Mola tutorial 07: A multicolor bird in jungle (sappur sikwi)

Multicolor molas are usually depict pictorial images. Multicolor molas tell stories from Kuna mythology, everyday life, historical events, might depict personalities, like famous athletes, political events, even popular advertisements. 

The following tutorial is based on a beautiful multicolor mola from the British museum collection (original link). It is a cotton mola featuring 'sappur sikwi' (bird in jungle) surrounded by leaves; Moreover, the design combines 'tas tas' (slit shaped) and 'mare mare' (circular) fillers. At the top edge it has a line of ric rac. 

Mola tutorial 06: A three-layer Mola: The reverse applique technique

Three color molas are made with three complete layers of fabric. Kuna women drew the design  with a pencil directly onto the fabric. The more experienced one, could even start a mola without the need to sketch the design with a pencil. They simply started stitching and cutting the fabric.

In this tutorial, you are encouraged to sketch the design directly onto the fabric, without the need to print and copy a pattern. I think that by using this technique, the mola will become unique and you'll have the opportunity to research in practice the authentic reverse applique technique.

Mola tutorial 05: Introduction to three-layer mola

One of the most basic mola techniques, especially for making geometric molas is the three-layer reverse applique technique or three-color mola.

Mola tutorial 04: Two-layer mola on a grid

Create a contemporary, geometric style mola using two layers of contrasting fabrics. The design is based on a typical grid and it develops in a rather random way. This means that the final result will be unexpected and unique. 

Mola tutorial 03- A complex two-layer geometric mola

Many typical molas are complex geometric two-color designs. Common patterns are mazes, crosses, triangles, plant shapes, stylized animals and other shapes. The pattern is usually repeated in horizontal and vertical strips. 

Mola tutorial 02- A two layer mola

Two-layer geometric molas are the oldest type of mola art. The technique is similar to reverse applique stitching. Lets start with an easy pattern, the meander or labyrinth, a popular pattern in Kuna culture. Two color molas are made with two layers of fabric basted together. The top layer is cut and stitched a little at a time, revealing gradually channels of the foundation layer. The width of the channel is normally about 1/4 inch.

Mola tutorial 01- Materials & tools

To  start making molas you need easy to find materials, like pieces of fabric, scissors, thread and a needle. 

Fabric

The best fabric to use for making molas is 100%, lightweight cotton. If you can't fιnd 100% cotton you can use blended fabric of cotton and polyester. Authentic molas use solid colors. However, occasionally, you might see printed fabrics, since it was not always easy to find solid colors.  In the molas, it is used lightweight fabric. However the Kunas sometimes use also heavy type of cotton, but only for the foundation layer.