This turned out rather like “couching” embroidery, with the overlay giving a double thickness to the work. This works for Tatsiana’s original function for this as a placemat. I have chosen to use my version as a wall hanging and mounted it on felt-covered coreboard.

It is a different overlay stitch approach to the Carocreated design overlay mandalas technique - http://www.ravelry.com/designers/carocreated-design or the Sophie’s Universe squared mandala method - http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/free-c...

I’m not happy with the color balance in my final result here. I tried to find colors to match the Gazzal Jazz viscose yarn Tatsiana used in her original, but didn’t quite get it right. There is no outlet here downunder in Oz for the Gazzal yarns and although they were very obliging and would send me what I needed, it only came in packets, making the overall cost beyond me. But I will purchase some in future, I’ve never used viscose and the colors look beautifully intense.

I took a pic of my work table showing my recently acquired tool, a tiny tabletop TV that shows a variety of media from a USB stick. Better than a tablet in many ways. I took the pattern for this Mandala project into Photoshop and made .jpg of the pattern pages and put them in a folder on the USB as a slideshow. When I’m settled & working I have a big image of the pattern page on Pause to work from. Or I can look in other folders at references of the works of other hookers, stitch guides or whatever. It’s the best thing I’ve done for myself lately and might inspire others. Makes life so much easier.