For those of you who already follow me on instagram, you will have noticed my current crochet obsession!!!
For the rest of you, I am going to tell you a bit more about it here!
Mochila Bag
Last week I attended the first part of a three part crochet course (to make a mochila bag) in one of the neighbouring villages (in Aartselaar). It was hosted through FEMMA (the same organisation that hosted the clothes upcycling workshop I went to last year).
This was the first time I had to pay for learning new crochet skills (if you disregard buying crochet books), but it was great to have a teacher there.
We had a choice of three different models, you can see them in colour on this page here.
Mochila comes from the Spanish and means backpack, rucksack.
The practice of making these very colourful crochet bags comes from Latin America.
Check out google images of Mochila Bags.
Well, I won't keep you waiting any more, here are the photos which chronicle my work these last few days.
Yesterday afternoon was the second workshop. I took some pictures. This is our teacher with her bag model (leopard print). She has also made a ribbon string to go through the holes to tighten/fasten the bag, plus a long shoulderstrap which you cannot see in this photo because they are not attached yet.
The diameter of her bag is 20cm and it is about 30 cm high.
The diameter of my bag is 27-28 cm and therefore my bag will be bigger overall.
You can also see some of the lovely ladies of this Femma group working alongside me.
Here in the photo below you can see how my pattern along the side is now progressing.
Today I started using different colours. The side is about 6cm high now.
 |
| Day 9 Mochila Bag |
Well, I hope you enjoyed the many photos! I'm going to continue chronicling them on instagram, as before. I had many lovely and encouraging comments (Thank you all!)
And if you want to leave a comment below, then you know how I look forward to them!!!
This is so fascinating, I love it. The bag is going to be amazing, best of luck on the finish.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Thank you, Meredith!! I still got a long way to go... ;) xx
DeleteGood Morning I have been studying different sites in reference to Mochila as there are no classes around in my area and I was wondering, how do you prevent the yarns you are carrying from showing through? Are you using a smaller hook or is there a certain way of stitching? Your bag is looking great and I look forward to starting one soon. Enjoy the posts. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHello Gina, thanks for asking. This is the first time I am using this technique. I am using a slightly smaller hook than recommended for the yarn and I try to do tight stitches. Also I pull the carrying yarn every so often, especially when changing colours. The resulting fabric is very sturdy, yet still flexible. I am using 3 colours at all times, sometimes more when changing over colours. Then I start carrying the new colour over a good number of stitches before I actually get to use it. I gently pull and the end will disappear! No need to sew up ends!!! Sometimes the yarn will show through a little, especially with strong colour contrasts. I feel that it cannot be avoided completely.
DeleteHope this helps! Remember I am working this out as I go along. The course is just to give general guidance. Also I am using way more colours... ;)) xx
This really is special, Ingrid. looking forward to seeing the finished bag.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you, Amelia! I appreciate it!! xx
DeleteWauw, dat wordt een prachtige tas!! Leuk om die foro's zo op een rijtje te zien, zo zien we je tas groeien :)
ReplyDeleteHeel veel succes. Het lijkt mij een heel strak werkje en veel telwerk. Precies waarom ik ook niet zo'n fan ben van amigurimi maken bijvoorbeeld. Ik krijg daar echt last van... Maar dit resultaat is super! Groetjes
Hey Lizette ! Dankjewel! Het is soms best een beetje moeilijk om altijd so stevig te haken, maar gelukkig ben ik heel enthusiast! Er is nog veel werk te doen .... :) xx
DeleteWas für eine aufwendige und unglaublich schöne Häkel-Variante, es erinnert mich an den Korb einer kenianischen Freundin.
ReplyDeleteMach´s gut, Birgit
Dankeschoen, Birgit! Es geht zwar langsamer, aber es geht voran!!! xx
DeleteWow, das sieht toll aus, liebe Ingrid! Sehr schöne Farben und das Muster gefällt mir auch, wird bestimmt eine wunderschöne Tasche. Herzliche Wochenendgrüße schickt Dir Nata
ReplyDeleteDanke, liebe Nata! xx
DeleteHallo Ingrid, ich bin zurück in Blogland und muss doch auch gleich einmal schauen, was bei Dir so passiert ist. Deine Tasche ist wunderschön! Ich habe diese Technik noch nie ausprobiert, bei uns gibt es leider auch keine Häkelkurse in der Nähe. Ich wünsche Dir weiterhin viel Freude beim Häkeln. Viola
ReplyDeleteDanke Dir, Viola! Leider muss die Tasche momentan zur Seite gelegt warden, ich habe noch andere Projekte! ;) xx
DeleteHi Ingrid, your crochet is so neat and the bag looks great
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jo! It's a good exercise in keeping the right tension! ;) xx
DeleteI love your colours. I have seen that flower pattern before but usually all the petals are the same colour. I love your colourful spin on the traditional pattern and the reference to South American design in the side pattern rows. Lovely palette of colours, as always, Ingrid. I look forward to seeing your bag progress. I have only recently joined Instagram so I will try to find you there but I do prefer reading blogs to browsing instagram.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to find your recent posts after not seeing you in my feed for a while.
Take care, Jodie xx
Thanks Jodie! Trust me to mess about with patterns, eh? ;)
DeleteYou can find me on instagram via de link in the sidebar...
I'm trying to catch up on blogging, so watch out for more posts!
Thanks for your support, as always!!! xx