Songlines Mandala Pattern
Songlines are intricate maps of land, sea and country for Indigenous peoples of Australia. They describe travel and trade routes, the location of waterholes and the presence of food. In many cases, Songlines on the earth are mirrored by sky Songlines, which allowed people to navigate vast distances of this nation and its waters.
These Songlines are recorded in traditional songs, stories, dance and art. They carry significant spiritual and cultural connection to knowledge, customs, ceremony and Lore of many Aboriginal nations and Torres Strait Islander language groups.
This mandala honours the culture and history of the Indigenous peoples of my country.
Abreviations - US terms
Ch – chain
Hdc - Half double crochet
Dc – Double crochet
Ss – Slip stitch
St – Stitch
Sp - Space
Hdc Spike stitch - to make the hdc spike stitch you work the stitch the same as you would for a half double crochet, but you stick the hook into a different place. In this example you insert the hook from front to back under the top two loops of the designated stitch in Round 2.
Step by step
Yarn over, insert the hook from front to back under the top two loops of the designated dc in Round 2.
Draw the yarn through the stitch and up to the current level of work.
Don't pull the yarn tight, or your rows will bunch.
Yarn over (yo) and draw the yarn through the 3 loops on your hook.
You've completed a long half double crochet stitch.
Notes on the surface chain:
Make a slip knot. The yarn should be behind your work, the hook on top of the work.
Insert your hook through your work wherever you want to start your surface chain stitches and pull the slip knot through to the front of your work.
Next insert your hook into the next gap between stitches. Yarn over, Pull the loop through from the back to the front, then pull through the loop on your hook, completing your stitch
Ch – chain
Hdc - Half double crochet
Dc – Double crochet
Ss – Slip stitch
St – Stitch
Sp - Space
Hdc Spike stitch - to make the hdc spike stitch you work the stitch the same as you would for a half double crochet, but you stick the hook into a different place. In this example you insert the hook from front to back under the top two loops of the designated stitch in Round 2.
Step by step
Yarn over, insert the hook from front to back under the top two loops of the designated dc in Round 2.
Draw the yarn through the stitch and up to the current level of work.
Don't pull the yarn tight, or your rows will bunch.
Yarn over (yo) and draw the yarn through the 3 loops on your hook.
You've completed a long half double crochet stitch.
Notes on the surface chain:
Make a slip knot. The yarn should be behind your work, the hook on top of the work.
Insert your hook through your work wherever you want to start your surface chain stitches and pull the slip knot through to the front of your work.
Next insert your hook into the next gap between stitches. Yarn over, Pull the loop through from the back to the front, then pull through the loop on your hook, completing your stitch
I used 3 shades of eight ply DK yarn in three colours and a 4mm hook. The finished mandala is 13.5cm across in DK yarn.
Any yarn and appropriate hook should work.
Any yarn and appropriate hook should work.
Instructions
Ch 4. Ss into the first ch to make a ring.
Round 1
Ch 4 (equals 1dc, ch1)
Work 1 dc, ch 1 into the ring 11 more times to create 12 dc spokes in total.
Finish off. Weave in ends.
Round 2
Attach new colour with a ss in any chain one space.
Ch 3 (equals 1dc) then work one dc into the same space. Ch 1.
Skip the next dc and into the ch1 space work 2dc, ch 1. * Repeat from * to * around. Ss into the top of the ch 3.
Finish off. Weave in ends.
Round 3
Attach new colour with a ss in any chain one space between the 2dcs.
Ch 3 (equals 1dc) then work 2dc into the same space. Ch 1.
* Skip the next dcs and into the ch1 space work 3dc, ch 1. *
Repeat from * to * around. Ss into the top of the ch 3.
Finish off. Weave in ends.
Round 4 (adding the spike stitch)
Attach new colour with a ss in the top of the first dc of any 3dc cluster.
Ch 2 then work one hdc into the next 2dcs.
Between the 3 dc clusters, work a hdc spike stitch into the top of the second dc of Round 2.
Round 4 (adding the spike stitch)
Attach new colour with a ss in the top of the first dc of any 3dc cluster.
Ch 2 then work one hdc into the next 2dcs.
Between the 3 dc clusters, work a hdc spike stitch into the top of the second dc of Round 2.
* Work 1hdc in the top of the next 3 dcs, then between the 3dc clusters work 1 hdc spike stitch into the top of the second dc of Round 2.*
Repeat from * to * around.
Ss into the top of the ch 2.
Finish off. Weave in ends.
Round 5 (adding the scallops)
Attach new colour with a ss in the top of any hdc spike stitch.
* Skip 1 st, in the next st work 5dc. Skip 1 st, ss into the next st. *
Repeat from * to * around. Ss into the first ss.
Finish off. Weave in ends
* Skip 1 st, in the next st work 5dc. Skip 1 st, ss into the next st. *
Repeat from * to * around. Ss into the first ss.
Finish off. Weave in ends
Last addition of surface chain
Using the yarn from Round 1 or any colour you prefer, surface chain around the hdc and hdc spike sts of Round 4.
Do not work your chains tightly as it will cause the mandala to curl upwards.
Finish off and weave in ends.
Notes on the surface chain:
Make a slip knot. The yarn should be behind your work, the hook on top of the work.
Insert your hook through your work wherever you want to start your surface chain stitches and pull the slip knot through to the front of your work.
Next insert your hook into the next gap between stitches. Yarn over, Pull the loop through from the back to the front, then pull through the loop on your hook, completing your stitch
Using the yarn from Round 1 or any colour you prefer, surface chain around the hdc and hdc spike sts of Round 4.
Do not work your chains tightly as it will cause the mandala to curl upwards.
Finish off and weave in ends.
Notes on the surface chain:
Make a slip knot. The yarn should be behind your work, the hook on top of the work.
Insert your hook through your work wherever you want to start your surface chain stitches and pull the slip knot through to the front of your work.
Next insert your hook into the next gap between stitches. Yarn over, Pull the loop through from the back to the front, then pull through the loop on your hook, completing your stitch
Congratulations, you are finished!
Queen Babs
Queen Babs