Kuna Molas are a favorite for collectors.

1. Kuna Molas – How Do You Make One?
Published by Panama Simple, June 21, 2013 | By Dennis Smith
Creating a Mola Takes Time, Patience and Creativity
The Mola as sewn by the Kuna women in Panama has become a very popular art form. Though the
Molas (blouse in Kuna) are intended for day-to-day wear, many see them as collector’s pieces. Here
is a quick guide on how to make Kuna Molas.
A Mola panel can have two to seven layers of cloth. The layers of fabric, cut in rectangles from a
variety of colors, are basted together, one layer at a time, and a design is sketched with pencil on the
top layer of cloth. The design is cut away, turned under and stitched. With each layer, the artist cuts
away another part of the design, turns the edges and stitches to the lower layers.

2. This continues until the final image is achieved. The fabric most often selected for use in making a
Mola is cotton. Red, black and orange are the dominant colors used, however, every color imaginable
can be found in the accent fabrics used. Traditional Kuna Mola motifs stem from nature and everyday
life.
Fabric is snipped away, closely following the design, to reveal the lower layer of fabric. The cut is
made through one or more layers to reveal the selected accent color. The raw edges of the cut
section are notched to avoid bunching, turned under and stitched, permanently exposing the lower
layer of fabric and creating the intended pattern.
The tools and supplies needed to design and make a Mola are simple and basic: cotton fabric, thread,
a pencil, scissors, a thimble and a needle.
Now you know the basics of the Kuna Molas. Good luck and enjoy your experiments.
Culture in Panama
This post was written by
Dennis Smith – who has written 74 posts on .
Dennis Smith earns his living as a copywriter, online content creator & manager, writing business

3. plans for small businesses and editing whatever is necessary. Dennis is also a certified Inbound
Marketer. He lives in Panama where he acts as a consultant for foreign businesses that want to enter
the country.