Marion Verloop

About me

Category: ‌‌‌‌‌‌ Crochet

  • The Making of Mochila Starburst

    The Making of Mochila Starburst

    Making and releasing a new pattern is never something I do alone.
    This time, the initial idea came from Marieke Kranenburg. She said: “You should make another Mochila mandala, but this time a smaller one.”

    I really enjoy designing and making Mochila bottoms so I started right away. The shape of this design actually happend by accident.

    When I had finished the middle part and added the spikes on one side, my husband looked at it and said: “Oh it would look great if you only have those spikes on the sides.”

    My first reaction was: No that’s not right, they should go all the way around.

    But then I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try drawing the spikes on the other side first. I could always fill in the rest later….  Thank you Cor for thinking outside the box.

    Mochila Starburst

    Once I knew the final size of my Mochila bottom, I started wondering: Do I really want to hang another Mochila mandala on my wall? Maybe I could turn it into a pillow instead. So time to go shopping. 


    I first looked for an inner pillow, but I could not find it locally. Then I thought: I could also buy a finished pillow and sew my work onto it. I went to a furniture store with lots of pillows, and that is where I saw a footstool, with the perfect diameter for my Mochila bottom. I bought it, put it on the back of my bike and walked home. Cycling with it did not feel safe… although my younger self probably would have tried 😄

    footstool


    For me, every new design starts with making a graph. I do this on my iPad. The quality of this graph is good enough for me to be able to crochet from and it is easy to adjust while I am crocheting. I always try to hide the jog as much as possible, and the best way for me to do that is simply by crocheting the piece. 

    Before I start crocheting a round, I write it out in full. Then I crochet from my written notes, this is my first check.






    When all the rounds were written, I asked Sylvia Roosen to test the pattern for me, this was the second check.

    I asked her to use different colors, because it is always helpful to see how a design looks in another color combination.
    Sylvia decided to turn her work into a pillow. She even made two pillows, she used the same colors for the second pillow, but in a different color order.
    They look awesome!

    pillow


    As mentioned before, my own graph works fine for designing, but it is not good enough for a finished pattern. That meant it was time to visit my oldest son. He creates high-quality graphs for me and also checks my patterns. He is better at both English and Dutch than I am, which helps a lot.

    Then comes another round of checking, including the written instructions. I sit with the graph in front of me and read it out loud: 5B, 1F, inc F, 5C. My husband checks whether that matches what I have written. He also added this blog to my website.

    So in the end creating a pattern like the Starburst Footstooltopper involves five people.
    Thank you Cor, Christiaan, Marieke and Sylvia.


    You can find the Mochila Starburst Footstool Topper & Pillow Cover pattern on Ravelry:
    https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/starburst-footstooltopper

     

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  • Mochila Cards

    Mochila Cards

    It has been very quiet here for a while, but I have been working on a new design. I have made something totally different this time. My new Mochila does not have a geometrical pattern, but symbols of playing cards. The shape of this Mochila is also new to me.

    I got the idea for making this Mochila, when I heard that a friend of my oldest son is a professional poker player. Now that I had an idea for a design, I had to think about what kind of shape I wanted to make. 
    Then I thought, who would want a Mochila with card symbols on it and what would they use it for. Somebody who plays card games, might want to use it to put their cards, dice and fiches in it. So a clutch would be a good size. 
    I never made a clutch before, so I decided that this Mochila was going to be a clutch.

    When I think of poker, I think of diamonds and gold and of course about losing a lot of money💰 When you make a clutch with playing cards symbols on it, you need some bling bling, like gold yarn, right?
    I googled and found two gold yarns with glitters. Durable Glam and Scheepjes Twinkle. Both yarns are a combination of 75% cotton and 25% Polyester. 
    The color of Durable Glam is a bit warmer. That is the one I decided to use.

    Crocheting tight Mochila stitches with this glittery yarn was a bit hard, so I was glad it was only an accent color. Even thought it was a bit hard to crochet with the gold yarn, I am really happy that I used it, because it gives the clutch a little oomph. 

    The finishing touches of a Mochila, always take more time than you think. I added a wristlet to the clutch and closed it with a zipper. Sewing in the zipper was a real challenge. For some reason I thought I could sew it in straight, without pinning it to the clutch first. That was a big mistake. The zipper parts did not line up at all. 

    When I closed the zipper, the clutch was pulled out of shape and it looked really bad.
    I had to undo all the sewing. Time to start again. This time I sewed the zipper to the clutch with a basting stitch and then I did the actual sewing. I have no clue why I did not do that in the first place. Maybe I was a bit lazy 🙄 🫣

    Reference: Mochila Cards

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  • Mochila Phone bags

    Mochila Phone bags

    I have just released a new pattern for a phone bag. Well, not one phone bag, but four different versions.

    When I am on vacation with my husband, I always take a Mochila with me. We usually go to a nice sunny country, so time to wear my colorful dresses. A colorful Mochila doesn’t really match well with a colorful dress. That is why I came up with the idea to make a small phone bag with nice colors, which is not too colorful. My phone is usually all I take with me anyway.

    When I talked to my husband about it, he said: Why don’t you make different sizes and use different colors. Hence the 4 phone bags (sizes are mentioned in the pattern).

    Some of you may have seen, in the Facebook group or on Instagram, that I was working on a Mochila with 10 colors. I put that Mochila on hold and started to make a sketch for the design of the phone bag. I looked in my stash and found strawberry red and wine red, so time to start.

    Unfortunately I made a little mistake when I calculated how many rounds the side should be and that also effected the stitch count for the main part. There were too many rounds for the side, which makes it wider. When I discovered the mistake, I was already too far along to correct this mistake, so I decided to finish the bag. It was a good test to see if the concept worked and fortunately it did.

    When it was finished, my husband said: This version will be good for people who have 2 phones. So that is why this version ended up in the pattern. This phone bag has a plain weave strap.

    I took another dive in my stash and found violet, pink and lime green for the next phone bag. It is a really narrow one. That is why I decided to make a Kumihimo cord for the strap. The Kumihimo cord has a nice spiral pattern, with a little bit of lime green in it.

    It was a real challenge for me not to make it too colorful. 😅 My first idea was to attach the side pieces with lime green, but I decided against it because it would become too colorful again and I was trying to avoid that this time. So there is only a vertical lime green line in the middle of the phone bag.

    Wayuu-inspired tapestry crochet phone pouches in pink, purple, blue, and mixed colors by Marion Verloop

    When I first came up with the idea to make a phone bag, I immediately thought about using two purple colors and gold. Unfortunately Catania, my favourite yarn, does not have the colors I had in mind, so I started looking at other brands.

    Gründle Cotton Quick had three purple colors. Making good pictures of purple is very hard. That is why I wasn’t sure which ones I would like best, so I ordered all three. I liked them all, so I used all three.

    I used a gold color to attach the side pieces and for the crab stitch around the flap. I think the gold gives it very stylish look.

    For this version I attached the woven strap over the whole side. I am really happy with the result and I cannot wait to use it.

    When I told my mother in law I was making phone bags in different sizes and colors, she said: You should make one in colors that men would like. So I let my husband choose the colors and the color placement for the next one.

    He chose ocean blue and navy blue. This phone bag is also very narrow and has a crocheted strap. When this version was finished, I asked Marieke: Is this manly enough. Her answer: No, but this women likes it very much.

    Let’s hope it will be possible to go on a vacation in the near future.

    For me, it is now time to continue with my 10 color Mochila, which is a lot more work than I anticipated. Hopefully I can show you that design soon.

    Reference: Mochila Phone bag

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  • Mochila Messenger

    Mochila Messenger

    It is finally time to show my new bag ‘Mochila Messenger’. The shape of this Mochila looks most like a messenger bag, hence the name. I am super proud that I could make a Mochila in this shape.

    I wanted to make a new Mochila, which is about the same size as my ‘Mochila Feather’, but a bit more practical to use. I had a shape in mind that I never saw before, made with the ‘Mochila technique’. Transferring this idea to an actual usable pattern was a big challenge.

    For this Mochila it is necessary to make square corners. I tried and failed a few times, because the corners were a bit round.

    While crocheting this bag, I noted everything I did: crocheting, frogging, when I ran out of yarn and when I didn’t work on it at all.

    Mochila Messenger bag made with tapestry crochet in unique rectangular shape, designed by Marion Verloop.

    Let me tell you the inside story of how this Mochila came to life.

    In April 2019 I had an idea for a new Mochila with a completely different shape, so I made a sketch of it and saved it on my iPad.

    In September I started designing. After a while it looked okay, but after all I wasn’t 100% happy, so I put it away for a while. In December I started over from scratch and this time I was happy with the design. I made a paper version of the bag and glued the pattern parts on it. The idea I had in my mind for this shape was finally visible and then I thought; This could be possible.

    Time to start crocheting. Unfortunately, halfway round 5 it was looking like a banana-boat.

    I was too eager to start and didn’t pay enough attention to my stitches. And as you all now, Mochila stitches need all your love and attention.

    I started again, making sure to keep an even tension this time.

    After 7 rounds it was frog-time again. The part that needed to be square was too round. I tested a different way to get the corners more square. The test piece looked good so I started again.

    From January to May all my time got sucked up by the ‘2020 cal’ and other projects so there was no time to continue.

    In June I started working on it again. Unfortunately after 10 rounds, the frog 🐸 payed me another visit. The corners were still not super square and it didn’t want to lay flat. Time to ask for help. I asked one of the members of the Facebook group how she made square corners.

    I made another test piece, but couldn’t do it exactly like she did. Using a slightly different methode, I was able to make super square corners.

    I changed my design a bit to adjust the dimensions of the Mochila and started all over again. Three times is a charm, right? After round 6, I got distracted by other projects. Does this sounds familiar? 🙃

    In August I picked it up again, then it went really fast. By the end of August everything was crocheted and halfway September my Mochila was finished

    Now it was time to write the pattern. So why, you might wonder, did it take me until the end of November to finally publish this pattern?

    Writing this pattern was as much of a challenge as making this Mochila and I kept procrastinating it. I can be very good at that. 😇

    It was impossible for me to make the graphs in any program I know, so my son made all the graphs for me. Thank you Christiaan and also thanks for reviewing the pattern.

    I had to make videos for this Mochila pattern and even that was harder than normal. These days the whole family is at home all the time so I ordered them to be quiet 🤫, to film without being disturbed.

    Now that everything is finished and the pattern is published, I can finally start using my new Mochila.

    Reference: Mochila Messenger

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  • Sometimes you feel like you need to make a gift.

    Sometimes you feel like you need to make a gift.

    In November 2019 I started designing and making coasters as a present for my friend Marieke Kranenburg for her new weave studio.

    Marieke and I often give weaving lessons together. We used to do this in her kitchen and living room. 4 students in the kitchen and 4 in the living room and Marieke and I running back and forth between kitchen and living room to help everybody

    Last year she got a great opportunity to buy part of a building, adjacent to her backyard. She transformed it into a beautiful weave studio, big enough for 12 students.

    By the time the studio was finished, our country was in lock down because of Covid 19 and unfortunately Marieke had to cancel the opening of the studio.

    In July it was finally possible to start giving weaving lessons. The only downside was, it was only possible to have 4 students at a time because of social distance. So she did not need my help to give the lessons 😔

    I did see pictures of the studio, but that is just not the same as seeing it for real.

    Last week I was finally able to go to Marieke to admire the studio and give her the coasters for her studio. She did a great job, it has become very beautiful.

    Normally I show everything I am working on to Marieke, so it was very hard to keep the coasters a secret.

    Handmade crochet coasters and a small crochet basket — a personal gift for a new weaving studio.

    When the coasters were finished, I thought; This would be a nice beginner project. So I decided to write a pattern for the coasters. That turned out to be a lot more work than I anticipated. The pattern is available in English and in Dutch and it is the longest pattern so far (42 pages).

    All the coaster patterns have written instructions for 10 and 12 increases and I have also added graphs for 10 and 12 increases with the increases marked.

    I want to thank my son for making the graphs for me.

    Reference: Coasters

    Marieke Kranenburgs new studio

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  • The ‘jog’

    The ‘jog’

    The ‘jog’ is one of the most talked about subjects in Mochila.

    A Mochila is crocheted in spiral and you crochet over yarns. The stitches are higher than in normal crochet and this makes the ‘jog’ very noticeable.

    When you look at the original Wayuu Mochilas, you will also see a ‘jog’, so maybe we should just embrace the ‘jog’. But what to do when you have ‘OCD’ 😉

    The question we often get is: Is it possible to hide the ‘jog’?

    The answer is yes, but only in some patterns.

    When you have horizontal lines in your pattern, you will always see a ‘jog’. There are many ways to close rounds to hide the ‘jog’ a bit. But the big downside to this is, that you will always get a seam and you will still have a little bit of a ‘jog’.

    Personally I think a seam stands out more than a ‘jog’.

    Close-up of a Mochila crochet project demonstrating a technique to hide the ‘jog’ so the color change between spiral rounds is less visible.

    You can hide a ‘jog’ when you have vertical or diagonal lines in your pattern.

    When you have a vertical line, you can start crocheting before or after that vertical line in your pattern.

    You can hide the ‘jog’ by making an increase or a decrease when you have a diagonal line.

    I made a video about how to hide a ‘jog’ when you have a diagonal line in your pattern.

    I planned to make this video at the beginning of January, but then I got a cold and coughed for 5 weeks (no Corona). When the cough was finally gone, I made the video.

    By the time the video was almost finished, we were too busy with the ‘cal 2020’.

    This week my husband found time to edit the video and to update the website. And I found some time to write this blog. 😉

    A direct link to the videos:

    The free pattern I used in the video is available on my website; Hiding the ‘jog’

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  • What determines the size of a bottom?

    What determines the size of a bottom?

    Some people find it a bit hard to understand why the diameter of a Mochila bottom is not substantially bigger when you increase more stitches each round?

    A bottom with 20 rounds and 8 increases has 160 stitches in the last round. When you make the same bottom with 10 increases, you get 200 and with 12 increases you get 240 stitches. So if the bottom doesn’t get bigger where do these extra stitches go? The word math comes to mind, but that is a terrifying 😱 word for some people.

    To show that there is not much difference in diameter between 8, 10 and 12 increases, I decided to crocheted 3 small bottoms.

    I started with the 10 increase version and to my surprise I did not have any problems keeping the bottom flat and firm.

    Then the 8 increase version. 8 increases has always been a big problem for me, it always turned into a bowl. This time I was also able to keep this bottom flat and firm, but I did get painful fingers from heavily massaging the stitches.

    After a good night sleep, the bruised feeling in my fingers was gone and I was ready for the 12 increase version. 12 increases is normal for me, so I did not have any issues to keep it flat and firm.

    The 8 increase bottom has 10 rounds and the 10 and 12 increase bottoms have 11 rounds.

    With the 10 and 12 increase versions, you make one extra round in the beginning, so you don’t get a hole in the middle of the bottom. (You start with 5 or 6 stitches in the magic circle and then increase to 10 or 12.)

    The diameters of the test bottoms are:

    8 increases, 8,4 cm / 3.3 inch

    10 increases, 9,1 cm / 3.6 inch

    2 increases, 9,5 cm / 3.7 inch

    There is a 0,7 cm difference between the 8 and the 10 increases version, but that is mainly because the 10 increase version has one extra round.

    There is only 0,4 cm difference between 10 and 12 increases.

    When you continue and make full size bottoms, the difference in size will stay the same.

    Looking at these bottoms, it is clear that increasing more stitches each round does not make the bottom bigger. So where do these extra stitches go?

    When you increase more stitches each round, the stitches come closer together and that is the reason that the diameter does not get substantially bigger.

    With the 8 increase version I had 6 stitches in 2 cm.

    With the 10 increase version I had 7 stitches in 2 cm.

    With the 12 increase version I had 8 stitches in 2 cm.

    Three crocheted round Mochila bottoms side by side, each with a different number of increases per round (8, 10, and 12), illustrating the minimal difference in diameter.

    When you want to know the size of a bottom, always look at the number of rounds. The number of rounds and the hight of the stitches determine the size of a bottom.

    Now lets stop talking about numbers and go back to crochet 🧶 😄

    Related video

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  • Mochila Mystery

    Mochila Mystery

    Finally I can show you my new bag ‘Mochila Mystery’.

    Last year in June I came up with a new stitch, the ‘Marion stitch’. With the ‘Marion stitch’ you have horizontal yarns over the stitches.

    ‘Mochila Mystery’ is a pattern for the more experienced Mochila makers.

    This bag has two short straps and it closes with a magnet.

    It took a while to come up with a good design.

    My husband helped with designing.

    He made a sketch and then I drew the pattern to see if it would be possible to crochet it. When I was crocheting what I drew, I found out that even tho it was possible to crochet it, it did not always look good 😃 Some things looked good on paper, but did not look good when crocheted.

    Mochila Mystery Challenge yourself with the Mochila Mystery pattern! This striking bag is made using single crochet through the back loop and is worked over six yarns, making it extra sturdy and unique. Designed for more experienced Mochila makers, the pattern includes clear written instructions, detailed charts, and helpful video links for the special techniques.

    At first the background of the big diamond, in the middle of the bag, was crocheted in yellow with the ‘Marion stitch’ over it. That made the ‘Marion stitch’ less visible. So I decided to just crochet big stripes in different colors. With the ‘Marion stitch’ I made the patterns on the stripes.

    It took several 🐸 frogging sessions before I was happy with the pattern. I have probably crocheted the side of the bag twice 😄 before I was completely happy.

    For this bag I challenged myself to choose colors out of my comfort zone. During the making of the bag, the colors started to grow on me 😃

    Another challenge was to make an oval bottom with a pattern in it, I am really happy with the result. My oldest son was able to make a graph for the oval bottom.

    I love to see in what colors ‘Mochila Mystery’ will be made. And I am very curious, what designs will be made with the ‘Marion stitch’.

    References:

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