Burgundy and Gold Mandala Sousplat
Advanced
For experienced crocheters who enjoy complex shaping, fine detail, and ambitious construction
Single-Day Project
A satisfying project you can complete in a single afternoon or evening.
Handmade Gift
A beautiful keepsake — free forever. Read online or print at home.
About This Burgundy and Gold Mandala Sousplat
A sousplat is the first thing a guest sees under their plate, and this Burgundy and Gold Mandala Sousplat makes sure that first look is a good one. It is worked entirely in the round, from a cream centre flower out through alternating rings of raised burgundy and gold shell fans, finishing in a pointed gold scalloped edge that frames the whole thing like a medallion. Rich, formal, and surprisingly rhythmic to work once you find the beat of the shells.
Why you will love making this piece
This piece is advanced because of its round-shaping discipline, not because of fancy stitches. Every round is a conversation with the one before it: too many shells and the mandala ruffles, too few and it cups. Learning to read your own fabric as it grows is the real skill here, and it is one that carries into every circular project you ever make. It is also deeply satisfying – each ring changes colour, so you always have a reason to pick it up for ‘just one more round’.
Choosing your colours and yarn
A smooth mercerised DK cotton is ideal. Cotton holds the shell definition crisply and blocks into a flat, plate-friendly disc that will not curl under a dinner setting. The burgundy-cream-gold palette shown reads as ‘heirloom’ without feeling old-fashioned, and it photographs beautifully under warm light. If you want more drama, deepen the burgundy almost to black-cherry; for something softer, swap the gold for a warm honey.
Reading the mandala as you go
Work with a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round and count your shells at the end of each – this one habit prevents almost every problem a round mandala can have. The increases are front-loaded: the first six or seven rounds build quickly, then the shell rings mostly maintain while the colour does the visual work. If a round starts to wave, you have added one shell too many; if it starts to dome, you are one short.
Blocking is not optional
Because the whole design lives or dies by lying flat, wet-block it firmly when you finish. Pin the pointed gold edge out into even scallops and let it dry completely. A well-blocked sousplat looks professionally made; an unblocked one looks like a work in progress, even when the crochet itself is perfect.
Making a set
Most people want four or six matching sousplats, so treat the first one as your practice piece and keep notes on exactly where you changed colour. After that, the rest fly off the hook because your hands already know the rhythm. Making a set is where this pattern pays you back – one evening each, and you have a table that looks like it came from a boutique.
A few ways to make it your own
The exact same stitch map works in forest green and cream, dusty rose and pewter, or all-over ivory for a wedding table. For a Christmas version, run the shell rings in red and deep green with a gold edge. Make a smaller version by stopping two rings early for a coaster, or keep going for a true centrepiece doily.
Starting rounds — magic ring and first increases
Why You'll Love This Pattern 💛
This piece is advanced because of its round-shaping discipline, not because of fancy stitches. Every round is a conversation with the one before it: too many shells and the mandala ruffles, too few and it cups. Learning to read your own fabric as it grows is the real skill here, and it is one that carries into every circular project you ever make. It is also deeply satisfying - each ring changes colour, so you always have a reason to pick it up for 'just one more round'.
Shaping with increases — building the body
Switch Things Up 🎨
The exact same stitch map works in forest green and cream, dusty rose and pewter, or all-over ivory for a wedding table. For a Christmas version, run the shell rings in red and deep green with a gold edge. Make a smaller version by stopping two rings early for a coaster, or keep going for a true centrepiece doily.
Colour variations — personalise your make
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them 🔧
You are a shell short on one or more rings - add a shell or loosen your tension, then block firmly.
Too many shells on the last rings; rip back one ring and rework with fewer, more evenly spaced shells.
Join each new colour in a chain space and weave ends as you go rather than at the end, so the back stays tidy.
Count the dc in each fan carefully and block the points out on pins to even them.
Assembly stage — pinning pieces before sewing
Materials Needed for Burgundy and Gold Mandala Sousplat
🧶YARN
🪝TOOLS & NOTIONS
— Gauge:
first 6 rnds = ~11 cm
— Finished Size:
~38 cm (15 in) across
— Yarn Weight:
DK Cotton
— Hook:
3.5mm
— Terms:
US Crochet Terminology
— Cost:
FREE ✓
Crochet Abbreviations
Burgundy and Gold Mandala Sousplat — Full Pattern
🧶CENTRE FLOWER (cream)
🧶SHELL RINGS (alternate burgundy / gold)
🧶POINTED GOLD EDGE (gold)
Assembly & Finishing Tips
💡 Weaving in ends
Use a tapestry needle to weave each tail back and forth through at least 5–6 stitches in different directions. A tiny dot of washable glue on the final stitch before trimming adds extra security for toys used by children.
💡 Sewing pieces together
Pin each piece firmly to the body before sewing. Use mattress stitch for the most invisible join — insert the needle under the same yarn bar on alternating pieces and pull firmly. Knot securely at start and end, weave both tails deep into the body.
💡 Positioning safety eyes
Take time here — eye spacing determines the character's entire personality. Closer eyes look more intense; further apart looks more friendly and playful. Pin both positions and step back before snapping the backs on permanently. Once snapped, eyes cannot be moved without damaging the fabric.
💡 Blocking
Not required for amigurumi, but lightly steam-blocking any warped pieces will relax the fibres. Hold a steam iron a few centimetres away — never let it touch the stuffing or safety eyes directly.
💡 Care instructions
Handwash in cool water with mild detergent, press gently to remove excess water, lay flat to dry. Many acrylic yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle in a laundry bag — always check your yarn label.
⚠️ Important Notes
- Use stitch markers at the start of every round — don't rely on memory to count.
- Work with consistent tension throughout. Gauge swatch before starting if in doubt.
- Fasten off leaving long tails for sewing — at least 30cm for each piece you'll need to attach.
- Pin and check positioning of all pieces before sewing any of them permanently.
Beginner's Guide to Amigurumi 🌱
Amigurumi (Japanese: ami = knitted/crocheted + nuigurumi = stuffed toy) is the craft of making small crocheted characters. You start with a magic ring, work in continuous spiral rounds of single crochet, and shape the piece through increases and decreases — no seams, no joins, no turning.
The magic ring creates a closable centre with no hole. Wrap yarn around two fingers, insert the hook, yarn over and pull through. Work your first round into this ring, then pull the tail to close tight. Practise a few times — it becomes effortless quickly.
The invisible decrease — insert your hook through the front loop only of the first stitch, then the front loop only of the second stitch. Yarn over, pull through both loops, then yarn over again and pull through the remaining two. Working through front loops only makes the decrease blend into the fabric instead of leaving a bump.
Tension matters most. Amigurumi needs tight, firm tension so stuffing can't show through. If you can see white fiberfill peeking between your stitches, go down one hook size. The fabric should feel dense and firm — like a tightly woven canvas, not a loose net.
The finished Burgundy and Gold Mandala Sousplat — ready to gift or display
You Ask, We Answer ❓
The stitches are all basic - dc, sc and shells - so the challenge is round-shaping and counting, not difficult techniques. If you can keep a flat circle flat, you can make this.
You have added one or more extra shells somewhere. Count your shells at the end of each ring and compare to the round below; a shell ring should usually match or add only slightly.
Yes - just keep repeating the shell/build pair in your colour sequence until it reaches the size you want, then work the pointed edge.
Yes - you are welcome to sell finished handmade pieces you crochet from this pattern. Please credit Cozy Amigurumi as the pattern designer; you may not resell or redistribute the pattern itself.
