Hanging Mandalas

Let me show you how to make hanging mandalas! Make this beautiful wall decoration with me, it is a wonderfully relaxing activity.

I wanted a new wall decoration this summer and I've always liked those trendy ones that hang on a tree branch. So I decided to make one with mandalas that have a small mirror in the center and are completed with these individual fringes. If you like these mandalas, you might like also the Flower Sun Catcher.

1. yarn of different colors
2. cardboard (6 squares of 10 x 10 cm/4 x 4 in)
3. 3 round mirrors, diameter approx. 5 cm/2 in
4. sewing pins with large head
5. yarn needle
6. glue gun
7. pencil
8. ruler
9. scissors
10. branch
11. string to hang the branch

Prepare 6 cardboard squares of 10 x 10 cm/4 x 4 in. Find the center of each square. (picture 1)

Now you'll be gluing together two squares at a time. Put some glue on the lower square. (picture 2)

Pinch a pin through the center of the upper square and then the lower square. (pictures 3 and 4)

Turn the upper square so that its corners are at the center of the sides of the lower square. Gently push both squares together so they get connected with the glue. Take out the pin. Do this with the remaining two pairs of squares and you'll have bases for 3 mandalas. (pictures 5 and 6)

Glue a mirror in the center of each base. (picture 7)

Now you'll need one pin for each corner of each base. Dip the tip of the pin in hot glue and pinch the pin into a corner all the way to the head. (pictures 8 and 9)

Now you have each mandala base with 8 pins. (picture 10)

It's finally time to get the yarn! You'll always twist the yarn around the front of each side before leading it to the next side through the back of the mandala. This is what the first row of yarn should look like.

I used my great painting talent :-D to make a color scheme of how the thread should go. I have made only 4 sides in the scheme so the picture isn't too confusing but you'll continue in the same manner for the whole mandala. Green is the yarn in the front of the mandala, the blue interrupted line is the yarn on the back of the mandala and the numbers show you the order of the corners where the yarn should go. (picture 1)

Leave one longer end handing on the back. Twist the yarn once around any pinhead of the upper square and lead the thread to the next corner of the same side of the square. Twist the yarn around the pin in this corner and lead the yarn on the back to the corner on the side of the lower square that's next to the side you were just working on. Continue until the first layer is complete. Twist the yarn around each head just this first time. (pictures 2 and 3)

Cut the thread and knot it on the backside with the end you left there at the beginning. (picture 4)

Or you can use the same yarn to make several layers and cut the thread only when you want to use another yarn. Starting from the second layer, don't twist the yarn around the pinheads anymore. (picture 5)

A thicker layer can help hide the cardboard sides. (picture 6)

When changing yarn, follow the same steps, although each new layer will go further and further from the pinhead. (picture 7)

Keep adding colors... (picture 8)

...until you're happy with the result and the edge of the mirror is covered. (picture 9)

Tie strings at both ends of the branch and hang it. (picture 1)

Tie two long pieces of yarn at the same distance from the center of the branch, each on one side. The distance between them should equal the width of the mandala. (picture 2)

You need to wrap the strings around the leftmost and rightmost pinhead. (picture 3)

Made sure the mandala hangs straight. (picture 4)

Hang the second mandala under the first one in the same way. And the third under the second. (picture 5)

Tie a string on the backside of the first mandala, just above the corner that's pointing down. Then tie the same string just under the corner of the second mandala that's pointing up. Connecting the mandalas like that prevents them from spinning. Connect the second and third mandala in the same way. (picture 6)

You can complement the hanging mandalas with some fringes and this is how to make them. Spread the fingers of one hand and twist the yarn around them many times. Put your fingers together, take the yarn off holding its upper side. Take the loose end of the yarn and twist it several times around just under the upper end. You'll create a "head" of your future fringe. Now cut the lose end of the yarn long enough so you can use it to hang the fringe. Thread the needle with the loose end and pull it through the head from one side to another and then again but this time, lead the needle through the center of the head up. Pull it through and the yarn for hanging will come from the very center. (picture 1)

Make as many fringes as you want and hang them on the branch around the mandalas in a regular manner. (picture 2)