Mochila Bag with Crocheted Divider

By Robin Kline

Introduction: This document is not a pattern for a Mochila bag, but instead explains the concept of
how to crochet a divider into a bag as you make the bag. This design concept can be used on round
or oval based bags. The divider does not attach to the base of the bag. There will be a slight dimple
on the sides where the divider joins the side of the bag. This can be seen in the photo on page 2.

This technique requires working the side pattern with two different starting points. If your divider will
be a center divider, that means that one round will start with the front side of the bag and the second
round will start with the back side of bag. You may want to mark your pattern to indicate where
marker A and marker B is in the pattern. The divider is worked after you have completed a full row of
the bag, which takes you to the other side, where you start to do the next row, but starting at the other
side of the pattern.

You will need 2 removable stitch markers, preferably of different colors or types. One marker will be
referred to as “A”, the other as “B”. I used a pattern that had a “strong” vertical line that I used for the
connection point so that the join would not be as obvious. This photo shows the side where the
divider join occurs.

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The joins could also be in an area that has no pattern (all one color). The position of the joins could
be halfway around the bag (or sides if an oval bag), or any size you desire. For the purposes of this
explanation, we will use the example of a center divider.

Start the bag as you would any bag, starting with the bottom. Make the turn up the side and complete
2-4 rounds. Place marker A at the beginning of the round if you have not already done so. Place
marker B on the stitch that represents the halfway point around your bag. For example, if your bag is
120 stitches, place marker B on stitch number 60.

Starting the divider: Start at marker A and crochet a single crochet foundation chain, (there are
many videos showing how to do this. Basically it is creating the starting chain AND first row of single
crochet at the same time.) Be sure to carry your threads across! A second option for starting the
divider would be to single crochet over your carry threads to the other side (as in making a very large
buttonhole). The number of stitches for the divider should be long enough to attach without pulling
the sides of the bag in. To figure this, count how many stitches you have per inch/cm, then measure
across your bag to where you will be connecting. Multiply this measurement by the number of
stitches you have per inch/cm to get the number of stitches you need in your divider. The number
does not need to be exact and extra stitches may be better than too few as you do not want the bag
to be pulled inward at the divider. Since the divider is on the inside of the bag, the color or colors are
not as important. I chose to use the color that was used the least, but you can alternate colors, or
create any pattern you wish.

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Round 1 with divider: Connect the divider to the side of the bag where marker B is located. You will
be starting the next round at marker B. Continue this first round PAST maker A around to marker B
where you started the round. Now single crochet across the divider (be sure to catch the 1 st stitch of
the divider, it is easy to skip). The divider will be crocheted in both directions so it is not necessary to
crochet through the back loop only, crocheting through both loops will be easier.

Round 2 with divider: When you get across to marker A, you will start the next round of the pattern.
Starting in the stitch with the marker, work the pattern around passing marker B and back to marker
A, then single crochet the divider stitches over to marker B.

Repeat Round 1 with divider, then Round 2 with divider until 6-8 rounds before the buttonhole round,
if doing buttonholes, otherwise the top of the bag. Stop doing the divider with whichever round you
are most comfortable for continuing the side pattern without the divider.

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To create a bag with a smaller divider like the one pictured below, the same basic steps are used.
Decide where you want the divider to connect to the bag (it does not have to be at the beginning of
the round). Place markers at each point of the join and proceed with rounds 1 and 2 as described. .
My sample bag had 120 stitches per round and the divider was 40 stitches, connecting at 40 stitches,
which was a nice size for slipping my cell phone into and leaving the larger area for the rest of my bag
contents. For further explanation, there were 40 stitches from marker A to marker B, and 80 stitches
from marker B to marker A.

Thank you to Marion Verloop for all her talents. Her patience in helping people learn the beautiful
craft of Mochila bags is unending. I especially appreciate her review of this technique and her
suggestions to help me document it and share it with others. Thank you also to Vicki Hansen Zwart
for her review and input as well.