Yarn Mandalas For Beginners & Beyond

This book is a compilation of unique mandalas, based on a collection of designs by Asheville Mandala Weavers and offering inspiration for mandala makers of all abilities. I have always been inspired to create – several years ago I trained under a master in the field of mandala making. My teacher, now retired, was Jay Mohler and this book would not exist without his dedication and hard work in teaching me and my colleagues over the years. This unique art form has inspired many across the globe to connect with their longings and create something that they can look at that represents something bigger in their life. Mandalas are story tellers. They paint a picture with weaving that inspires us to have strength, courage, hope and joy in life. Jay…

One of the great things about mandala making is that the equipment you will need is easy to source and relatively inexpensive. You will probably find that you have most of the tools already in your household toolkit. Read the notes in this section and refer to the photograph below to make sure you have everything you need to hand before you begin. Using these tools to prepare a bunch of dowels ahead of time is my favorite way to roll with inspiration – it makes sitting down and immediately exploring my ideas easy. So assemble your tools and get some dowels ready to roll (see Getting Started: Preparing the Dowels) so you can instantly respond to those sweet inspiring moments.…

HACKSAW For a beginner the hacksaw is a perfect hand-held saw that allows control and precision when cutting a dowel down to size. When cutting, the hacksaw should be held in your dominant hand, with the other hand firmly holding the stick. I usually hold one end on a hard surface with the end I am cutting poking off the edge. Then I make a cut close to the hard surface, but not so close as to damage it, to saw the dowel in two. TOOLS FOR MEASURING AND MARKING I use either a tape measure or a flat ruler for measuring dowels and spacing the markings on them (see Preparing the Dowels). On the whole I prefer to use a ruler, and stick with that to ensure consistency. Don’t…

I recommend worsted weight (aran) yarn, either 100% wool or acrylic. I don't recommend cotton yarn as it will stretch over time. It is not necessary to stick with using one type of yarn – they can be mixed as you choose. Novelty yarns such as glitter tinsel or ones with beads can be useful in small quantities to accent the design of the mandala. I buy my yarn from a variety of places, from natural wool suppliers to my local yarn or craft shops and online stores. Some of the big craft stores carry suitable weight yarn that can be used for your mandala in a wide range of synthetic and wool varieties. Several brands of acrylic yarn come in many brilliant colors and are relatively inexpensive, which can…

Bear in mind that as the size of mandala you are making increases, so the dowel diameter must increase too. This is to avoid breakages as much as possible, although despite our best efforts sometimes our dowels do break – it happens to me, even as a skilled weaver! If this happens regularly when you are weaving, think about using a size bigger. Another way to avoid breakages is to be mindful of tension (see A Note about Tension) and don’t notch your dowels too deeply. Tension has a way of building up so that suddenly you’ll find your dowels are warped, and the slightest movement may break them. This takes practice to notice, but with time you will learn to catch this quickly and become a master of tension.…

Making mandalas is all about balance and centering, mentally and physically. It's important to stay focused on all the elements of the mandala – the colors, the evenness, the spacing, etc. – throughout the entire creative process to ensure you produce a professional-looking mandala. Don’t be afraid to unwind and start over. It may take a few tries to get the tension just right, or maybe the color you added changed the overall feel of the mandala in a way that was not to your liking. Making art is a process: unwind and start over again until it’s just right for you! Now set an intention to start the mandala. Intentions are specific desires and longings – look into yourself for what you want to create more of in your…