Mochila Bag

This Mochila Bag crochet pattern incorporates a tapestry crochet technique that creates a beautiful and interesting design. This is a great project if you are looking to expand your crochet skills.

Inspiration & Construction

Have you seen those beautiful mochila bags on Pinterest? They are so gorgeous with all their wonderful patterns and colorwork, I could look at them all day! It got me thinking, maybe I could create something like that.

The pattern for this Mochila Bag can be a little tricky if you do not know how to change colors in crochet. The good news is there are numerous videos explaining how to change colors and how to carry your yarn throughout your work.

The Mochila Bag pattern is actually pretty simple. I have provided graphs for those who are more of a visual learner. You can certainly create this pattern just by following along with the written part as well!

The Yarn

The yarn I used for this pattern is Bernat Maker Home Dec  yarn. It is a bulky weight yarn made of cotton and nylon. Yarnspirations has numerous colors to choose from as well. It actually reminds me of t-shirt yarn. It has a lot of stretch and is tubular in shape. I think this yarn is absolutely perfect for bags, purses, clutches etc.

I hope you enjoy the pattern!

Mochila Crochet Bag Pattern

If you would like to purchase an ad free printer-friendly version of this pattern, please go to my ETSY or RAVELRY shop.

Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below, but these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything in this post that I have not personally used or tested.

NOTES

~ Below is a video tutorial I would suggest watching before you begin the pattern. It explains how to change colors and how to carry your yarn throughout your work.

VIDEO TUTORIAL – How to change colors and carry yarn.

Changing Colors – Insert hook into last stitch before color change, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook). Next, instead of yarning over with same color to finish stitch, pick up other color, yarn over and pull through both loops. The only color that should be different is the the loop on your hook.

~ The BODY of the bag is crocheted in the BACK LOOP ONLY. The BASE is not.

~ You will join after every round.

 

MATERIALS

2 skeins of Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn The colors in the pictures are Cream and Aqua.

6.5mm crochet hook

Scissors

Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS

Chain (ch)

Single crochet (sc)

Back Loop Only (blo)

Slip stitch (ss)

Stitch (st)

MOCHILA CROCHET BAG PATTERN

Note – To avoid an obvious color change when joining, change color on last stitch of the round to complete a better transition when slip stitching.

THE BASE

Starting with Aqua:

Magic loop

Round 1 – (w/Aqua) 6 sc in magic loop. W/Cream join with a ss. (6)

Round 2 – (w/Cream) ch.1, 2 sc in same st and each st around. W/Aqua join with a ss. (12)

Round 3 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same stitch, 2 sc in next. *sc in next st, 2 sc in next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Cream join with a ss. (18)

Round 4 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and the next st. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next.* Repeat *til end of round. W/Aqua join with a ss. (24)

Round 5 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and the next two stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Cream join with a ss. (30)

Round 6 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and the next three stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Aqua join with a ss. (36)

Round 7 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and the next four stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 5 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Cream join with a ss. (42)

Round 8 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and the next five stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 6 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Aqua join with a ss. (48)

Round 9 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and the next six stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 7 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Cream join with a ss. (54)

Round 10 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and the next seven stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 8 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Aqua join with a ss. (60)

Round 11 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and the next eight stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 9 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Cream join with a ss. (66)

Round 12 –  (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and the next nine stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 10 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Aqua join with a ss.  (72)

Round 13 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and the next ten stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 11 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Cream join with a ss. (78)

Round 14 –  (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and the next eleven stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 12 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Aqua join with a ss. (84)

Round 15 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and each st around. W/Cream join with a ss. (84)

Round 16 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and the next twelve stitches. 2 sc in the next. *1 sc in the next 13 stitches, 2 sc in the next* Repeat *til end of round. W/Aqua join with a ss. (90)

Round 17 – Repeat row 15 (90)

THE BODY:

Note – Because all stitches are crocheted in the back loop only, I used the Seamless Join Method. My girl Sierra over at Sweet Everly B has a great video demonstrating this method.

All stitches are crocheted in the Back Loop Only (blo). You will also carry your yarn throughout the pattern. 

Round 18 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in blo of same st an each st around. Join with a ss. (90)

Rounds 19 thru 21 – Repeat round 18

Round 22 is where the color changes take place. Below is a graph showing you what your work will look like. The graph is read from right to left.

Round 22 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in the same st and the next two stitches. (w/Aqua) 1 sc in next three stitches.  * (w/Cream) 1 sc in the next three stitches, (w/Aqua) 1 sc in the next three stitches.* Repeat *til end of round. Join with ss to first sc. (90)

Rounds 23 and 24 – Repeat round 22

Round 25 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and the next two stitches. (w/Cream) 1 sc in the next three stitches. *(w/Aqua) 1 sc in the next three stitches, (w/Cream) 1 sc in the next three stitches.* Repeat *til end of round. Join with a ss to first sc. (90)

Rounds 26 and 27 – Repeat round 25

Rounds 28 thru 30 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in same st and each st around. Join with a ss. (90)

Rounds 31 and 32 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and each st around. Join with a ss. (90)

Round 33 is where the next colorwork pattern takes place. Below is a graph to help you. Remember, the graph is read from right to left.

The “X” is where you start your first stitch. The “O” is where your last still will be.

Round 33 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in same st and the next two stitches, (w/Cream) 1 sc in the next two stitches. *(w/Aqua) 1 sc in the next three stitches, (w/Cream) 1 sc in the next two stitches.* Repeat *til end of round. Join with Cream. (90)

Round 34 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in the same st (w/Aqua) 1 sc in the next two stitches. *(w/Cream) 1 sc in the next three stitches. (w/Aqua) 1 sc in the next two stitches.* Repeat *til end of round. This row ends with two Cream stitches. (90)

Round 35 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in the same st and the next st. (w/Aqua) 1 sc in the next three stitches. *(w/Cream) 1 sc in the next two stitches. (w/Aqua) 1 sc in the next three stitches.* Repeat *til end of round. This row ends with two Aqua stitches. (90)

Round 36 – (w/Cream) ch.1 sc in the same st and each st around. Join with a ss. (90)

Round 37 – Repeat round 35

Round 38 – Repeat round 34

Round 39 – Repeat round 33

Rounds 40 thru 42 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in the same st and each stitch around. Join with a ss. (90)

Rounds 43 and 44 – Repeat round 36

Round 45 is where the “holes” for our drawstring are created.

Round 45  – (w/Aqua)  ch.1 sc in the same st and the next two stitches. Ch. 2, skip two stitches and sc in the next seven stitches. *ch.2, skip two stitches and sc in the next seven stitches* Repeat *til there are four stitches left. 1 sc in the last four stitches. Join with a ss. (90)

Round 46 – (w/Aqua) ch.1 sc in the same st and each st around. Join with a ss. (90)

Round 47 – Repeat round 36

Bind off

For the drawstring:

Take 12 strands of yarn approx. 40″ long in any color combination you want.  Make a knot. Take three sections, each with 4 strands of yarn and braid the strands. Make another knot at the end to close.

Take the braid and weave it in and out of each hole you made for the drawstring. Tie.

For the strap:

Carry your yarn up the side of the strap.

With Cream

Leave a long tail to use to sew strap onto bag.

Ch.8

Row 1- Sc in 2nd ch from the hook and each ch across. (7)

Row 2 – Ch.1 turn, sc in first st and each st across. On the last stitch, change to Cream. (7)

Row 3 – (w/Cream) Ch.1 turn, sc in first st and each st across. (7)

Row 4 – Ch.1 turn, sc in the first st and each st across. On the last stitch change back to Aqua. (7)

Rows 5 thru 102 – Repeat rows 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 respectively.

Bind off leaving a long enough tail to sew strap onto bag.

Lay mochila bag flat so seam side is facing you. Take one end of the strap and sew it onto the top right of the bag right below the two rows of Cream.

Next, being careful not to twist the strap, sew the other end onto the bottom left of the bag right above the last Aqua sc row of the base.

Weave in any loose ends!

I hope you have enjoyed crocheting this Mochila Bag pattern. Be sure to tag me on Instagram with all of your work. I would love to see it and share it!

Other Patterns You May Like:

1. Boardwalk Crossbody / 2. Asbury Tote / 3. Islander Tote