Who doesn’t love trees?! Besides being one of the most successful life forms on Earth, trees are the lungs of our planet. Majestic and sometimes dangerous they are also, but I think one of the main reasons we humans have such a symbolic attachment to the Tree as a concept is that we tend to project ourselves onto them.
With their roots-like-feet, their strong trunk torsos, and their reaching arms of branches, it’s easy to turn them into a metaphor against which we contrast our own sense of existence. They grow taller as they age, they occur in all environments, they group themselves together, and recent science has even discovered that they communicate with each other.
(There’s a great little article about tree communications here, referencing a book I’d quite like to read sometime – UPDATE: I have read it. It is amazing.)
For me, it has always seemed natural to speak with trees. And yeah… to hug them. 🙂 I’ve always felt that they had a Presence which ought to always be acknowledged and I’ve been drawn to tree and forest imagery my whole life. I was stoked when I found this adorable crocheted Tree of Life motif from 365 Crochet and instantly tried it out as a feature of one of my pixie belts. It’s quite an excellent little free pattern!
The Tree of Life concept occurs in several cultural stories. My familiarity with it came originally from Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Norse mythology that holds all the worlds from its roots to its branches. Since I’m so attached to this symbolism, I wanted to attempt my own crocheted version of the Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life mandala features an intricate central tree motif, worked in the round using a variety of crochet stitches. The intertwining branches are worked in layers, with double-treble stitches criss-crossing and forming the signature woven look of the Tree of Life symbolism. Though it looks complex, the central motif is easy when taken step by step, especially since the tutorial includes 50+ detailed tutorial photos with figure references to the written pattern!
Once I had honed my Tree pattern to satisfaction, I realized the mandala version would make a perfect dreamcatcher-style wall hanging and set about to providing this FREE tutorial for the project!
You can also buy the downloadable, printable, ad-free PDF file for this crochet pattern from my Etsy Shop , Ko-Fi Shop, or Ravelry Pattern Store.
I also hastened to create a video tutorial – you can find that for free here!
I’ve got a few more concepts cooked up for this pretty little piece in the future that I’m very excited about 😉 So be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on Facebook!
Tree of Life Mandala Wall Hanging
Materials:
4.50 mm hook
#4 worsted weight yarn in solid color – I used Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
#3 or #4 weight yarn in accent color – I used King Cole Riot DK for the rainbow Tree and Malabrigo Rios for the autumnal Tree.
1 14” bamboo or wood hoop (I used an embroidery hoop from the hobby store)
Scissors & Tapestry needle
Stitches and Techniques:
Magic Ring – A short tutorial can be found under this pattern on my blog.
Hdc – half double crochet
Ch – chain
Sl st – Slip Stitch
Sc – Single crochet
Dc – Double crochet
Tr – treble crochet (YO x 2, insert hook in next st and draw up a loop. YO and draw through 2 loops x 3)
Dtr – double treble crochet (YO x 3, insert hook in next st and draw up a loop. YO and draw through 2 loops x 4)
Gauge: Not critical. The trunk of the tree should be about 1.25 inches in width and the tree itself should be about 4.5 inches tall from root to top branch after Round 3.
Notes:
The outer yarn used to border the Tree of Life can be #3 or #4 weight. If using a thick and/or stiffer #4 weight, check to make sure your piece isn’t getting too big for the hoop. You may need to omit a round of solid Hdc – the mandala needs to stretch tightly over the hoop once finished.
Instructions
Make Magic Ring – fig. 1
Fig. 1
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), 12 hdc into the ring – fig.2. Join with a sl st in the first hdc of the round. Tighten the ring to close – fig.3
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Rnd 2: Sl st in the next st, 1 sc in the next st. (1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc) in the next st – fig. 4. 1 sc in the next st, sl st in ea of the next 2 sts – fig. 5. 1 sc in the next st, hdc in the next st. (1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc) in the next st. 1 hdc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st. Sl st in the next st. – fig. 6
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Rnd 3: LIMBS: Sl st in the next 3 sts. – fig 7. Ch 2, 1 dc in the same st – fig 8. Ch 2 – fig 9, 1 dc in the side of last dc. Ch 3 – fig 10. Slip stitch back down the side of the dc’s. (1st limb made) – fig 11. Sl st in the next st. *Ch 2 – fig 12, dc in the same st. (Ch 2, dc in the side of last dc) twice – fig 13. Ch 3. Slip stitch back down the sides of the dc’s, sl st in next st. – fig 14. (2nd limb made). Repeat from * for 3rd limb – fig. 15. Ch 2, 1 dc in the same st. Ch 2, 1 dc in the side of the last dc. Ch 3 – fig 16. Slip stitch back down the side of the dc’s (4th limb made) – fig 17. Sl st in the next 5 sts. – fig 18.
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Rnd 3 Ct’d: ROOTS: *Ch 2, dc in the same st. – fig 19, Ch 3 – fig 20, slip st down the side of the dc – fig 21. Sl st in the next st. Rpt from * 3 more times. – figs 22-24. Sl st in the next 3 sts.
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Rnd 4: Ch 5 – fig 25, sc in the ch-3 loop at the top of the 1st limb – fig 26. Ch 3 – fig 27, double treble (dtr) in the middle of the 2nd limb – fig 28–29. Ch 3 – fig 30, dtr in the middle of the 1st limb – fig 31. Ch 3, sc in the ch-3 loop at the top of the 2nd limb – fig 32. Ch 3, dtr in the middle of the 3rd limb – fig 33. Ch 3, dtr in the middle of the 2nd limb – figs 34-35. Ch 3, sc in the ch-3 loop at the top of the 3rd limb. Ch 3 – fig 36, dtr in the middle of the 4th limb – fig 40. Ch 3, dtr in the middle of the 3rd limb. Ch 3 – fig 41, sc in the ch-3 loop at the top of the 4th limb. Ch 5 – fig 42, sl st one st away from the base of the 4th limb. Sl st in the next 3 sts – fig 43.
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 27
Fig. 28 – YO 3 times to begin dtr
Fig. 29 – insert hook into the middle of 2nd limb, draw up a loop. (YO and draw through 2 loops) 4 times. Dtr made.
Fig. 30
Fig. 31
Fig. 32
Fig. 33
Fig. 34
Fig. 35
Fig. 36
Fig. 40
Fig. 41
Fig. 42
Fig. 43
Rnd 5: Sl st up the ch sts on the side of the 1st root. Sl st into the ch-3 loop at the top – fig 44. Ch 3, (counts as first hdc + ch-1), hdc in the same space – fig 45. (Ch 3, 1 hdc in the next ch-3 loop. Ch 1, 1 hdc in the same sp) 3 times. Ch 8 – fig 46-47. (1 dc in the next ch-3 space between branches – fig 48, ch 2, 1 dc in the same space) 9 times – fig 49. Ch 8. Sl st in the 2nd ch of beginning ch-3 to join – fig 50.
Fig. 44
Fig. 45
Fig. 46
Fig.47
Fig. 48
Fig. 49
Fig. 50
Rnd 6 (Change color): With new yarn, join in the 5th ch-2 space of previous round – positioning your hook in the middle of the branches. Ch 2 – fig 51 (does not count as first hdc). 2 hdc in the same space. (4 hdc in the next ch-2 space) 4 times – fig 52. 10 hdc in the next ch-8 space – fig 53. (1 hdc in the ch-1 space of the next root. 3 hdc in the next ch-3 space- fig 54.) 3 times. 1 hdc in the next ch-1 space. 10 hdc in the next ch-8 space – fig 55. (4 hdc in the next ch-2 space) 4 times. 3 hdc in the next space, join with a sl st to the first hdc of the rnd – fig 56. – 70 sts
Fig. 51
Fig. 52
Fig. 53
Fig. 54
Fig. 55
Fig. 56
Rnd 7: Ch 1 (does not count as first hdc), 1 hdc in the same st. 1 hdc in ea of the next 5 sts. 2 hdc in the next st – fig 57. (1 hdc in ea of the next 6 sts, 2 hdc in the next st) 9 times. Join with a sl st – fig 58.– 80 sts
Fig. 57
Fig. 58
Rnd 8: Ch 1 (does not count as first hdc), 1 hdc in the same st. 1 hdc in ea of the next 6 sts. 2 hdc in the next st. (1 hdc in ea of the next 7 sts, 2 hdc in the next st) 9 times. Join with a sl st. – fig 59 – 90 sts
Fig. 59
Rnd 9: Ch 1 (does not count), 1 hdc in the same st. 1 hdc in ea of the next 7 sts. 2 hdc in the next st. (1 hdc in ea of the next 8 sts, 2 hdc in the next st) 9 times. Join with a sl st. – fig 60 -– 100 sts
Fig. 60
Rnd 10: Ch 4 (counts as first dc + ch 1). Dc in the same st. (Sk next 2 sts, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in the next st) rpt around. Join with a sl st in the 3rd ch of beginning ch-4.
Rnd 11: Sl st to the next ch-2 space. Ch 5 (counts as first dc + ch 2). Dc in the same space. (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in the next space) around. Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. – fig 61.
Fig. 61
Cut yarn and tie off, leaving a long tail for attaching – fig 62. Weave in other ends.
Fig. 62
Attaching & Finishing
Using the long tail left from Round 11, thread yarn on a tapestry needle. Center your piece inside the hoop – fig 63.
Fig. 63
Stitch the piece onto the hoop, making your needle pass around the hoop and under the last row of the piece, between the dc’s (not the chain spaces). Work the piece all the way around, adjusting tension and tightening as needed to create an even appearance. The piece will be stretched! – fig 64 – 66
Fig. 64
Fig. 65
Fig. 66
To make sure my tension is even, I like to cut another long strand of thread and go back over the piece in the opposite direction – fig 67. This is optional.
Fig. 67
Border Round:
With new yarn, attach to a ch-2 space on Rnd 11. Working by inserting the hook
under both the chain-2 space and under the hoop, YO and draw up a loop. Work 1
hdc around the hoop and the chain space. The entire border round works around the
hoop – this can be a little tricky at first, but be patient! It gets easier. In
the same chain space, work 1 dc, 1 tr, ch 2, 1 tr, 1 dc, and 1 hdc – fig. 68.
Sc between the next pair of dc’s – fig 69. *(1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, ch 2, 1 tr,
1 dc, 1 hdc) in the next ch 2 space, 1 sc between the next 2 dc sts. Rpt from *
around. – figs 70-71
Fig. 68
Fig. 69
Fig. 70
Fig. 71
Join the final round with a slip stitch in the first hdc. Cut yarn and tie off, weave in all remaining ends. You could also add tassels, fringe, extra leaves (I have a good candidate, a free pattern for leaves), or charms to personalize your new Tree of Life wall hanging!
Thanks, trees. You guys are awesome.
– MF
Thank you so much for this free pattern! I absolutely adore trees and this would be perfect as a wall hanging in my home. I’m going to gather all the bits together and try and make one over the Yule holidays for when spring arrives, I’m a beginner crocheter so it will take a while lol. I would love it if you could do more Pagan style patterns like this, I don’t mind paying for them either as I appreciate the time and effort you put in to making them and writing the patterns too.
Blessings,
Sharon x
Thank you so much for the feedback Sharon! I am so glad you like it – I love everything earth-based spirituality inspired and it does influence a lot of my work – so I’m sure you’ll be seeing more in the future! 🙂
Wish there was video can’t follow pics or written
It’s so beautiful
Hi Shirley! There actually is a video, I just forgot to link it in this post. Oops! Fixing that now 🙂
You are not only crazy talented, but super generous! This will be my gift to myself after all my Christmas gifts to others are completed. Thank you so much!!!
Awww, thank you so much Shelly! I’m so glad you like it 🙂 🙂
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Such a beautiful piece! Thank you for sharing the inspiration and such a great tutorial for it 🙂
Aww thanks and you are so welcome! 🙂
Thanks so much for your awesome pattern….Used thread and made a pendant..soŕry i cant post a pic here
Sounds beautiful! I’m so glad you enjoyed 🙂 🙂
This Tree of Life pattern is GORGEOUS!! Thank you for sharing! I’ve been looking for one for quite a while…so excited to get started on this!!
Aww thanks so much! I’m so glad you like it! 🙂
I absolutely love this! I am currently reading a book called Tree Wisdom that you might enjoy. It has 12 mindfulnesd practices written into the book to do with trees and a whole bunch of extra info about trees. I am loving it so far. I cannot wait to make this mandala and to try the pixie belt! It is perfect for carrying crystals in or finding treasures in the woods. 💚💚💚
Thank you for the excellent book tip, that sounds amazing! I’ll have to keep an eye out for it <3 <3
Been looking for the perfect mandala and I came across one with the “Tree of Life” in the center. The Universe always provides… thank you. This will be my first mandala project.
That’s amazing! I’m so happy to provide – be sure to check out the video tutorial too 🙂 🙂
https://moralefiber.blog/2019/11/10/tree-of-life-video-tutorial/
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reginaalexisweiss you have solved my annual dilemma about what to make for a Christmas gift for the friend who has everything! However, I can’t get the figures to load–not sure if it’s on my end or yours, but would appreciate any ideas as to how to view them. Thanks.
Hi Susan! So sorry to hear you are having trouble viewing – I don’t see any problem on my end by looking at the page, but it my just have loading problems due to the amount of images and other things on the page. I do also have a video tutorial for this design, maybe that might be easier to access?
https://moralefiber.blog/2019/11/10/tree-of-life-video-tutorial/
Hope that helps! So glad you like the design 🙂
I know its been a few months, but I was having the same problem… I discovered this pattern through various boredom clicking that started on Facebook… The images didn’t want to load despite reboots and a restart, so I was happy to find this suggestion in the comments. I did go back and copy paste the web address into Firefox (had been using Edge) and things appeared – it’s all beautiful and I’m so glad I found you! Just fyi for future problems, perhaps trying a different browser will work for others.
Oh thank you so much for the input! <3 <3
Love this! Thanks so much for the free pattern and video tutorial. You’ve solved my annual Christmas dilemma of what to make for the friend who has everything.
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Thank you so much for this pattern! I’m so in love with it, I crocheted a vest using this tree at its center! I also used your mandala circular vest pattern for the arm holes. You’re quite the inspiration! Thanks again!
That’s amazing! I’m so glad you enjoyed both patterns and I love that you mixed and matched! What a great idea 😉 Thanks for your awesome comments and feedback 🙂 🙂 Much love!
I must be looking cross-eyed or something. No matter how I count, the stitches add up to 68 on the first round with HDCs where you tell us it’s 70.
Thanks for this beautiful tree of life 😀 I love it!
Hi Eadwine! The instructions for that round equal 70 stitches, which is the correct amount in order to continue with the pattern. I looked over the post and it does look like some of the pictures have fewer stitches – if I remember right, I took the tutorial photos and then had to adjust the pattern for stitch count to accommodate something later – and so the written pattern changed a little from the tutorial photos – but the instructions are not wrong to my knowledge 🙂
Oh I am sure it is ME who is missing something lol
This is my count from the pattern: 2+16+10+1+9+1+10+16+3
I just wonder.. where am I missing the 2 to make 70.. so weird. :/
Thank you so much for this quick reply 😀
No problem and no worries! Here’s the count for that round with the stitches noted in brackets:
Rnd 6 (Change color): With new yarn, join in the 5th ch-2 space of previous round – positioning your hook in the middle of the branches. Ch 2 – fig 51 (does not count as first hdc). 2 hdc in the same space. [2 sts] (4 hdc in the next ch-2 space) 4 times [4 sts x 4 rpts =16 sts + 2 = 18] – fig 52. 10 hdc in the next ch-8 space [10 sts + 18 = 28] – fig 53. (1 hdc in the ch-1 space of the next root. 3 hdc in the next ch-3 space- fig 54.) 3 [ 4 sts x 3 repeats = 12 sts. 12 + 28 = 40] times. 1 hdc in the next ch-1 space [1 + 40 = 41]. 10 hdc in the next ch-8 space [10 + 41 = 51] – fig 55. (4 hdc in the next ch-2 space) 4 times. [4 sts x 4 rpts = 16 + 51 = 67] 3 hdc in the next space [ 3 + 67 = 70], join with a sl st to the first hdc of the rnd – fig 56. – 70 sts
It looks from your calculation that you are missing part of the repeat for the stitches at the roots – the entire repeat includes 1 hdc in the middle of the roots, and 3 hdc in each ch space between roots. It looks from your formula that you are reading it 1 hdc, (3 hdc in the next ch-3 space) 3 times, and only doing 3 repeats of three hdc. It should be (1 hdc in the next space, 3 hdc in the next space) repeated within parentheses for a total of three times, then 1 more hdc to finish the roots. 🙂 I hope that makes sense now!
AHHHHHHHH!!! Yes, those two roots in the center!
Duh! Facepalm *laughs* Thank you very much 😀
Lol, anytime! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting! <3
Reginaalexsweis, I did the exact same thing you did. I even did the exact same math. I’m so glad I saw your comment. Thank you Eadwine, for the explanation, I too did a face palm.
Yay I’m so glad this helped! 😀
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Perfect for the wedding present fpr a friend I have been struggling to decide on! Thank You!
Oh hooray! You are so welcome! 🙂 🙂
I was looking for a Tree of Life to make a special project for myself at this time of year. Your Tree of Life Mandala was perfect. I adapted it with fingerling weight silk to make a “modern day” snood. Thank you so much for sharing this pattern for free.
Oh that sounds so lovely! I’m thrilled you liked it 🙂 🙂 Thanks for visiting and thanks for the feedback <3
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Absolutely love this pattern! I want to make the rainbow tree as a Christmas present for my SIL. May I ask which colourway of the King Cole Riot DK you used?
Yay I’m so glad you like it!! The colorway I used for the rainbow one is “Autumn” 🙂 🙂
It is absolutely gorgeous! Forgot to ask the lion brand 24/7 colour lol. I need to order yarn anyway so might as well get it right.
I had to look it up but I’m pretty sure it’s Cafe Au Lait! 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m allergic to wool but the colourway you used is just perfect and I know my SIL will love it. Worth the extra meds lol
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Beautiful work. Would love the pattern.
Thank you Wendy! The pattern is available for free on this post and also as PDF file in my pattern stores, linked in the Menu! 🙂 🙂
Your pattern was easy to follow. Thank you so much.
Oh thank you so much for the positive feedback! I’m so glad you enjoyed 🙂
I love this! It is so easy to follow and works up relatively quickly. I’m an intermediate crocheter….maybe closer to beginner. I was wondering if I would be able to purchase the option to make a few of these and sell them in my family tea shop. It isn’t a craft store but we have random cute things in it. Thank you!
Hi Madison! Thank you so much for the sweet feedback, I’m so glad you liked the pattern! You can definitely make these to sell in your shop, no extra purchasing necessary. I hope they do great for you! 🙂
You are so sweet thank you!!!
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Brilliant !
Thankyou for a free pattern for the Tree of Life.
I love trees too and may make them for my friends & family.
I can imagine a whole wall hanging of trees, a hare, rocks & a green man of the woods, or similar ! Only imagine, mind you 🤣🙋♀️💕
Namaste
Lindy
Oh thank you so much for the feedback, and I love your vision! Beautiful <3 <3 A crocheted green man would be absolutely AMAZING!!
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I think I might be able to use scrap yarn for this pattern carefully.
Sounds pretty 🙂
I love this pattern! I wish I knew how to post a photo to show you what I’ve done.
The first ones I made I had a wooden hoop that was too thick to do the edging, so I got some metal hoops that worked well.
I decided to do a four seasons set and found thinner wooden hoops and was able to do the edge. I used 12″ hoops, only 2 rounds of half double crochet and 3 rounds of v-stitch. I used variegated yarns and I think they look very nice.
Aww Judy that sounds amazing! I’m so glad you liked the pattern 🙂 unfortunately there’s no way to post pictures here but if you are on Instagram, you can tag @moralefiber and I’ll see it! 🙂 thank you so much for the kind feedback 🙂
The tree of life is a beautiful pattern. I did do it without the hoop and it still came out nice. I would like to make more of them, but with the hoop next time. Enjoyed making. I love trees.
Hello!! This is so beautiful!@
Thinking about swapping this mandala for the center mandala in the Lotus Duster!
Is the circumference similar between the two?
If not, any idea what row I’d need to start at in the duster pattern after finishing this mandala?
Thank you again for offering these beautiful patterns to us!!
It really is going to depend entirely on your gauge! 🙂 I have had several people ask about doing this and my answer is always – I don’t know because I haven’t tried 🙂 I always suggest just looking for a round with a similar number of stitches and/or repeats between the two patterns and try to cross them at that point 🙂
I love this pattern. The video really helped. Ive made three so far. Thank you for the pattern.
Love this pattern! Just devoted my day to working on this, since I happened to have a 14″ embroidery hoop laying around: It turned out beautifully! This is the third of your patterns I’ve used, so glad I found your page! Peace. 🙂
Aww thank you so much for the feedback! I am so thrilled you enjoyed it 🙂 🙂
It’s lovely! I’d like to make it the center of a vest or other top. How would I adapt or modify a pattern to use this motif instead? I’m picturing something in neutral earth tones that can be used year round.
Hi Marla! I actually have a pattern that centers this motif in the middle of a cute vest, it’s called the Embla Vest – here’s a post on that design!
https://moralefiber.blog/2019/11/22/embla-vest-pattern/
I was today years old when I realized I can use the inner and outer rings of an embroidery hoop to make TWO mandalas from one hoop. 😉
Lol! Never stop learning, do we 😀
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