Mochila bags seem to be the hot new trend. If you have seen these bags, then you know why!
They are fun, stylish, and great to take to the beach, on a picnic, or just on an outing around town.
Some Mochila bags are rather plain looking, but some sport an intricate and beautiful design. I wanted to design a bag that is sort of in-between. Something that looks great but isn’t intimidating to make. Here is what I came up with.
I made my bag with 100% cotton yarn. I like that cotton is a natural fiber, and I like the feel of it. I also think that it will wear better than acrylic and hold up better in the wash.
A couple of readers have pointed out that this is not an authentic mochila bag. From my understanding, mochila translates to backpack. So, no, this is not a backpack. It is a backpack-style bag in that it sports a drawstring and has a rounded shape. As for the back loop crochet and colorwork that the “authentic” bags have, I wanted to do a beginner style for those of you who are new to color change and who find the thought of pattern work daunting. I believe this fits the bill.
Crochet Mochila Bag
Supplies:
Size H crochet hook
Stitch markers
Approx. 14 oz 100% cotton yarn – I used (approx.) Color A: 7oz. Sage Green; Color B: 2.5oz. Black; Color C: 2.5oz. Hot Blue; Color D: 2.5oz. Red
Pattern:Note: We will be working in a round. I found it helpful to mark the first and last stitch of each round and move them up as I go. When ending a round, we will join with a slip stitch to the first sc in that round. When beginning the next round, we will ch 1 and start our first sc in the same stitch as the joining stitch.
To do a tr: Yarn over hook twice, insert hook in the indicated stitch, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch, [yarn over, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook] 3 times.
Crochet Bag:
With color A, ch 2.
Round 1: sc 6 in second ch from hook. Join. (6)
Round 2: ch 1, sc 2 in each st around. Join. (12)
Round 3: ch 1, [sc, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (18)
Round 4: ch 1, [sc 2, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (24)
Round 5: ch 1, [sc 3, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (30)
Round 6: ch 1, [sc 4, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (36)
Round 7: ch 1, [sc 5, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (42)
Round 8: ch 1, [sc 6, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (48)
Round 9: ch 1, [sc 7, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (54)
Round 10: ch 1, [sc 8, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (60)
Round 11: ch 1, [sc 9, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (66)
Round 12: ch 1, [sc 10, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (72)
Round 13: ch 1, [sc 11, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (78)
Round 14: ch 1, [sc 12, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (84)
Round 15: ch 1, [sc 13, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (90)
Round 16: ch 1, [sc 14, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (96)
Round 17: ch 1, [sc 15, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (102)
Round 18: ch 1, [sc 16, sc 2 in next st] repeat around. Join. (108)
Round 19: ch 1, sc in back loop only of each stitch around. Join. (108)
Rounds 20-26: ch 1, (working both loops again) sc in each st around. Join. (108)Join Color BRound 27: ch 1, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around. Join. (108)Join Color C
Round 28: ch 1, sc 7, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around until 1 stitch left. sc in last st. Join. (108)
Join Color D
Round 29: ch 1, sc 6, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around until 2 sts left. sc in last 2 sts. Join. (108)
Join Color A
Round 30: ch 1, sc 5, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around until 3 sts left. sc in last 3 sts. Join. (108)
Join Color B
Round 31: ch 1, sc 4, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around until 4 sts left. sc in last 4 sts. Join. (108)
Join Color C
Round 32: ch 1, sc 3, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around until 5 sts left. sc in last 5 sts. Join. (108)
Join Color D
Round 33: ch 1, sc 2, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around until 6 sts left. sc in last 6 sts. Join. (108)
Join Color A
Round 34: ch 1, sc 1, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down, [sc 8, work a tr in the front post of the next stitch three rounds down] repeat around until 7 sts left. sc in last 7 sts. Join. (108)
Rounds 35-41: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (108)
Rounds 42-56: Repeat rounds 27-41
Rounds 57-64: Repeat rounds 27-34
Rounds 65-71: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (108)
Round 72: ch 1, [sc 8, ch 1, skip 1 st] repeat around. Join. (96 sts, 12 ch 1 sps)
Join Color B
Round 73: ch 1, sc in each st and ch space around. Join. (108)
Join Color C
Round 74: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (108)
Join Color D
Round 75: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (108)
Finish off and weave in all ends.
Crochet Bag Strap:
With color A, and starting where you left off on the bag,
skip 22 sts, join yarn to the next (23rd) st, ch 120, place stitch marker A in the next (24th) st and beginning with the marked stitch, skip 62 sts, sl st in next (63rd) st, place stitch marker B in the last (62nd) skipped stitch.
Row 1: ch 1, sc in each ch of strap. Join to the same stitch as beginning join. Finish off. (120)
Join color B with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker A is. Move stitch marker A to the unworked st next to it.
Row 2: sc in each st of strap. Join with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker B is. Move stitch marker B to the unworked st next to it. Finish off. (120)
Join color C with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker B is. Move stitch marker B to the unworked st next to it.
Row 3: sc in each st of strap. Join with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker A is. Move stitch marker A to the unworked st next to it. Finish off. (120)
Join color D with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker A is. Move stitch marker A to the unworked st next to itRow 4: Repeat row 2.Join color A with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker B is. Move stitch marker B to the unworked st next to it.Row 5: Repeat row 3.Join color D with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker A is. Move stitch marker A to the unworked st next to itRow 6: Repeat row 2.Join color C with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker B is. Move stitch marker B to the unworked st next to it.Row 7: Repeat row 3.Join color B with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker A is. Move stitch marker A to the unworked st next to it.Row 8: Repeat row 2.Join color A with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker B is.Row 9: hdc in each stitch of strap. Join with sl st to the stitch where stitch marker A is.
Finish off and weave in ends.
Crochet Drawstring Tie
With colors B, C, and D, ch 135. Finish off.
Weave the tie through the ch 1 spaces in round 72 of the bag. Knot both ends of the drawstring. You may make and attach tassels or pom poms to the ends of the drawstring, if you wish.
What colors will you use to make this bag? Leave a comment and let me know!
Note: All patterns are written in American terms.
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