Suzanne

When I started making purse straps I found that I added another layer of creativity to crochet purse-making. There was another dimension of choices when it came to colors (whether they should match or contrast the purse,) and shape. When I shared the straps, I knew that other crocheters would love the freedom of being able to design a complete project, choosing what they wanted it to look like from beginning to end. And creative women grabbed the idea and ran with it, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. Suzanne is the latest in a series of beautiful straps for purses and totes. Our second round strap.

Note 1- Since I wanted a short purse strap, I used I-cords that were 16" long. You can experiment with different lengths to obtain the size you want. This is definitely not a precise science!

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn in 4 colors of your choice (I used less than 1/2 skein of Red Heart worsted weight yarn in the following colors: Delft Blue, Paddy Green. Spring Green and Bright Yellow)
2 purse rings (I chose them gold but you can use any color you want, or use wooden ones if you prefer)
Crochet hook size H
3 Safety pins (medium or large)
Blunt needle
Pinning surface (the best one would be a large pillow or old cushion)

Note 2- You can make this braid using only one color, but it will not be as arresting as the one in four colors is.
Make your cords.

If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

To Make Suzanne, proceed as follows:
1- Run a safety pin across the 4 I-cords to join them, leaving about 1" of cord to sew around purse ring.
2- Use another safety pin to attach the now joined cords to your pillow or cushion.
3- Mentally number your cords 1, 2, 3 and 4, from right to left.
3- Separate the cords as follows: Stretch each one of your cords in a diagonal direction, as if you were trying to make a letter V with the first 2 working cords, which will be cord #1 and cord #4.
Form an Inverted V with cords #2 and #3. While working, always move in a diagonal pattern.

Braid Suzanne, proceed as follows:

1- Bring cord #4 to where cord #2 is and position cord # 2 where cord #4 was.
2- Bring cord #3 where cord #1 is and take cord #1 where cord #3 was.
Repeat these 2 steps for cord. Give it a little tug as you go, if necessary. When you reach about an inch of the way down, run the last safety pin across the top of the strap to secure your work and then fasten off and sew strap ends around purse rings.

Done!

Pathlights. . .Worthwhile exploring!

Tazia

This is another lovely strap that you could use for a tote or if you want it shorter, for a handbag.You can end the strap just by sewing the ends to the bag, or by bending the ends around a purchased purse ring and sewing the ends onto the strap itself on the back.
Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your own choice in 4 colors (or at least 2 different colors,) I chose two shades of orange, a green and a yellow. You will need at least 1/2 skein of each color
Crochet hook size H
Pinning surface
Pins
2 Large safety pins
Scissors

►To make Tazia, proceed as follows:
First, make your crocheted I-cords or ropes.

If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

►Note 1- This strap begins flat but then turns into a round, woven cord to make the flat knots you will need to pin the ropes of I-cord to a pinning surface, but to work the round part, you will not need the pinning surface anymore.
Leaving about an inch of crocheted I-cord at the top, take one of the large safety pins and pass it through each one of the 4 crocheted ropes, joining them all into a bundle. Attach the top of the "waste" cord to the pinning surface and begin to work.
Once your ropes are made. attach them to your pinning surface. Pin your ropes as follows: the two from one color on the edges (positions 1 and 4, and the two on the contrasting color, in the middle.) Mentally count your ropes 1, 2, 3 and 4 from left to right.
►Bend rope 4 over the two middle ones and under rope 1. Bend rope 1 around the back of the two middle  ropes and over the loop formed by rope 4 when you bent it, now pass the end of rope 1 towards the back into the loop formed by rope 4. Tighten it. Repeat this twice.
►Note 2- When you tighten, it is important that you hold down the middle ropes with one hand while you pull on the others with your other hand, so that the tightening will be even. Also, when you tighten the side ropes (ropes 1 and 4) do it in a horizontal direction.
Once you make these 2 flat knots, you are ready to begin the round part of the strap. Take off the pins and detach the ropes from the pinning surface.

To make the round section of the strap proceed as follows:
►Note 3- At this point, it is optional to add the second safety pin to secure the round portion of the strap while you work on the last 2 flat knots.
►Lay the bundle of cords on the safety pin that holds them and, ignoring the little ends you left for sewing the strap to purse rings, spread the 4 ropes in the four directions of the compass.
►Now, take the rope that is lying in the direction of "UP" and bring it down where the one in the direction of "Down" is, and take the one that was Down and put it where the one that was Up was located.
►Now take the rope that lies to the Right and pass it over to where the one on the Left is, and take the one on the Left and put it where the one on the Right used to be.
►Repeat this process until you have reached almost the end of your strap (you have to eyeball this, it is not a precise science.)
►Repeat the two flat knots you made at the beginning, leaving just enough rope ends to be able to sew the strap around the purse rings you have chosen for your purse. Remove safety pins and sew strap ends to purse rings as usual. Fasten off, weave in tails.
Done!

Pathlights. . .Worthwhile exploring!

Andreia Braid

This is a super easy braid. Pretty, but simple, with somewhat of a fishtail look to it. The color contrasts give it punch, so prefer to make it in at least 2 colors rather than just monotone. If you have never tried one of our braids and feel a bit intimidated, start with this one!
You will need 4 crocheted I-cord ropes (please refer to previous tutorials to learn how to make them)
Note- You can make this braid in only one color but it really looks prettier in at least 3 colors.

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your choice in at least 3 colors (less than 1/2 skein, depending on how long you want to make your I-cord ropes)
For this particular example, I used Red Heart worsted weight Claret for the ropes on the sides and Pumpkin and Bright Yellow for the ones in the middle.
Crochet hook size H
Old pillow or cushion
2 large safety pins
Optional- Straight pins

Make your cords as explained in previous tutorials, choosing one color for the sides and at least 2 colors for the center cords.

If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes
To make the braid, proceed as follows:

Make your cords as explained in previous tutorials, choosing one color for the sides and at least 2 colors for the center cords, or 1 color for the sides and 1 color for the 2 center cords.

To make the braid, proceed as follows:
Inn your mind, number your ropes 1, 2, 3 and 4, counting from the right to the left.

♪ 1- Attach all the cords to the pillow with a safety pin.
♪ 2- Grab the two side braids (in this case, the Claret ones, numbers 1 and 4,) and cross them one over the other, from left to right, behind the two middle ones. Tighten a bit.
♪ 3- (Rope 4 has now become rope 1, and rope 1 has now become rope 4) Bring the rope on the right, rope 1, around the back of rope 2, and to the middle, inserting it between ropes 2 and 3.
♪ 4- Bright rope 4 (still working with the Claret ropes,) around from the back to the front around rope 3, and place it in the middle, between ropes 2 and 3, now cross the two ropes you inserted in the middle, over each other, from left to right, and tighten. If you want to, you can insert a straight pin right in the
middle of your work, to keep the forming braid tight. Push ropes 1 and 4 to the sides under ropes 2 and 3, to prepare for the next move.
♪ 5- Bring rope 1 to the front around rope 2, and to the center of ropes 2 and 3, bring rope 4 to the front, over rope 3 and to the center in the middle of ropes 2 and 3, cross from left to right. Tighten. If you want to, pin to keep it tight. Push ropes 1 and 3 to the sides, underneath the center ropes, to prepare for the next move.

►Repeat step 5 for as long as you need to for the braid to form.

Pathlights. . .Worthwhile exploring!

Braiding a Beautiful Bag

Take a look at some of the great tutorials I've collected for you on my Pinterest board especially for bag-making!
You will find them here:

Braiding a Beautiful Bag

Real Hope. . .

Gigi's Purse Strap

This narrow braid made into two short strips to be sewn to purse rings, makes a really attractive substitute for a commercial purse handle.
It is ideal for a purse or a small bag and it is quite easy to make!

To begin with, you will need to pick two contrasting colors that either match your purse or contrast beautifully with it. For example, if you have made a bag whose purse handle would have been a commercial wooden handle, why not make this one in two different earthy tones? Attach the ends to wooden purse rings and you've got a winner! If your purse was made in a variegated, pick the two most outstanding matching colors and use them for the strap, then sew them to metallic rings and you'll see how pretty it looks!

If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of two colors of your choice (1/2 skein)
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Pins
Pinning surface (it could be a pillow, an old cushion, a piece of cardboard, a macrame board)
Tip:
 About your ropes or I-cords: Make them approximately twice as long as you would need them. (I suggest you leave one end of the I-cord or rope attached to the ball of yarn just in case you need more to get your desired length. This thing is definitely not a precise science!)
Pin the cord to your pinning surface, leaving free the end that has the ball attached to it. If you can manage your knotting with the ball, that is just wonderful. You can also wind some extra yarn to a wooden clothespin to make sure you have some extra yarn to work with in case you need a bit more I-cord, and then work, using the clothespin as they used to do macrame a century ago by using bobbin lace bobbins (you can use modern bobbin lace bobbins too), do whatever you consider, but it is best to have some yarn left than to be short on cord and no yarn to work with and to have to start all over again!
To make the strap proceed as follows:
Make 2 I-cord or crocheted ropes of each chosen color.
1- Leaving the rope on the left hanging and holding it straight with one hand, bring the one on the right to the front and around it towards the back, forming a rounded loop, then pass the end of the rope through to the front again. Tighten.
2- Now keeping the right rope hanging and holding it straight, repeat the process by bringing the one on the left to the front of the one on the right and around it, forming a rounded loop, and then pass the end of it through to the front. Tighten.
Repeat these 2 steps to form your pretty strap.
That was easy, wan't it?

Happy Holidays!

Bible Universe

Peony Pink Frog Closure

Materials-
Red Heart Shocking Pink
G hook
Measuring Tape.
Pinning surface (could be an old cushion or even a piece of cardboard)
Pins
Blunt needle to sew yarn


With G hook and Shocking Pink make a crocheted I-cord rope that is 25" long.

► To make the frog closure, proceed as follows:
Place the rope on the pinning surface you have chosen to use. Match ends of the rope.
Pass left leg of rope over right leg to form a loop (adjust to the size of the button you have chosen) and pin down.
Take left leg of rope and bring it around the right leg towards the back, forming a loop, then take the right leg and move it tot he back, then toward the front around the left leg and into the loop formed. Tighten a bit to form a knot.

Turn the end of the rope into a circle by curling over itself, then, slip the end of the rope through the loop formed and tighten, making a knot.
Repeat ont he opposite side.
Sew remaining ends of the rope to the back of the center knot as seen in photos.
Secure the top loop (buttonhole) with a few stitches.

Done!

Bible Universe

Kathlyn Frog Closure

Frog Closures are such a  lovely finishing touch for a bag or even for a simple tote for daily use! This one is very easy to make. If you have never made one of our closures, start with this one, you will not be disappointed! Don't be intimidated by its beauty, it is as simple as knotting and sewing. Go ahead, make Kathlyn!

Materials-
Red Heart worsted weight yarn (color of your choice)
Button of your choice
Pinning surface (could be an old cushion or pillow, a macrame board or a thick piece of cardboard)
Pins to hold your work in progress
Scissors
Measuring tape
Yarn or blunt needle

Make 1 crocheted I-cord or rope that is 17 1/2 inches long.
If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:
How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

To make Kathlyn, proceed as follows:
♦ Fold your rope in half, matching ends.
♦ Cross one leg of the rope over the other (still matching ends) and pin at the desired height to form a loop to match the button you will be using.
♦ Take the left leg (hanging cord) and turn it over itself to form a circle, insert the end through the circle and pull through (not too tightly) forming a knot.
♦ Repeat with opposite leg.
♦ Cross Right rope over Left rope, ends over each other, then bring towards the knot on each side and secure with a pin.
♦ Thread blunt needle with yarn and sew the center loop secure at the level of the button of your choice, then sew the ends secure on the sides of the knots, right underneath the knots. Fasten off
and weave ends at back of Frog.

♦ Sew onto your purse or bag using the little loops on the sides of the ropes, taking care not to pull nor deform your Frog Closure.

Enjoy!

  Bible Universe