Marvelous Hand-Stitched Molitas

Led by Helene Knott

Molas are a form of reverse applique practiced by the natives of the San Blas Islands off of Panama. In this technique, several brightly colored fabrics are layered, then cut away by layers and hand-stitched to create colorful Folk Art designs usually depicting animals, flowers, or people. The word Mola means shirt or blouse in the native language, and indeed, traditional Molas were made as the bodice of clothing worn by the women of the Cuna tribe in the San Blas Islands. In this class, you will learn the traditional hand-stitched Mola technique while making a small Mola, or Molita, as the smaller ones made for the tourist trade are called. There will be a variety of folk art motif patterns to choose from. The beauty of this traditional fiber art technique is that everything you need to carry out the project fits neatly in a small quart-sized Zip-loc bag, making it one of the more portable projects you can do. Take it to the park, work on it at your lunch break or while at a board meeting, or on your road or camping trip...