You know that moment when you want a bag that looks fancy enough for dinner but still feels like something you actually made yourself? This cream and gold mandala evening tote is exactly that. The raised flower center catches the light, the wooden rings give it a clean finish, and the whole thing works up into a structured little beauty you can carry with pride. Ready to hook one up?
Why This Mandala Tote Steals the Show
This bag starts with two matching circular panels. You crochet each one flat from the center out, building layers of lace, bobbles, and post stitches until the mandala looks almost like a doily that grew up and decided to become a bag.
The gold yarn only shows up in a few strategic rounds. That keeps the cream looking soft while the metallic touch adds just enough shimmer for evening wear. Wooden ring handles finish the look with a boho-elegant vibe that never feels overdone.
People will stop you and ask where you bought it. Just smile and say you made it. That never gets old.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Skill level: Advanced intermediate. If you have made a doily, a lace project, or anything with post stitches and bobbles, you can handle this. Take it one round at a time and you will be fine.
Time estimate: Plan on 20 to 28 hours total. Each panel takes about 8–10 hours. Assembly and finishing add another 4–8 hours. This is not a weekend whip-up, but every hour pays off when you carry the finished bag.
Finished size:
- Width: 14 inches / 35.5 cm at the widest point
- Height (body only): 13 inches / 33 cm
- Depth: about 2.5 inches / 6.5 cm when filled
- Handle rings: 4 inches / 10 cm diameter
Materials List
Yarn A (Main Color – Cream):
About 650 yards / 595 meters of DK weight 100% cotton or cotton-blend in natural cream or off-white.
Yarn B (Accent – Gold):
About 80 yards / 73 meters of DK or light worsted metallic or cotton-blend in champagne, wheat, or soft gold.
Yarn ideas that work well:
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Ecru + Wheat
- Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Paper White + a metallic strand in ivory-gold
- Any clean DK cotton with good stitch definition
Skip stretchy or fuzzy yarns. Lace needs crisp definition to look its best.
Hooks:
- US E-4 / 3.5 mm for the mandala panels
- US F-5 / 3.75 mm for seams and top edge
Other supplies:
- 2 circular wooden ring handles, 4 inches / 10 cm outer diameter
- At least 6 stitch markers
- Yarn needle
- Sharp scissors
- Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
- Optional: ½ yard cotton lining fabric
Gauge and Why It Matters
With Yarn A and the 3.5 mm hook in double crochet:
16 dc × 9 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm square, blocked.
After Round 6 your piece should measure about 4.5 inches / 11.5 cm across.
Gauge matters because the two panels must match. Block a small swatch before you dive into the real thing.
Abbreviations and Special Stitches
Basic abbreviations:
beg = beginning, ch = chain, ch-sp = chain space, dc = double crochet, hdc = half double crochet, MC/MR = magic ring, pm = place marker, rem = remaining, rep = repeat, rnd = round, RS = right side, sc = single crochet, sk = skip, sl st = slip stitch, sp = space, st(s) = stitch(es), tr = treble crochet, WS = wrong side, YO = yarn over
Special stitches you will use:
5-DC Bobble (BOB)
- YO, insert hook into indicated stitch or space.
- YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops. (One incomplete dc)
- Repeat steps 1–2 four more times in the same place. You now have 6 loops on the hook.
- YO, pull through all 6 loops.
- Ch 1 to close.
The bobble pops to the right side. The closing ch-1 counts as the top of the bobble.
Picot-3
Ch 3, sl st into the first chain made.
Shell (SHELL)
[2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in the same stitch or space.
Large Shell (LSHELL)
[3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in the same stitch or space.
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc)
YO, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated stitch, YO, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] twice.
Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc)
Same as FPdc but insert the hook from back to front to back.
Front Post Treble Crochet (FPtr)
YO twice, insert hook from front to back to front around the post, YO, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] three times.
Pattern Notes That Save Headaches
- Make two identical mandala panels.
- Gold yarn (Yarn B) appears only in Rounds 4, 5, and 8. Everything else is Yarn A.
- Keep the right side facing you. Do not turn unless the pattern says so. Join each round with a slip stitch.
- The beginning ch-3 counts as the first dc unless noted otherwise.
- Join the two finished panels with a single-crochet seam along the bottom curve and both sides. Leave the top open for the handles.
- Block each panel before you sew anything. Cotton lace curls until you block it. That is normal.
- Stitch counts at the end of each round count the working stitches only, not the chains inside chain spaces.
Step-by-Step Mandala Panel (Make 2)
Work Rounds 1–18 in Yarn A unless the pattern tells you to switch.
Round 1
Magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as first dc). 11 dc into the ring. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. Pull ring closed. (12 dc)
Round 2
Ch 3, dc in same stitch as join. 2 dc in each remaining stitch around. Join. (24 dc)
Round 3
Ch 3, FPdc around the post of the same stitch as join. Dc in next st, FPdc around the post of the next st. Repeat from * to * around. Join. (24 sts: 12 dc, 12 FPdc)
Round 4 (Switch to Yarn B)
Fasten off Yarn A. Join Yarn B with sl st in any dc (non-FPdc) from Round 3.
Ch 1 (does not count as st). Sc in same st. Ch 3, sk the FPdc, sc in next dc. Repeat around, ending with ch 3, sk last FPdc. Join to first sc. Fasten off Yarn B. (12 sc, 12 ch-3 spaces)
Round 5 (Continue with Yarn B)
Join Yarn B with sl st in any ch-3 space.
Sl st into ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp (first LSHELL). LSHELL in next ch-3 sp. Repeat around. Join. Fasten off Yarn B. (12 large shells)
Round 6 (Yarn A)
Join Yarn A with sl st in any ch-2 space of a LSHELL.
Ch 1. Sc in ch-2 sp. Ch 5, sc in next ch-2 sp. Repeat around, ending with ch 5. Join. (12 sc, 12 ch-5 spaces)
Round 7 (Yarn A)
Sl st into the ch-5 space. Ch 3, 6 dc in same space. 7 dc in next ch-5 space. Repeat around. Join. (84 dc)
Round 8 (Switch to Yarn B)
Join Yarn B with sl st in the 4th dc of any 7-dc group (the center dc).
Ch 1. BOB in same st. Ch 5, sk 3 dc, sc in next dc (last dc of group), ch 5, sk 3 dc of next group, BOB in 4th dc of next group. Repeat around, ending last repeat with ch 5, sk 3 dc of last group, sc in last dc of last group, ch 5, sk 3 dc. Join to top of first BOB. Fasten off Yarn B. (12 BOBs, 12 sc, 24 ch-5 spaces)
Round 9 (Yarn A)
Join Yarn A with sl st in any ch-5 space before a sc.
Ch 1. Sc in same ch-5 sp. Ch 3. Sc in the sc. Ch 3. Sc in next ch-5 sp. Ch 5. Sc in next ch-5 sp. Ch 3. Sc in the sc. Ch 3. Sc in next ch-5 sp. Ch 5. Repeat around. Join. (36 sc, 24 ch-3 spaces, 12 ch-5 spaces)
Round 10 (Yarn A)
Sl st across into the first ch-3 sp. Ch 1. Sc in ch-3 sp. Ch 3. Sc in next ch-3 sp. Ch 7. Sc in next ch-3 sp. Ch 3. Sc in next ch-3 sp. Repeat around, ending with ch 7. Join. (24 sc, 12 ch-3 spaces, 12 ch-7 spaces)
Round 11 (Yarn A)
Sl st into the ch-3 sp. Ch 1. Sc in ch-3 sp. Ch 4. [3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in ch-7 sp (ARCH SHELL). Ch 4. Sc in next ch-3 sp. Repeat around. Join. (12 sc, 12 ARCH SHELLS, 24 ch-4 spaces)
Round 12 (Yarn A)
Sl st across to the ch-3 space at center of first ARCH SHELL. Ch 1. Sc in ch-3 sp. Ch 5. Sc in sc between two ARCH SHELLS. Ch 5. Sc in ch-3 sp of next ARCH SHELL. Repeat around, ending with ch 5. Join. (24 sc, 24 ch-5 spaces)
Round 13 (Yarn A)
Sl st into ch-5 sp. Ch 3, 4 dc in same sp. 5 dc in next ch-5 sp. Repeat around. Join. (120 dc)
Round 14 (Yarn A)
Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). Sk 2 dc. Dc in next dc. Ch 2. Sk 2 dc. Repeat around. Join to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5. (40 dc, 40 ch-2 spaces)
Round 15 (Yarn A)
Sl st into ch-2 sp. Ch 1. Sc in ch-2 sp. Ch 4. Sc in next ch-2 sp. Repeat around, ending with ch 4. Join. (40 sc, 40 ch-4 spaces)
Round 16 (Yarn A)
Sl st into ch-4 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp. 3 dc in next ch-4 sp. Repeat around. Join. (120 dc)
Round 17 (Yarn A)
Ch 3. Dc in each of next 2 dc. Ch 2. Dc in each of next 3 dc. Ch 2. Repeat around. Join. (120 dc in groups of 3, 40 ch-2 spaces)
Round 18 (Yarn A) – Final Round
Sl st into ch-2 sp. Ch 1. [Sc, ch 3, sc] in same ch-2 sp (picot cluster). [Sc, ch 3, sc] in next ch-2 sp. Repeat around. Join. Fasten off. Weave in ends. (80 sc, 40 ch-3 picot loops)
Checkpoint: Before blocking, the mandala should measure about 13–13.5 inches / 33–34 cm across. After blocking it should reach 14 inches / 35.5 cm.
Make the second identical panel.
Blocking – Do Not Skip This
Soak each panel in cool water for 15–20 minutes. Gently squeeze out the water (never wring). Lay flat on blocking mats and pin the outer edge into a perfect circle, especially around the picot border. Let them dry completely before you unpin.
Blocking turns a slightly curly circle into the crisp, professional panel you want.
Putting the Bag Together
Lay both blocked panels with wrong sides facing out and right sides facing in. Align the motifs so they mirror each other.
Using Yarn A and the 3.75 mm hook, join with a slip stitch at the lower side seam point (roughly the 3 o’clock position). Work single crochet evenly through both layers around the bottom curve, covering about the lower 200 degrees of the circle. Aim for 56–60 sc total. Fasten off.
Turn the bag right side out through the top opening. The unsewn top edges will curve upward for the handles.
Optional side gussets (recommended):
Join Yarn A at the left side top edge. Work 20 sc evenly down the side. Then decrease:
Row 1: 20 sc
Row 2: 20 sc
Row 3: sc2tog, sc across to last 2, sc2tog (18 sc)
Row 4: 18 sc
Row 5: sc2tog, sc across to last 2, sc2tog (16 sc)
Row 6: 16 sc. Fasten off.
Repeat on the other side.
Handle attachment:
Fold the top arc of the front panel over the lower edge of a wooden ring, bringing about ¾ inch of fabric behind the ring. Single crochet through both layers, gathering evenly (about 30–34 sc). Repeat for the back panel and second ring.
Hold the bag by the handles. The mandala should sit centered on each face. If the fabric gathers unevenly, undo and redistribute the stitches.
Finishing Touches and Care
Weave in every end securely—at least 2 inches in two directions. Lightly spritz the finished bag and shape it over a bowl or balloon if needed.
Optional lining: Cut two fabric pieces the shape of the mandala plus ½-inch seam allowance. Stitch bottom and sides, leave the top open, insert, fold under, and hand-stitch below the handle area. Pale gold satin or plain muslin looks lovely.
Care: Gentle machine wash in a mesh bag or hand wash in cool water. Never wring. Reshape and dry flat or over a rounded form. No tumble drying. Stuff with tissue when storing so it keeps its shape.
Make It Yours
Want a smaller bag? Stop at Round 15, use a 3.25 mm hook, and switch to 3-inch rings.
Bigger version? Add two extra lace rounds after Round 18, go up to a 4 mm hook, and use worsted cotton.
More gold? Drop Yarn B into Rounds 6, 9, or 12. Prefer subtle? Use it only in Round 5.
This pattern is flexible once you understand the construction.
Related Articles:
- Spring Garden Granny Square Tote Free Crochet Pattern
- Ocean Blue Floral Granny Pouch Free Crochet Pattern
- Autumn Harvest Granny Square Handbag Free Crochet Pattern
You Finished It!
Every bobble, every picot, and every post stitch adds up to a bag that feels special the moment you pick it up. Carry it out for the first time and watch the compliments roll in. You earned them.
Happy hooking from all of us at Sumara Patterns. Tag us when you finish yours—we love seeing your versions!
