Over the course of the year that just passed, I did not made it to my favorite yoga class as often as I had hoped; however, on the occasions that I did, one thing was constant: the first order of business after getting oneself situated was to set one’s intention for the session, and this afternoon, when I finally picked up a hook and some yarn, I decided that my first crochet of the new year should set my intentions for the next twelve months.

To that end, I pulled out a crochet mandala that I started work on in early December, but which I had seen at Crochet with Raymond last July and coveted for nearly 5 months.

My purpose in beginning the mandala was twofold.

First, if I began to make it, I wouldn’t need to covet the mandalas I had seen that others made.

Second, making the mandala was also meant to be an exercise that would allow me to practice what I think of as mindful crochet, and it seemed to me that would be a good place for me to begin the new year in crochet.

Far too often, my body is in one place, and my head is somewhere else entirely. I have decided to use crochet as a vehicle for practicing the discipline of keeping my mind and body focused on the same activity. So, armed with a 5.0 mm Etimo hook and a ball of amethyst Red Heart Super Saver yarn, I added a round of single crochet stitches all the way around and then made a 5dc shell edging:

I am very pleased with the result and have every intention of making more mandalas.

If you want to make your own, there is a new and “revisited” tutorial available at Crochet with Raymond. Special thanks to Alice who took time away from her own crochet work to bring us this revision.

I can hardly wait to try it.