Good afternoon!  I am very excited to share Esther Dijkstra’s new book, Mix and Match Mandalas, with you.

Most of you will know Esther from her very detailed video tutorials on It’s All in a Nutshell.  In this capacity, she is linked to, and has provided videos for, a staggering number of very popular crochet-alongs and patterns, and we have worked together on quite a few of my patterns over the last decade.

She is also an accomplished designer, with the gorgeous Nuts About Squares CAL, Trinity Mandalas, and the stunning Enigma Blanket being some of her most popular designs.

Mix and Match Madalas is Esther’s first book.  It is worth mentioning that she self-published, overseeing every aspect of the publication.  When I went to the Netherlands in March to celebrate the launch of my Charlotte’s Universe book, we had the opportunity to catch up and talk about the self-publishing journey.  It sounded so daunting to me, and I was amazed at all the things she had learnt along the way… and impressed by her determination and drive.

The result is a beautiful, clean book, with a spacious layout, gorgeous photos, and easy-to-follow instructions.  There are more cool features, but before I get into those, let me tell you what this book actually IS.

It may not be obvious, but I LOVE a bit of mixing and matching.  It makes so much sense to me to design your patterns so that they intersect at some point as far as size and stitch count goes.  That way, people can use the patterns interchangeably.  You may have noticed this with Sophie’s Universe and Charlotte’s Universe, where the central squares (the ‘gardens’) are interchangeable. 

Esther clearly feels the same way, turning this philosophy into a modular, crochet-your-own adventure – where every section is an invitation to pause, play, and explore your own rhythm and colour story.

Mix and Match Mandalas contains the following patterns:

3 small mandalas

3 medium mandala extensions

3 large mandala extensions

Thanks to the modular structure (3 Small, 3 Medium, 3 Large), you can create 27 different Large mandalas and 39 unique combinations across all sizes.  That is before you even START thinking about yarn and colour combinations.  The joy lies in how endlessly adaptable the format is, encouraging you to linger with each round and savour the creative journey.

Here is the version I made, using Small Mandala I, Medium Mandala III, and Large Mandala III.  The colours were inspired by a beautiful bouquet I got for my birthday.

And if you want to think outside the box, it also offers you the opportunity to use these iterations to grow other mandala patterns (as long as they have the same stitch count), creating a crochet-your-own adventure that extends far beyond the pages of this beautiful book.  I hope Esther will, at some point, share Extra Large options too… hint… hint… Or squaring!!!! Oooooh…..

One of my favourite things about this book is how gently it invites you to slow down.  There is no rush – just round after round of calm, colourful exploration.  Whether you follow one of Esther’s suggested combinations or invent your own, the experience feels grounded, meditative, and deeply personal.

The book is available in English (US) and Dutch, both as a paperback and an eBook.

You can find more information on Esther’s website HERE, including links to buy the book, kits to make the mandalas (with mandala rings included), and information about an upcoming Make-along featuring these patterns.

You can also hop straight to the pattern HERE on Ravelry.

And the VERY best bit?  The book contains a QR code that will take you to the video tutorials (right and left-handed).  It’s also worth mentioning that the book includes beautiful, clear charts by the talented Masako Kawahara.

Giveaway

Esther has kindly gifted me two English copies of her book to give away – both signed and packaged by Esther. 

I will be choosing one winner from Instagram and one winner from this blog (for those of you who aren’t on social media).  If you would like the chance to win one of these copies, please either comment on Esther’s Instagram post HERE, or leave a comment on this post, telling me which of Esther’s Designs is your favourite.  You may want to have a look at her Ravelry listings HERE.

The giveaway will be open worldwide until the 6^th of July.  I will choose the winners (in some fun random way) on the 7^th of July.

This giveaway has now closed.  Thank you to everyone who participated and showed Esther such great support!

You can find Esther HERE:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Youtube

And before I go, just one more photo of the Mandala I made, using Scheepjes Cotton 8 and a 3.25mm hook.  I loved making it SO much!

This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use.  All opinions are my own.