Help! My mandala doesn't fit in the hoop

You've just finished your beautiful mandala and you're excited to attach it to the hoop... only to find out the mandala is too big for your hoop! Or maybe the mandala is too small. In either case, you'll want to know what you can do about it!

Important to know

First of all, read this blog to find out more about which hoop size is best for your crochet mandala. This will help you determine if the hoop size is correct.

It is now important to determine if your mandala is too large or too small for the hoop. Remember: the hoop should be approximately 20% larger than the crochet mandala. You can read more about this in this blog.

Some signs to recognize if your mandala is too big or too small:

• A mandala that is too large sticks out over the hoop. The hoop is smaller than the crochet mandala, so there is no tension. The mandala will hang loosely in the hoop.
• A mandala that is too small for the hoop doesn't reach the edges, even with significant stretching. Your mandala is much smaller than the hoop, leaving a lot of space around it. The hoop is more than 20% larger (e.g., 30% or more, see the rule of thumb mentioned above). You have to put in extreme effort to get it tied to the hoop, and the hoop might even warp. Note: it's okay to put some tension on the mandala to stretch it out. If this becomes extreme, the mandala is likely too small.

My mandala is too large

Option 1: You need a larger hoop. Look for a hoop that is at least 20% larger than your crochet mandala. Read more information about the suitable hoop size in this blog.

Option 2: Use the mandala as a tablecloth, blocking without a hoop. You can also block the mandala with pins and use it as a tablecloth. Read this blog about blocking mandalas.

Option 3: Let it drape over the hoop. You can potentially see if you can attach the mandala at other points, for example, 1 or 2 rounds back. You'll need to be creative and experiment to see what looks good. Sometimes this method can even give a unique effect to a mandala and looks quite cool!

But beware, this only works if your mandala is only a little bit too large. Is the difference very large? Then it's better not to use this method, as the edge of your mandala might fold over, and the whole thing won't look nice anymore.

Option 4: You need to re-crochet the mandala with a smaller crochet hook. But remember that this doesn't guarantee the hoop will fit. As mentioned before, it depends on the final size of your crochet mandala.

Option 5: You need to frog a few rounds. Of course, this is the least desirable option because you lose part of the design. Note that this is only suitable if your mandala is only a tiny bit too large – if you have to frog a lot, it's a real shame. Personally, I wouldn't use this option because you might lose the beautiful design you worked so hard on! It's worth investing in a proper hoop for your stunning crochet work. Plus, that other hoop that doesn't fit will surely come in handy for another project later!

My mandala is too small

First, check if your mandala really doesn't fit in the hoop. You can put quite some tension on your mandala. Sometimes it helps to dampen the mandala (read this blog for more information on blocking). This can sometimes provide more stretch to your crochet work.

Option 1: Add a few extra rounds. This method is most commonly used. You crochet a few rounds consisting only of chain spaces. You'll need to be a bit creative to see what fits best.

• Continue on the chain spaces of the last round. Crochet 1 sc in the chain space, ch x, 1 sc in the next chain space, ch x again, and so on. Usually, you use between 6-10 chains, 7 is most common, but you'll need to experiment with this. Some choose to add one extra chain per chain space each round, so you start with 6 chains per loop, the next round 7 chains per loop, and so on.
• Are there no chain spaces yet? Find a starting point and begin crocheting chain spaces from there. You skip a number of stitches each time (roughly equal to the number of chains you crochet). Be careful not to crochet too few chains: you don't want your mandala to pull inward due to lack of stitches. Again, between 6-10 chains per loop are most common.

Option 2: Buy a smaller hoop. Find the perfect size for your mandala by reading this blog. This way, you don't have to adjust anything on the mandala itself. And that's usually the best solution!

Regardless of which option you eventually choose: the most important thing is that you are happy with your mandala! It is your unique creation, and even if it's not perfect, you should be very proud of it!