Mandala Tam Free Pattern

 

The free pattern I’m offering today is a rework of a design I’ve been using for ages! I started making these netted caps way back when I had white girl dreads, to keep my hair out of my way while traveling. After I got rid of the ‘locks, I kept using this style of hat as a pretty way to keep damp hair out of the cold or just when I didn’t feel like messing with the tresses at all 😛

 

 

This pattern was formerly my Mini Mandala Slouchy Tam, which was initially a paid pattern. However, I felt it needed updated and decided to offer it in its newest version for free on my blog instead of as a PDF – but it still has all the same features, including THREE sizes (the largest size fits quite a large amount of hair), fun and easy written instructions, and a quick finishing time to get a really useful and pretty little accessory!

Materials:
5.00 mm hook, 6.50 mm hook
Yarn: Any #4 weight yarn, 1-2 skeins – yarn pictured is Red Heart Unforgettable Waves.
Main Gauge: 3 ½” in diameter at the end of Rnd 3
Post Stitch Gauge: 6 sts = 2” in FPDC/BPDC pattern Make sure to check your gauge and use hook size needed to obtain gauge listed.

Techniques:

Chain (ch)
Double Crochet (dc)
Single Crochet (sc)
Half Double crochet (hdc)
Post Stitches: See my tutorial here.
Chain and stitch join: A technique that uses a combination of chain stitches and regular crochet stitches to form the last loop of a mesh round – more detailed instructions are available in my tutorial here.

Notes: Photo tutorial is available for small size – many of the round techniques are the same throughout the sizes, so refer to size small for pictures 🙂

Mandala Tam – Small

Ch 5.
Rnd 1: (Dc, ch 1) 11 times into the 5th ch from the hook. Join with a sl stitch in to the 3rd ch of beginning ch4. – 12 dc, 12 ch-1 sps

Rnd 2: (Sc into the next ch-1 space, ch 4) 11 times. Sc into the next ch-1 space, ch 1. Dc into the first sc of the round. This creates a ch-4 sized loop with your hook positioned at the middle of the space. (For more instructions on how to do this type of join, check out my Chain and Stitch Join Tutorial) – 12 loops

Rnd 3: Sc in the same space, ch 4. (Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 4) 10 times. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 1. Dc in the first sc of the round. – 12 loops

Rnd 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in the same space, ch 4. (2 dc in the next ch-4 space, ch 4) 10 times. 2 dc in the next ch-4 space, ch 1, dc in the 3rd chain of beg ch-3. – 24 dc, 12 ch-4 sps

Rnd 5: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 5. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5) 5 times. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-5 loops

Rnd 6: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 5) 16 times. Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-5 loops
Rnd 7: Rpt Rnd 6.

Rnd 8: Rpt round 6.
Rnd 9: Sc in the same space, ch 4. (Sc in the next chain space, ch 4) 16 times. Sc in the next chain space, ch 1, dc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-4 loops

Rnd 10: Rpt Rnd 9
Rnd 11: Rpt Rnd 9
Rnd 12: Sc in the same space, ch 3. (Sc in the next chain space, ch 3) 16 times. Sc in the next chain space, ch 1, hdc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-3 loops
Rnd 13: Rpt round 12.
Rnd 14: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in the same sp. (Dc in the next sc, 3 dc in the next ch-3 space) 17 times. Dc in the next sc, 1 dc in the next chain space. Join with a sl stitch to the 3rd ch of beg ch-3. – 72 Dc

Rnd 15: Ch 2 (does not count as first dc), FPDC in the same stitch. 1 FPDC in ea of the next2 sts. (1 BPDC in ea of the next 3 sts, 1 FPDC in ea of the next 3 sts) 11 times. 1 BPDC in ea of the next 3 sts. Join with a sl st in the top of the first FPDC of the round.

Rnd 16: Rpt round 15.
Rnd 17: Slip stitch loosely in each stitch around. Cut yarn and tie off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Position the button over the join stitches where the beginning and end of the last round meets and sew on using the yarn tail. Weave in all ends.

Strap:
With a 6.50 mm hook

Row 1: Join new yarn into the side of the post stitches 15 stitches away. 2 dc in the side of the first stitch, 1 dc in the side of the next st, 1 dc in the side of the next st.
Rows 2-4: Ch 3, turn. Dc in the next 4 stitches.

Row 5: Ch 3, turn. Dc3tog over the next 3 sts. Dc in the last st.

Row 6: Turn without chaining, slip st in the next 2 sts. Cut yarn and tie off.

Weave in all ends. Use the spaces between the double crochet stitches to slip over your button and tighten the hat as necessary.

Mandala Tam – Medium (Slouchy)

Ch 5.
Rnd 1: (Dc, ch 1) 11 times into the 5th ch from the hook. Join with a sl stitch in to the 3rd ch of beginning ch4. – 12 dc, 12 ch-1 sps
Rnd 2: (Sc into the next ch-1 space, ch 4) 11 times. Sc into the next ch-1 space, ch 1. Dc into the first sc of the round. This creates a ch-4 sized loop with your hook positioned at the middle of the space. (For more instructions on how to do this type of join, check out my Chain and Stitch Join Tutorial) – 12 loops
Rnd 3: Sc in the same space, ch 4. (Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 4) 10 times. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 1. Dc in the first sc of the round. – 12 loops
Rnd 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in the same space, ch 4. (2 dc in the next ch-4 space, ch 4) 10 times. 2 dc in the next ch-4 space, ch 1, dc in the 3rd chain of beg ch-3. – 24 dc, 12 ch-4 sps
Rnd 5: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 5. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5) 5 times. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-5 loops
Rnd 6: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 5) 16 times. Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-5 loops
Rnd 7-9: Rpt Rnd 6.
Rnd 10: Sc in the same space, ch 4. (Sc in the next chain space, ch 4) 16 times. Sc in the next chain space, ch 1, dc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-4 loops
Rnd 11-13: Rpt Rnd 10
Rnd 14: Sc in the same space, ch 3. (Sc in the next chain space, ch 3) 16 times. Sc in the next chain space, ch 1, hdc in the first sc of the round. – 18 ch-3 loops
Rnd 15: Rpt round 14.
Rnd 16: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in the same sp. (Dc in the next sc, 3 dc in the next ch-3 space) 17 times. Dc in the next sc, 1 dc in the next chain space. Join with a sl stitch to the 3rd ch of beg ch-3. – 72 Dc
(See tutorial on post stitches located below the pattern for instructions on FPDC and BPDC)
Rnd 17: Ch 2 (does not count as first dc), FPDC in the same stitch. 1 FPDC in ea of the next 2 sts. (1 BPDC in ea of the next 3 sts, 1 FPDC in ea of the next 3 sts) 11 times. 1 BPDC in ea of the next 3 sts. Join with a sl st in the top of the first FPDC of the round.
Rnd 18: Rpt round 17.
Rnd 19: Slip stitch loosely in each stitch around. Cut yarn and tie off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Position the button over the join stitches where the beginning and end of the last round meets and sew on using the yarn tail. Weave in all ends.

Strap:
With a 6.50 mm hook

Row 1: Join new yarn into the side of the post stitches 15 stitches away. 2 dc in the side of the first stitch, 1 dc in the side of the next st, 1 dc in the side of the next st.
Rows 2-4: Ch 3, turn. Dc in the next 4 stitches.
Row 5: Ch 3, turn. Dc3tog over the next 3 sts. Dc in the last st.
Row 6: Turn without chaining, slip st in the next 2 sts. Cut yarn and tie off.

Weave in all ends.

 

Mandala Tam –  Large (Slouchiest)

As you can see, this tam fits A LOT of hair underneath! Great for the really dready folks out there 🙂

Ch 5.
Rnd 1: (Dc, ch 1) 11 times into the 5th ch from the hook. Join with a sl stitch in to the 3rd ch of beginning ch-4.
Rnd 2: (Sc into the next ch-1 space, ch 4) 11 times. Sc into the next ch-1 space, ch 2. Hdc into the first sc of the round. This creates a ch-4 sized loop with your hook positioned at the middle of the space.
Rnd 3: Sc in the same ch-4 space, ch 4. (Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 4) 10 times. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 2. Hdc in the first sc of the round.
Rnd 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in the same space, ch 4. (2 dc in the next ch-4 space, ch 4) 10 times. 2 dc in the next ch-4 space, ch 1, dc in the 3rd chain of beg ch-3.
Rnd 5: Repeat round 4.
Rnd 6: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 5. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5) 5 times. Sc in the next ch-4 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round.
Rnd 7: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 5) 16 times. Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round.
Rnd 8: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 5. Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 5) 8 times. Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in the same space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round.
Rnd 9: Sc in the same space, ch 5. (Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 5) 26 times. Sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 2. Dc in the first sc of the round.
Rnds 10-13: Rpt round 9.
Rnd 14: Sc in the same space, ch 4. (Sc in the next chain space, ch 4) 26 times. Sc in the next chain space, ch 1, dc in the first sc of the round.
Rnd 15-18: Rpt round 14.
Rnd 19: Sc in the same space, ch 3. (Sc in the next chain space, ch 3) 26 times. Sc in the next chain space, ch 1, hdc in the first sc of the round.
Rnds 20 – 23: Rpt round 19.
Rnd 24: Ch 3. (Dc in the next sc, 2 dc in the next ch-3 space) 27 times. Dc in the next sc, 1 dc in the next chain space. Join with a sl stitch to the 3rd ch of beg ch-3.
Rnd 25: Ch 3, FPDC in the same stitch. 1 FPDC in ea of the next 2 sts. (1 BPDC in ea of the next 3 sts, 1 FPDC in ea of the next 3 sts) 13 times. 1 FPDC in ea of the next 3 sts. Join with a sl st in the top of the first FPDC of the round.
Rnd 26: Rpt round 25.
Rnd 27: Slip stitch in each stitch around. Cut yarn and tie off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Strap:
With a 6.50 mm hook

Row 1: Join new yarn into the side of the post stitches 15 stitches away. 2 dc in the side of the first stitch, 1 dc in the side of the next st, 1 dc in the side of the next st.
Rows 2-4: Ch 3, turn. Dc in the next 4 stitches.
Row 5: Ch 3, turn. Dc3tog over the next 3 sts. Dc in the last st.
Row 6: Turn without chaining, slip st in the next 2 sts. Cut yarn and tie off.

Weave in all ends.

I hope you find this hat as useful and cute as I do! As you can see, I like to go back and give old designs a fresh coat of paint when I think they need it – its one of the ways I really enjoy my work, because I get to revisit things I love and reinvent them continually.

-MF