Mochilla bag Pisa in Hoooked Somen - Downloadable PDF

Mochila Bag Pisa Crochet Pattern by By Stella M – Hoooked Somen Yarn

The Mochila Bag Pisa is a stunning, advanced-level crochet pattern designed by By Stella M, available as a downloadable PDF. This pattern guides crafters through the creation of a beautifully structured mochila-style bag — a type of traditional South American tapestry bag known for its intricate colorwork, dense fabric, and striking geometric or decorative motifs. The finished piece is both a functional everyday bag and a showcase of skilled crochet craftsmanship.

About the Mochila Bag Style

Mochila bags originate from the craft traditions of indigenous communities in Colombia and are celebrated worldwide for their tight, colorwork construction. They are typically worked in the round using a technique where unused yarn colors are carried along inside the stitches, creating a thick, durable, and reversible fabric. The Pisa design by By Stella M brings this traditional aesthetic into a contemporary pattern using carefully selected modern materials from the Hoooked brand.

Materials Required

Yarn

• Hoooked Somen Vaniglia – 2 x 100g skeins
• Hoooked Somen Mezzanotte – 2 x 100g skeins
• Hoooked Somen Corallo – 1 x 100g skein

Hoooked Somen is a DK weight yarn, making it ideal for the tight tension required in mochila-style colorwork crochet. The three colorways — Vaniglia (a warm cream tone), Mezzanotte (a deep midnight shade), and Corallo (a vibrant coral accent) — combine to create a rich, high-contrast palette characteristic of traditional mochila designs.

Hook

• 2.5mm crochet hook (US size 1)

The use of a 2.5mm hook with DK weight yarn is intentional and characteristic of mochila construction. Working at a tighter gauge than the yarn typically calls for produces a firm, structured fabric that holds the bag's shape and durability over time.

Techniques and Construction

This pattern is rated advanced difficulty, making it best suited to experienced crocheters who are comfortable with colorwork, working in the round, and maintaining consistent tension across multiple yarn strands simultaneously. The mochila technique requires carrying unused colors within the body of each stitch, so the resulting fabric is dense, neat on both sides, and free of loose floats.

Key Techniques Used

• Colorwork crochet – managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously, carrying unused strands inside stitches
• Working in the round – the bag body is constructed continuously without seams
• Tight gauge construction – using a smaller hook relative to yarn weight for structural integrity
• Tapestry crochet – the method underlying the mochila tradition, creating motifs through color changes rather than texture

Stitches Used

The Mochila Bag Pisa pattern is written in multiple languages, including English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, and Italian, making it accessible to an international audience. The following stitches are referenced throughout the pattern:

Foundation and Basic Stitches

• Slip Knot (Opzetlus / Anfangsschlinge / Noeud coulant / Nudo corredizo) – used to begin the work
• Chain stitch (ch / Losse / Luftmasche / maille en l'air / cadeneta) – used for foundation chains and turning chains
• Slip stitch (sl st / hv / Kettmasche / maille coulée / punto falso) – used for joining rounds and finishing

Primary Construction Stitches