Multicolor Molas

These are the molas most sought after by collectors. I call them "multicolor molas" because they are always made with no limit on the number of colors. They often depict objects from the everyday life of the Kunas, such as flora and fauna, canoes or tools, cultural rituals, sports, politics, special events and celebrations or even products advertised on billboards in the cities or in magazines. Some are purely geometric exercises. Very often the visitors to the islands may bring printed materials that inspire molas.The methods for making them vary with the initial channel which can be made with at least a dozen different variations. Many designs are repeated over and over throughout the islands.
There are three steps to making a multi color mola:

1. Creating the channel
which defines the object or format and which may have 1,2,3,5 up to 7 outlines.
2.Adding significant details
with appliqué which defines the object or activity and which are also outlined.
3. Filling in all the space
with negative appliqué details, of which the most common are vertical slits, tiny dots or scattered triangles.

These are the molas most sought after by collectors. I call them "multicolor molas" because they are always made with no limit on the number of colors. They often depict objects from the everyday life of the Kunas, such as flora and fauna, canoes or tools, cultural rituals, sports, politics, special events and celebrations or even products advertised on billboards in the cities or in magazines. Some are purely geometric exercises. Very often the visitors to the islands may bring printed materials that inspire molas.The methods for making them vary with the initial channel which can be made with at least a dozen different variations. Many designs are repeated over and over throughout the islands. There are three steps to making a multi color mola: 1. Creating the channel which defines the object or format and which may have 1,2,3,5 up to 7 outlines. 2.Adding significant details with appliqué which defines the object or activity and which are also outlined. 3. Filling in all the space with negative appliqué details, of which the most common are vertical slits, tiny dots or scattered triangles.
	The hearts in this mola were made with the simple one outline channel cut and stitched through the black layer over a brown foundation. The leaves were appliquéd on top with their own outlines.The slits were used to fill in all of the spaces.	This crab mola contains one of the most fascinating and most tedious details--the sawtooth edge.The crab has 5 outlines in the channel including the sawtooth edge, scattered triangles filling the space, tiny dots within the space of the details and much embroidery.

	This geometric mola features channels of three outlines forming the zigzag shapes. The crosses are appliquéd on top with their own outlines.	The turn of the century did not go unnoticed by the maker of this mola. Three outlines form the channels that define two frames for the letters and numbers. They were made with many outlines.

	This amusing mola features two women's bras, highly decorated with flowers. This garment is not unknown to these primitive women who frequently shop in the cities. This mola features three outlines around the main objects, the fill in of vertical slits and much embroidery filling in the space.	Three outlines are in the channel that form a rounded square format for the main figures. The boats, fishermen and creatures are appliquéd in place with their outlines. Many details are appliquéd over other details. Vertical slits fill in all the space between the figures.