Grasshopper Frog Closure

A pretty closure is the perfect finish for any bag, tote, shawl, wrap or jacket, this one is no exception!

Materials-

Worsted weight yarn of your choice (I used Red Heart Spring Green,) less than 1/2 skein

Crochet hook size H

Green button the size of the loop you plan to leave on the frog (that can be adjusted to your taste)

Pins

Blunt needle

Pinning surface (cardboard, pillow, macrame board, etc)

Measuring tape

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

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

To make this frog, proceed as follows:

• Make a 25" long I-Cord crochet rope. (Measure it, you'll need every inch of it!) Fasten off, leaving long tail to later sew it with.
• Fold the rope in half, matching ends. Cross left side of rope over right side, pin in place (that is your buttonhole, adjust to size of button you have chosen, remembering to match the ends.)
• Cut a piece of Spring Green yarn 60" long. Fold it in half. Fold it in half again, remembering to match ends. Move pin on the I-cord to the beginning of one of the sides, add another pin to the other rope leg, making sure you keep the loop you formed, but freeing the spot so you can work. Put one finger into the loop in the middle of the folded yarn and pass it under the loop formed by the I-cord or crocheted rope, then bring the yarn around from the back to the front over the loop, and pass the ends of the yarn through the loop in the yarn and tighten it, securing the I-cord loop in place. (Do NOT cut the yarn!) Move the pins again to where it’s comfortable for you to secure the loop and yet be able to work with the ends freely.
• Divide the hanging yarn into 2 equal sections.
• While holding the piece of hanging yarn that lies to the right, bring the end of the crocheted rope over the yarn, then around it towards the back and insert the end of the rope through the loop that forms naturally. Repeat a second time.
• Do the same with the opposite leg of the I-cord, pass it over the handing yarn on the left, then around it towards the back and through the loop that forms, and tighten it. Repeat a second time.
• Now bring the handing yarn to the middle and tie a knot.
• Now pass the crocheted rope on the right under the hanging yarn and bend it, pass the I-cord on the left over the handing yarn and bend it, pass the ends through the loops formed and tighten. Repeat again.

Done!

  Bible Universe

Knotted Frog Closure

My mom asked me to make this frog closure for her, for a pretty wrap she has been crocheting and I decided to share it with all of you. It can be equally used as a closure for a warp, shawl, jacket or a lovely large tote or bag, so here it is!

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your choice (I used Red Heart Burgundy)
Crochet hook size h
Measuring tape
Scissors
Pins
Blunt needle
Cardboard, pillow or other pinning surface
Button (color of your choice, size according to the buttonhole loop you create at the beginning)

If you do not know how to make crocheted I-Cord ropes, please refer to this tutorial:
If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial: How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes
To make this frog, proceed as follows:
Make a 25" long I-Cord crochet rope. (Measure it, you'll need every inch of it!) Fasten off, leaving long tail.
Fold rope in half, ends matching. Fold left end of rope over right end, pin to pinning surface (that will be your buttohole, so take into consideration the size you want and slide the hole a little bit if necessary to match your button size! Make sure ends match after adjustment.)
After buttonhole has been made, you will have approx. 10" on either side of rope to work with. Place a pin in the middle of the loop, where you pass the rope over itself to form the loop and 1 pin on each side of the rope, on both sides of the top.
Cut 2 20" pieces of Burgundy (or color that you have chosen to make your frog) and fold in half, matching ends. Remove central pin of buttonhole loop, leaving the other two pins in place.
Slip the folded yarn under the loop that forms the buttonhole, where the rope legs cross, and froming a loop with the yarn, pass the ends of the yarn through the yarn loop and pull tight. Replace the central pin on top of the yarn, leave the rest of the yarn hanging. Fold Left leg of rope over the central hanging yarn and pass it under the right leg of the rope. Bring right leg of the rope under the yarn and over the loop that has formed when you bent the left leg of the rope. Pull up gently, holding the handing yarn taut. (Square Knot formed.)
Move the pins to the top of the buttonhole loop.

Repeat the Square Knot.
Repeat the Square Knot again.
Curl remaining length of rope over itself and pin.
Repeat with the opposite side.
Thread blunt needle with yarn of corresponding color and begin to sew the curled up ends secure.Using side loops of I-Cord rope, sew the curled up ends to the knotted center. Fasten off. weave in ends.
Make a few discreet stitches to secure butthole loop in place for constant use.
DO NOT SNIP THE HANGING YARN. Weave into the back of the frog.
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Tip- If your frog is a bit twisted to the side, that is normal because of the knotting. "Straighten" it out and fix it in place by a few discreet stitches at the back.

Done!

  Bible Universe

Fun Butterfly Frog Closure

This frog closure is very easy to do but it can still enhance your bag quite a bit.
It will look beautiful on a large tote but also will look super cute on a child's jacket.

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your choice
Crochet hook size H
Pins
Pinning cardboard or pillow
Blunt needle and yarn of matching color to sew frog together and to project
Scissors

First, you need to make an I-cord rope that is 15 1/2" long.

If you do not know how to make crocheted I-Cord ropes, please refer to this tutorial:
If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial: How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

To form the frog proceed as follows:
Match the ends of your rope.
Cross end of rope over itself, right to left, to form loop that will act as a buttonhole. Pin in place.
Cross again in the same direction.
Pass the rope over itself to form a loop, pin in place. Repeat on opposite side.
Curl the ends of the rope to form the top of the wings of the butterfly. Pin into place.
Thread a blunt needle with yarn and begin to sew butterfly together (do not pull all the pins off at once but do it little by little, securing the shape of the butterly as you go.)
Fasten off securely at back so that your frog closure will withstand use.
Sew onto your project.
Sew button opposite buttonhole loop.
Done!

  Bible Universe

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.

Bible Universe

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.

Bible Universe

Terry-Jean's Braid or Purse Strap

This is a lovely braid or strap made with 4 crocheted I-cord ropes, that can be used as an embellishment for the front of a bag or as a fun and colorful bag strap. If you decide to make it into a strap, calculate enough braid to fold over the purse ring that you'll use to attach the strap to your bag and sew on the back side.

This braid is based on the crochet I-cord, if you do not know how to make this cord or rope, please refer to this tutorial:
How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your choice in 4 different colors to match or contrast your bag
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Pins
Pillow to pin ropes to for braiding
Measuring tape (if you need to measure length of braid to fit your bag)
Purse rings of choice (if using for a strap)

Make balls for each color you will be using. Work 1 rope or I-cord per color. Make each rope twice as long as the finished item.
Leave one end of the rope attached to the yarn in the ball, just in case you need more rope. Once you finish your strap, you can easily fasten off, but if you miscalculate and do not have enough rope and have severed the yarn, you then have to start all over again, whereas if you run out of rope before you're done braiding, you can easily pin the part you have braided to secure it and crochet the necessary length of rope and finish your strap or braid without a problem.

To make the strap, proceed as follows: 


Mentally number your ropes 1, 2, 3 and 4, counting left to right.

1- Bend rope 4 over the 2 middle ones and place it under rope 1. Bend rope 1 under the 2 middle ropes and bring forward through the loop
that formed when you bent the first rope, tighten a bit. Repeat. (Do not tighten too much, let the colors of the ropes be seen.)

2- Pass rope 2 over rope 1, pass rope 4 over rope 3, and cross the 2 ropes that are now in the middle one over the other, left to right.

3- Repeat step 3.

4- Repeat step 1.

Repeat these 4 steps for as long as you need to to make your braid or strap.

There is an immense amount of variations to these beautiful straps, as many as the ideas you get for new bags, totes and purses, so experiment and have fun with them!

Look Beyond Today. . .

Norivette Braid

This is a pretty 4 rope braid that can be used as an embellishment for the front of a simple tote or large bag or as an
eye-catching strap. If you decide to make it into a strap, calculate enough braid to fold over the purse ring you will be using and sew on the back side.

This braid is based on the crochet I-cord, if you do not know how to make this cord or rope, please refer to this tutorial:
How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your choice in 4 different colors to match or contrast your bag
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Pins
Pillow to pin ropes to for braiding
Measuring tape (if you need to measure length of braid to fit your bag)
Purse rings of choice (if using for a strap)

Make balls for each color you will be using. Work 1 rope or I-cord per color. Make each rope twice as long as the finished item.
Leave one end of the rope attached to the yarn in the ball, just in case you need more rope. Once you finish your strap, you can easily fasten off, but if you miscalculate and do not have enough rope and have severed the yarn, you then have to start all over again, whereas if you run out of rope before you're done braiding, you can easily pin the part you have braided to secure it and crochet the necessary length of rope and finish your strap or braid without a problem.

To make the braid proceed as follows:

Mentally number your ropes 1, 2, 3 and 4, counting from the left to the right.

1- Cross rope 2 over rope 3 from left to right, place the end of rope 3 over rope 1, and the end of rope 2 underrope 4, moving from left to right.

Repeat the same steps for as long as needed to complete your embellishing braid or fancy purse strap!

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