repeat around.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Stitch count: 8 sc and 8 ch-6 spaces
Do not fasten off if you would like the hearts to be the same color.
Round 5: Heart Round
Each heart is worked completely into one ch-6 space.
Move into the first ch-6 space with a sl st.
In that space work:
Ch 2, 3 tr, 3 dc, ch 1, 1 tr, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tr, ch 2, sl st in the same ch-6 space.
Sl st into the next sc from Round 4.
Sl st into the next ch-6 space and repeat the Heart sequence.
Continue around until you have made 8 hearts.
After completing the final heart, join neatly with a sl st and fasten off.
Take a moment here to gently shape each heart with your fingers. The single treble crochet in the center creates the little point, while the taller stitches on either side form the rounded lobes.
Round 6
Join Color E with a sc in the single tr at the point of any heart.
Ch 5.
Sc in the point tr of the next heart, ch 5.
Repeat around.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Stitch count: 8 sc and 8 ch-5 spaces
At this stage, the motif should look clearly octagonal.
Fasten off.
Round 7: Turning the Octagon Into a Square
Join your chosen border color in any ch-5 space.
In the first ch-5 space work:
3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr.
Ch 1.
In the next ch-5 space work:
4 dc.
Ch 1.
Repeat the following sequence around:
(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in the next ch-5 space, ch 1, 4 dc in the next ch-5 space, ch 1.
Repeat until you return to the beginning.
Join with a sl st to the first tr.
You should now have 4 corner ch-2 spaces, with one dc section centered along each side.
The square shape should already be visible.
Fasten off if you would like to change colors.
Round 8
Join yarn in any corner ch-2 space.
Work:
3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner space.
Ch 1.
Work 3 dc in the next ch-1 space.
Ch 1.
Work 3 dc in the next ch-1 space.
Ch 1.
In the next corner space work:
3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc.
Continue this sequence around the entire square.
Join with a sl st to the first dc.
Each side should now contain 2 groups of 3 dc between the corner groups.
Round 9
Sl st across until you reach the nearest corner ch-2 space.
In the corner work:
3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc.
Ch 1.
Work 3 dc into each ch-1 space across the side, placing ch 1 between each 3-dc group.
In the next corner work:
3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc.
Repeat around.
Join with a sl st to the first dc.
Each side should now contain 3 groups of 3 dc between the corners.
Fasten off.
Round 10: Finishing Border
Join yarn in any corner space.
Ch 1.
Work 3 sc in the corner space.
Sc in every dc and work 1 sc into each ch-1 space across the side.
In every remaining corner ch-2 space, work 3 sc.
Continue around.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Fasten off and weave in all remaining ends.
Blocking the Square
I definitely recommend blocking this motif.
The heart and mandala rounds naturally create a lot of texture, and the square-off may look slightly uneven immediately after you finish crocheting.
Gently wet or steam block the square, depending on the fiber you used.
Pin all four corners first, making sure the diagonals are even. Then straighten each side and adjust the heart motifs with your fingers.
Allow the square to dry completely before removing the pins.
That little bit of blocking makes a huge difference here.
Playing With Color
This motif can look completely different depending on your palette.
For something soft and romantic, try blush pink, cream, dusty rose, plum and beige.
For a vintage look, mustard, burgundy, olive, cream and muted blue would be beautiful.
You could also use one neutral color for Rounds 6 through 10 and change only the center colors. That would make a blanket filled with different mandalas feel much more connected.
Another idea I really like is making every heart round the same color while changing the flower centers. It would create repetition without making every square identical.
Turning the Squares Into a Blanket
If you are making several motifs for a blanket, block every square to the same measurement before joining.
You can join them with a simple whip stitch, mattress stitch, single crochet join, or your favorite join-as-you-go technique.
Because this square already has plenty of detail in the center, I would personally keep the joining method fairly simple.
A solid neutral join would let all those little hearts and flowers do the talking.
A Reference I Think You’ll Enjoy
While looking at different ways crocheters transform round and octagonal mandalas into squares, I came across the beautiful Heart Mandala: Octagon to Square from Cypress Textiles.
Their version uses its own construction and stitch sequence, while the tutorial above uses our own flower center, heart round, stitch counts and square-off. If you enjoy this style of motif, I think their version is absolutely worth seeing too.
ACCESS THE CYPRESS TEXTILES HEART MANDALA
More Ways to Use This Square
You absolutely do not need to commit to a full blanket.
Four squares would make a beautiful cushion front.
Two squares could become a small handmade bag.
A row of motifs could become a decorative table runner.
You could even make one motif in very fine cotton and frame it as fiber art.
And if you are like me, you may make the first square simply because you want to try the pattern and only decide what it is becoming after the third or fourth one. Sometimes crochet projects have their own plans. 😂
Final Thoughts
I really love crochet squares that change character as you work through the rounds.
You begin with such a small flower, then suddenly there are petals, hearts, an octagon, and finally a completely finished square sitting in your hands.
It looks intricate, but when you break the construction down one round at a time, everything has a clear place and purpose.
And perhaps my favorite thing about this motif is that the colors can completely change its personality. Make one in soft pastels and it feels delicate and romantic. Use deeper colors and suddenly it looks rich and almost vintage.
I hope you have fun experimenting with this one. And if the first square somehow turns into twenty before you have decided what to make with them, well… I think most of us have been there. 💕
