Adelaide Frog Closure

If you love to make purses and tote bags, learning to make your own frog closures is one of the best things you can do, it will save you money in commercial closures and also provide you with a unique and elegant way to present your purse to others, weather you make them for gifts or for selling. Adelaide is super simple to make but looks great, especially when paired with a cute button of your choice that matches your tote or purse!

To make Adelaide, choose your color and crochet your rope.
If you don't know how to crochet I-cord, please refer to this tutorial:
How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

Materials-
Scraps (less than 1/2 skein) of worsted weight yarn of your choice (cotton or acrylic) matching or contrasting your bag colors as you prefer
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Button of your choice
Pins
Strong sewing thread (optional)
Blunt needle

These are the Steps You need to Follow:
►1- Leaving a long tail at the start, make a Crochet I-Cord that is 18" long, fasten off, leaving an equally long tail at the end (this would be according to your preference both to sew the Frog Closure together and to attach it to your crocheted bag or purse.)
►2- Fold your rope in two, ends matching, and make a sliding knot as if you were going to begin to crochet with the rope itself  (a basic slip knot). DO NOT TIGHTEN THE KNOT! Adjust the knot to match the size of the button you will be using, (test the loop with your button!) Don't make the loop too loose, you know that sometimes crochet stretches with use! Adjust the legs of your rope and leave the knot below your loop, loose enough to pass the end of your rope through.
►3- Now, fold the right leg of the rope left handing in half and pass the loop formed through the loose knot below the loop that will act as your buttonhole, forming a new loop, and pull to tighten, but not too much.
►4- Fold the left leg of the rope left hanging in half, and pass as a loop through the loop just made, and tighten just enough for your work to lie flat.
►Curl the two ends left toward the bottom sides of your frog closure. Pin in place at the back of the frog.
►Thread blunt needle with the tails you left at the beginning and end of your crocheting when you made the I-Cord and sew the ends to where you want them. If necessary, make small stitches to twist the knotted section of the rope in the direction you want the knots to go. Fasten off!  (If you want to, you can use leftover yarn to attach your Frog Closure to your back, or use any strong sewing thread if you prefer.)

Done!

Bible Universe

Melissa

This is a very easy to make but effective handle for a large tote bag.
You can make it in either one of two ways, either you make a small portion of the braid to fall over the shoulder when the bag is used, and attach the ends to two large purse rings and then add crocheted straps to go from the end of the rings rings on the sides of the bag, or you make it long enough to reach your desired length and just attach it to the purse rings on both sides of the bag, either way works beautifully. Another thing you could do with this is to curve it and to sew the edges of the whole braiding to each other like a tube, to make a very strong handle, comparable to a purchased thick handle. then you would attach it to purse rings, this time, you would use it for a handbag.

Use 4 colors that match your bag, or that contrast it beautifully, if the bag is gray, white, brown or black.
For this particular example, I used Red Heart yarn in Paddy Green, Delft Blue, Blue and Spring green. You will have to test (just like when you do swatching) to figure out the length of rope or crocheted I-cord that you will need for your particular bag.
Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of chosen colors (4 different ones)
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Pins
Pinning surface (could be a pillow, a macrame board, an old cushion, etc.)

To make Melissa, choose your colors and crochet your ropes.
If you don't know how to crochet I-cord, please refer to this tutorial: How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes
Once you have made your ropes or I-cords, proceed as possible:
Pin one end of your ropes to the pinning surface of your choice.
In your mind, number your I-cords or ropes 1, 2, 3 and 4 from right to left.
1- Now, working from right to left, bring cord #1 and place it in front of cord #2, loop it around cord #2 towards the back and bring it forward through the small loop that is formed on the side. (Half Hitch formed.)
2- Take cord #2 and loop it around cord #3, around it towards the back and then bring to the front through the small loop that naturally forms on the side. (Half Hitch formed.)
3- Take cord #3 and make a Half Hitch over cord #4.
4- Working from left to right, form a take cord #4 and form a half hitch with it over cord #3.
5- Take cord #3 and make a half hitch with it over cord #2.
6- Take cord #2 and make a half hitch with it over cord #1.
Now start a new series of half hitches moving from right to left. Once you are done with it.
Repeat the half hitches moving from left to right. That is all there is to it!
Continue until you have the length you want for your strap or for your handle.

Don't Remain Down

Corienna

This is an attractive and very easy frog closure to make for your next bag or tote. (It can also be used for clothing.)

Materials-
You will need worsted weight yarn in a color of your choice to match or contrast your project harmoniously. (I used Red Heart Turqua, not even 1/2 skein)
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Pins
A pinning surface, which could be anything from a thick cardboard to an old pillow or cushion

For this frog closure you will need to crochet a rope or crocheted I-cord of 15 1/2" long.

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 the I-cord rope, proceed as follows:
►1- Bend your rope in half, matching ends. Cross the ends of the rope, left over right, forming a loop of a size appropriate for the button you will use the frog for.
Pin in the center of that cross, so that the loop won't become undone.
►2- Bend the left side of the rope over the left one, now bring the left side over the bend and then toward the back, forming a knot and tighten, but as you tighten, insert one of hte fingers just underneath the buttonhole loop, so that a small hole will be left between the buttonholde loop and the knot you are forming.
►3- Repeat step 2.
►4- Bring ends upwards towards the bottom of the loop and pin down.

Thread a needle with color that matches your yarn and working carefully, secure the ends in place, forming 2 decorative, vertical loops, and then secure the top, buttonhole knot, so that it will not let the button slip through when used.
Fasten off, and knot at the back. You can now sew it to your project!

Bible Universe: Explore!

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. . .