Craftybegonia's Pretzel Frog Closure

This frog closure is a lot of fun. It is very easy to make and really lovely. Originally, I made it to close a capelet (so it is versatile) but looks gorgeous as a closure for a large bag or tote, so I decided to share it here at our Embellish Crochet School.

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn
Crochet hook size H
Pins
Pinning cardboard or pillow
scissors
Blunt needle to sew

With Worsted weight yarn in the color of your choice and H hook, make an crocheted I-Cord rope 19" long. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.


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 frog, work as following:

Fold the cord in half, matching the ends. Cross the left end over the right one, forming a loop the size of the button you will be using. Pin in place. Curl right rope's end into a circle, insert end into the circle and pull a bit, as if you were going to make a knot, but not tightening into a knot, but leaving spaces in between, (it will look like a pretzel) bring the end up to one side of the button loop (turn the knot you just formed around, so that the pretzel part will be to the bottom and the end of the rope to the top, bring the top to the side of the loop that will form the buttonhole) and pin. Repeat on the opposite side. Now thread blunt needle with tail and sew, to secure the ends in place. Finally, take out the pins and stitch the middle, where the loop was crossed, to keep the button from slipping out. Fasten off. Sew frog to your bag, large purse or tote, leaving the buttonhole loop free. Sew button in place and you're done! You just got a handsome way to close your new bag.

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Clair-Evette Purse Strap

Your bag needs a pretty handle to complete its beautiful look, why not make a lovely strap? You can save money and have an even more unique bag in the end!

As all other rope-braids this one might look a little complicated, but if you follow the instructions carefully, it is quite easy to make.

Materials-

Worsted weight yarn of your choice in 4 different colors, wound up into balls

Crochet hook size H

Scissors

Pins

A pinning surface (could be a macramé cardboard, a simple strong cardboard or my favorite, a pillow)

Make 4 I-Cord ropes as we have taught in previous tutorials, leaving one end of rope tied to the ball of yarn, in case you miscalculate how much you need and need to crochet more rope. If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

Once you have made ropes (I suggest that you make them in 4 different colors that either match or contrast your bag nicely) proceed as follows to make the strap:

Pin your ropes to your braiding surface (cardboard or pillow) leaving the distance of about 2 sc in between them (a couple of centimeters), you have to eye-ball it. If you use a cardboard surface, you can make a small rule on top to help you out. I like to make a large square of crocheted sc, and place it at the back to help me as a guide. You can do whatever you like, this is not an exact science, so whatever you like will work.

Mentally count your ropes as 1, 2, 3 and 4, from left to right.

1-     Pass rope 2 under ropes 3 and 4 toward the right.

2-     Pass rope 1 over ropes 3 and 4 to the right.

3-     Pass new rope 4 over rope 3 to the left.

4-     Pass new rope 2 over rope 1 to the left.

5-     Cross the two ropes that are now in the middle, the left one over the right one, toward the right. Tighten a bit.

6-     Pass new rope 4 over rope 3 to the left.

7-     Pass new rope 2 over rope 1 to the left.

8-     Take rope 1 and pass it under ropes 2 and 3 and over rope 4, leaving a small loop.

Take rope 4, pass it over ropes 3 and 2, and through the loop and over rope. Tighten a bit.
Take rope 4, pass it over ropes 2 and 3 and under rope 1, leaving a small loop.

Take rope 1, pass it under ropes 2 and 3 and through loop to complete the square knot.

9-     Cross new rope 4 over rope 3 right to left, cross rope 2 over rope 1, right to left.

10-  Cross the two ropes that are now in the middle left to right.

11- Repeat step #8.

Continue repeating Steps 3 to 8 for as long as you need to, until you have the length of  strap you want for your purse or bag.

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