Foreword 5
Techniques 6
Troubleshooting 13
Materials used 15
Crocheting the base 17
Spaces for the cord 20
Fastening off the bag 21
Wayuu Mochila Patterns 22
Hourglass 22
Large Flower 28
Azulejo Tiles 32
Diamonds 36
Little Flowers 40
Plain and sparkly stripes 45
Cross 50
Flamingo 55
Traditional 59
Maze 65
Making the shoulder strap 69
Making the drawstring 92
Rianne de Graaf discovered the colourful world of crocheted
mochilas in 2013 and has specialized in making these wonderful
creations ever since.
Crochet is not her only passion - Rianne also finds it very
satisfying to pass on her knowledge to other people, so in 2014 she
began running workshops on making mochila bags. One thing led to
another and her company, RiannesHaaksels, was officially launched
in 2015 in the form of a webshop. It was only a matter of time
before she wrote her first book.
You can find her on Facebook and Instagram as RiannesHaaksels and
her website can be visited at www.rianneshaaksels.nl
Inspired by the vibrant bags made by the Wayuu tribe, these
tapestry crochet projects are bursting with colour! The book starts
with Rianne's techniques for colourwork, carrying the yarn and
creating the bases of the bags, illustrated with colourful
step-by-step photographs. Then we're onto the ten projects,
beginning with a simple hourglass pattern designed for people
taking their first steps into tapestry crochet. After that you can
move onto floral designs, geometric patterns, stripes and a fun
flamingo bag.
*Inside Crochet, Issue 113*
Recently received this book to review and have been constantly
picking it up and gone through the techniques shown, very impressed
with written instructions and pictures to ensure easy
understanding. Great the way the author also gives the problem
solving hints as well. Now have the cotton ready to try out the
first project!
*Customer review*
Love this book it's a pleasure to use, the patterns are great, it's
well written and very easy to follow all the aspects of the bag
making process.
*Customer review*
I love this book. I have never crocheted over a bundle of yarns
before and the step by step instructions and the photos that
illustrate the techniques are brilliant. The author briefly
explains the origin of wayuu crochet and then explains several
techniques before you even see the patterns. The book has a
beginner pattern and also more advanced patterns. Further on in the
book the different techniques for braiding handles and drawstrings
are explained. I particularly liked the section about using a
kumihimo disc as I bought one a while back that I haven’t yet used.
This is an excellent book that explains each step in depth so that
even a beginner crocheter could follow it. I can’t wait to get
started on my first project.
*Customer review*
Crochet bags with a difference.
*Customer review*
Until recently I had barely seen any Wayuu bags. This beautiful
book has ten examples to crochet. US terms are used but UK terms
are noted. The instructions are clearly worded and the pictures and
explanations of techniques are very precise throughout. Included in
the book is an amazing section on making the shoulder straps for
the bags using ply split braiding. It's fascinating. The only
problem I have is deciding which design to crochet first. Highly
recommended for more experienced crocheters.
*Customer review*
I adore the projects to crochet. I love the Wayuu bags, the
projects have easy to follow patterns with step by step photographs
to help you along the way. I recently started to crochet and would
say this isn't a book for beginners, like me, however, I am going
to aspire to make some of the projects when I have mastered the
different stitches. A great book full of lovely projects.
*Customer review*
The colourful, geometric-patterned bags of the Wayuu people, who
are native to Colombia and Venezuela, provided the inspiration for
the 10 projects in Rianne de Graaf's new book. Start your journey
of mochilas (Spanish for "backpack") with the Small
Hourglass Bag designed with beginners in mind. Full-colour photos
guide you step-by-step through the basic tapestry-crochet
technique. Learn how to finish your bag with a woven shoulder strap
and kumihimo-bread drawstring. Rianne also provides troubleshooting
tips and advice on selecting cotton yarn and the appropriate size
of hook.
*Interweave Crochet*
I feel envious of Rianne! Imagine discovering an exotic form of
crochet made by a tribe in South America - and which few people
have heard of, let alone written about! She first saw Wayuu bags on
Pinterest a few years ago, became enthused and wrote this book. The
Wayuu tribe live in Venezuela and Colombia on the shores of the
Caribbean. Their homes are basic huts, they sleep in hammocks, and
they use mochila bags for storing their few possessions. Mochila is
the general word for a shoulder bag made in tapestry crochet, and
Wayuu is a sort of trademark for the bags made by this tribe -
which can sell for £100! But it does take them 3 weeks to complete
one. These are sturdy duffle bags made in vibrant colours and
striking geometrical patterns. They are worked in tapestry crochet,
in dc over 4-6 strands of 4ply cotton. These carrying yarns lie
along the top of the work, and colour changes are made by bringing
a new one forward as the working yarn and letting the current one
join the other strands. The bags are finished off with a patterned
shoulder strap and drawstring, and sometimes big tassels and
pompoms. Traditionally the strap would be crocheted, or woven on a
back-strap loom, but Rianne adds an international touch by using
ply-split braiding, which originated in North West India, and was
used as a neck decoration for camels! The drawstring is made from
Kumihimo braid from Japan! Detailed instructions and several
designs are given for both. But simple crochet can be used instead.
Rianne gives all the basic instructions for the tapestry crochet,
including coloured charts for the designs, and step-by-step photos.
She has lots of hints and explanations in her very readable style.
There are 10 detailed patterns for bags, attractively photographed.
This is quite a tricky technique; it must be said. The simple dc
needs 'modelling', and patience is needed to handle the colour
changes neatly, and not get all those balls in a tangle. The bag is
worked in a spiral, so how to avoid a step at the beginning of a
round? We are taught the art of 'staggering' to cope with this. I
made a coaster for practice and am looking forward to making my own
Wayuu mochila bag soon. If you like a challenge and are intrigued
by new crochet techniques, I would recommend Wayuu Bags to Crochet
- as far as I know, it is currently the only book on the
subject.
*Slipknot, The Knitting & Crochet Guild Magazine*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
