I spend a lot of time trawling the internet for yarn, patterns, ideas and to learn new things. In my travels, I came across a wonderful method of Tapestry Crochet, which is from Central America and, mainly Honduras, Columbia and Guatemala, called Mochila. Mochila actually means 'backpack' but has become the term for this form of Tapestry Crochet. It's one of those things you find and it makes your mouth water with excitement, mainly because it's so, so beautiful.
Here are some examples of the Wayuu Mochila. The Wayuu are a tribe which are famous for their Mochila bags. Feast your eyes on these:
To explain more fully: Tapestry Crochet is where you use at least two colours of yarn to make a bag or purse and you carry the extra colour with you as you crochet, which accomplishes two things.
1. It means you can create beautiful images in the item you're crocheting.
2. It makes the item more sturdy as it's thicker.
It's very versatile and allows you to use crochet in a more flexible way to create imagery on anything you're making.
Here's my attempt at the pattern above! WIP of course.....
Mochila is a similar method except they've perfected the system by:
It's by no means an easy method of crochet and many an experienced crocheter has given up. Take, for example, the issue of increasing stitches on the base of a bag when you have a multi-coloured pattern to contend with! It's very difficult to get right and you can easily distort the pattern with one increase in the wrong place! Then there's the 'modelling' of the stitches; you have to pull all the threads you're carrying to make sure they are lying flat and the stitches you've completed are sitting correctly. Then there's the changing of colours for the pattern you're making; it's easy to change colour the wrong way and end up with the pattern going wonky!
Once you learn the basics by doing a small bag, you can then move on to the next level and create a bag with the patterns out there and then the next level is designing your own patterns! Pinterest is full of great ideas for patterns and you can even take something you love, a photo or image, and convert it into a pattern you can use on the side of your bag.
Mochila bags are mainly in the style of a duffel bag but can also be adapted into a tote bag, a clutch or a wallet.
I learned all this from an amazing Facebook Group Mochila Bags, Crochet, where the moderators are just wonderful and helpful. Patterns and instructions for making Mochila bags are almost impossible to find so they set about writing the instructions in English, making videos, and adding all the helpful tips you would need, to the group. It's really the only place to learn how to do it that I have found on the internet. Hats of to them!
A word of advice: read all the files and the instructions for being in the group before you attempt anything.
They have all the information you need to get started in the File section and are always on hand to help out, especially with where to put your increases on the base of the bag. They also have instructions on how to make the strap or handles for the bag as well as the drawstring. It seems like each bag, once you're proficient, takes about 60 hours of work so it's not a quick and easy thing to knock up but a real labour of love and attention.
Some of the lovely ladies in the group have kindly let me use the photos of some of their creations so you can see the outcome of their work.
Here are some examples of the Wayuu Mochila. The Wayuu are a tribe which are famous for their Mochila bags. Feast your eyes on these:
TAPESTRY CROCHET
To explain more fully: Tapestry Crochet is where you use at least two colours of yarn to make a bag or purse and you carry the extra colour with you as you crochet, which accomplishes two things.
1. It means you can create beautiful images in the item you're crocheting.
2. It makes the item more sturdy as it's thicker.
It's very versatile and allows you to use crochet in a more flexible way to create imagery on anything you're making.
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| This design is by Marina G and available on Ravelry |
Here's my attempt at the pattern above! WIP of course.....
MOCHILA METHOD
Mochila is a similar method except they've perfected the system by:
- Using many colours to make fantastically gorgeous patterns
- Using mercerised cotton yarn, which holds its shape and doesn't split
- Using a smaller crochet hook to make the stitches neat and tight
- Working into the back loop of the stitch only, which gives a neater finish and also allow you to keep the pattern you're making straight.
- They have several methods of creating straps for the bag but mainly they are woven.
It's by no means an easy method of crochet and many an experienced crocheter has given up. Take, for example, the issue of increasing stitches on the base of a bag when you have a multi-coloured pattern to contend with! It's very difficult to get right and you can easily distort the pattern with one increase in the wrong place! Then there's the 'modelling' of the stitches; you have to pull all the threads you're carrying to make sure they are lying flat and the stitches you've completed are sitting correctly. Then there's the changing of colours for the pattern you're making; it's easy to change colour the wrong way and end up with the pattern going wonky!
Once you learn the basics by doing a small bag, you can then move on to the next level and create a bag with the patterns out there and then the next level is designing your own patterns! Pinterest is full of great ideas for patterns and you can even take something you love, a photo or image, and convert it into a pattern you can use on the side of your bag.
Mochila bags are mainly in the style of a duffel bag but can also be adapted into a tote bag, a clutch or a wallet.
I learned all this from an amazing Facebook Group Mochila Bags, Crochet, where the moderators are just wonderful and helpful. Patterns and instructions for making Mochila bags are almost impossible to find so they set about writing the instructions in English, making videos, and adding all the helpful tips you would need, to the group. It's really the only place to learn how to do it that I have found on the internet. Hats of to them!
A word of advice: read all the files and the instructions for being in the group before you attempt anything.
They have all the information you need to get started in the File section and are always on hand to help out, especially with where to put your increases on the base of the bag. They also have instructions on how to make the strap or handles for the bag as well as the drawstring. It seems like each bag, once you're proficient, takes about 60 hours of work so it's not a quick and easy thing to knock up but a real labour of love and attention.
Some of the lovely ladies in the group have kindly let me use the photos of some of their creations so you can see the outcome of their work.
These are by Tracy Gordon:
This one is by Patricia Niemsyk Mumy
This one is by Constance Farrell
And this one by Yulika Schreiber
Aren't they all just fab?
As well as being a moderator and designer in the Group mentioned above, Marion Verloop also creates great patterns and they're available on Ravelry HERE.
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| Copyright Marion Verloop |
Watch this space for my first proper Mochila bag. I just got the yarn this morning to make the small one.....
Thank you for this great post! I love looking at pages like this with the beautiful photos put together - a feast for the eyes! I will be looking at this more than once and looking out for your progress. I'm in the FB group too and recently completed the slightly wonky body of my bag. One day I may be able to make bags like the ones shown here....
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to succeed too, Honor. Fingers crossed!
DeleteI am on bag number 8 or 9. I am currently working on the 8K member bag from the goup. I will warn you that it is addictive. Thank you for showing my bag! It is actually my favorite one.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a great introductory article on the art of Mochila. I recently discovered this form of crochet from a friend in the Awesome Breastforms Crochet group on Facebook. I am obsessed with the beautiful designs and colorwork. Putting the supplies to try this technique on my shopping list today.
ReplyDeleteHi Bonnie, thanks for your comment. I wish you the best of luck. It's not easy but it's so satisfying when you get it right. Do join the Facebook Group as all the instructions and videos, shopping lists etc are on there.
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