Naomi's Braid or Purse Strap

This braid or strap is a colorful and easy way to add interest to a common-looking and otherwise drab little tote or bag. If you have made a large bag and it looks a bit dull, even with bright colors and seems to be missing "something", why not add one of these fun and attractive straps? You will find a few nice ones in this blog.

To learn how to make the crocheted ropes, please search for the tutorial about them by using the Search box at the right hand side of this blog post.

Make 4 crocheted I-cord ropes of different colors contrasting or harmonizing with the color or colors of your bag or tote.
The ropes will be more attractive if they are not made all the same color, it will also be easier for you to keep track of where
the ropes go, when you're a newbie at this.
Leaving at the edges to the braid a bit of free rope so that you can easily sew the finished braid to the purse rings once you are done, proceed as follows:

1- Pass rope 4 under rope 3 and then bring to the front over the same rope, and towards the back over itself, forming a loop. Tighten. Repeat again.
Repeat the same procedure with rope 1 and rope 2, twice.

2- Cross the two middle ropes over each other, left rope over right rope. Place the ends behind the two side ropes.
3- Cross the side ropes in the middle, the left rope over the right rope.
4 and 5- repeat steps 2 and 3 twice.
6- Repeat step 1.

Continue repeating these steps for the length of your strap. Sew ends to a purse ring and you're done!











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Bible Universe

Betty Jo's Braid

For this purse strap you will need 4 ropes. Each of a different color (please refer to previous tutorials to learn how to make the crocheted ropes. Use the Search box to find them.)
For this example I used Red Heart colors Shocking pink, Pretty 'n Pink, Spring Green and Kelly Green, but you can use anything you like or what will match with your bag.

Once you have your ropes, you make the strap as follows:

1- Twist your first two colors and pin them down at the top and at the bottom of the working surface, so that the twist will not unravel and remain firm.
2- Insert the other two cords through the center of the first twist, bring the ends around the edges and push them down the center of the next twist, keep repeating until you get the length you want.
3- Secure both ends with a safety pin before you take your braid off of your working surface and finish your strap by sewing the ends to your purse ring securely.

This makes a pretty easy 4-color braid that even a braiding beginner can make in a jiffy!

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God Loves You!

Betsy's Woven Purse Handle

This is one of the easiest weavings to make for a pretty purse or bag handle.
Make 3 crocheted ropes in 3 different colors which either contrast or harmonize with your bag, tote or purse.
Make them a little bit longer than you think your need them, to allow for the twisting and weaving, but leave one end
attached to the ball or skein, just in case you need to add more length to complete your project.
Attach the finished end of each rope to a pillow or something that will allow you to do the weaving without the ropes moving all over the place. The rope that will weave through the twisted ones, if still attached to a ball or skein, must lie on the
opposite direction than the others, otherwise, the ball or skein will not permit you to pass the rope through the twists.
To make the woven braid, proceed as follows:

1- Attach first two braids. Then twist them over each other, pin down to keep them in place.
2- Take weaver rope and then pass it over and under in between the middle of the twists.

Once you have the desired length, sew to a purse ring and you have a pretty embellished strap for your next purse, tote, or bag!

















When You Need to Have Strength. . .

Marly's Braid or Purse Strap

This pretty braid can be used either to embellish a purse or a tote bag or for the strap of the bag. To make this easy but pretty braid, make 4 ropes in different colors, I used Red Heart yarns because they are easily found by all, the colors I chose, if you happend to like the color combo, were:
Bright Yellow, Delft Blue, Turqua (to get a nice aqua shade)and Spring Green, for the MacIntosh apple tone (please refer to previous tutorials to learn how to make the ropes.)
To make the braid proceed as follows:Pin the ropes to a pillow or to a piece of cardboard (with a piece of fabric underneat to keep the braid clean) to make it easier for you to make the braid.

1- Cross rope 3 over rope 2.
2- Without bringing the to the top, but moving them underneath the previously made cross, bring rope 4 and rope 1 to the center and cross rope 1 over
rope 4.
3- Cross tope 4 over rope 3 (bue over aqua) and rope 1 over rope 2 (green over yellow).
4- Cross rope 3 over rope 2 (aqua over yellow).
5- Bring Blue and green ropes to the center, underneath the other 2 ropes. Cross blue over green rope.
6- Bring the other two ropes underneath the previous rope and cross the yellow over the aqua.
7- Cross the aqwua over the green and the yellow over the blue.
8- Bring the yellow and the aqua underneath the other two ropes and cross them.
9- Bring the blue and the green under the yellow and the aqua and cross them.
Continue these steps for as long as you want to, thios will make a lovely braid for the front of a bag or a very striking handle for a bag!

When Things Go Wrong...

Debra's Braid

This is a fun braid, it is a combination of 3-strand and 4-strand that occurred to me as I was working with ropes. I named it after a friend of our family. This braid makes a pretty embellishment for a bag that needs a little "something."
To make this braid, you will need 4 crocheted ropes (please look at previous tutorials to learn how to make them!) preferably of 4 different
colors so that you will be able more easily to track where each one goes (and the braids look prettier that way.)
To make braid proceed as follows:
1- Working only with the first 3 ropes, cross rope 3 over rope 2.
2- Bring rope 1 over rope 2.
3- Bring rope 3 over rope 2.
4- Bring rope 1 over rope 2.
5- Bring rope 4 underneath rope 3 and over rope 2, bring rope 1 over it.
6- Bring new rope 4 under rope 3, over rope 2 and under new rope 1.
7 to 10- Ignoring new rope 1, and working only with 3 ropes, rep rows 1- 4.

Rep all these rows over and over to get your rope.















When Things Go Wrong...

Gladys' Braid

This is a simple 3-strand braid which is left open for effect. It is a bit asymmetrical and angular, which makes it interesting and less common than the usual 3-strand braid, it is also very easy to make.


Glady's braid will be most effective in 3 colors, especially if the they contrast against the background of the bag.
Make a ball of yarn for each color of rope you will be making, then make your ropes.

To make it proceed as follows:

Make your crocheted ropes as we have made them in previous tutorials. (Please take a look at our previuos tutorials and beautiful braids.)
Make twice as much as the size of the bag or tote you want to embellish. Leave one end of the rope attached to the ball of yarn, justin case you run
out of rope before you have finished the amount of braiding you need or on the other hand, if you have a bit more rope than you need, to be able to unravel and adjust
it.

Pin one end of ropes to edge of bag or purse, leaving an excess that will be folded over the edge of the bag and which will disappear under the lining.
To braid, work in the following manner:

1- Bring rope #1 over rope #2, then pass rope #3 over rope #2.
2- Bring new rope #1 over new rope #2, and new rope #3 over rope #2. (Leave the braiding quite "open" so that the fabric of the bag will show through.)
Continue to repeat these two rows, continuously until you have the length of braid you want.
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Alone in the Crowd

Adriana's Braid

If you make bags often or totes, you cannot have enough of these braids. You could be making the same simple bag, and making it look different each time by using one of these braids. This one is beautiful as is, but you can embellish it further as I will explain later. Let's get going!

Make 6 ropes as explained before (please refer to other tutorials for manner of making the ropes)
of 6 different colors of your choice (it will help you keep better track of where each rope goes
and honestly speaking, the braids are prettier that way!) Choose colors that match or contrast
your bag or tote in a complimentary way. It the bag is in a neutral tone (beige, light gray, ets.)
the sky is the limit, because those colors go with any other color or hue you can imagine!

To start the braid: Measure your bag to place ropes at an equal distance on both sides.

Pin 3 ropes on one side at the top of the bag, leaving a bit of extra rope that will be secured to the inside of the
bag and will go under the lining of the bag.

Pin 3 topes on the opposite end at the top of the bag, leaving at least 3 inches in between the two groups of ropes.

Braiding:

1- Bring the left hand rope over the middle rope to the center.
2- Now, place the right hand rope over the new middle strand to the center.
3- Now bring the middle rope forward from behind and pass it over the strand that is now on the left side, and bring it to the center.
Repeat these 3 steps once more. Now pin the ropes in place, and repeat this process with the other 3 ropes on opposite side of bag.
Pin both braids so that the top braiding will not become runraveled.

No bring the rope that is on the left of the second braid and join it to the first group of rope pairs and do the same with the last rope on the
right side.

Now, bring the new second braind from behind, and pass it over the rope that left to join the other group of pairs. Now braid again with the 3 new pairs on each side as before.

Pin securely and sew your braid to the bag. Fasten off, Cover inside ends with lining.

Note-
When you sew your braid in place, make sure to move upward the rope that lies behind in the center and secure it in place so that it can be seen.
You can also sew a beautiful crocheted flower in the center or a pretty, large button of your choice.

Done!

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Less than 2 minutes to read and it will brighten your day!
Be Not Discouraged

Amberly's Braid

At first glance, this braid looks like a common 3-strand braid, but it is made with 4 ropes, so it can have 4 colors. You can make it monotone when you learn it well, but it will never have the impact that the multi-colored one has, because if makes you wonder, how come it has 4 colors if it is a 3-strand braid?
It is also pretty easy to make.

You will need 4 crocheted ropes for this pretty braid (please, refer to previous tutorials for information on how to make them) in the colors of your choice.
If you are a beginner, I suggest you make each rope a different color, because that way you will be able to follow the instructions better. Once you are used to making
these braids, you will be able to make them with ropes that have the same color without getting lost.

Pin the 4 ropes at the top of your bag, leaving a bit of excess that will go under the lining of the bag. (Refer to previous instructions.)

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Better Than Rubies. . .

Heidi's Braid

This is another variation of the useful 4-strand braid.
It is strinking as a monotone braid but even more so if you make it in several colors as shown here.
Make your cords as explained before (please refer to previous tutorials)
Begin preparing your ropes as follows:

Pin your cords to the top of your bag or tote, leaving a little bit of excess to comfortably secure them on the
inside of the bag, and cover that with the lining. (If you are getting pretty good at this, you can also make the
braid and attach it to the bag before you put the bag togather, also allowing a bit of an excess at the bottom, which you will
sew alson on the inside and hide behind the lining.)

Now let's braid!

Consider your 4 strands of rope as two pairs. 1- Take the left rope of each pair and pass it over the rope on its right.
2- Now work with the two ropes in the middle. Pass the rope that is on the right and pass it over the rope on the left of it.
3- Now twist the two ropes that are on the left over each other 3 times, pin them in place. Do the same with the two on the right. Pin them in place.
4- Take out the pins, then take the left rope of each pair and cross it over the rope on its right. Working now with the ropes in the middle, pass the rope that is on the right and pass it over the rope on the left of it.
Repeat this process as many times as you need to get the length of braid you want to have.
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In God's Workshop

Kelly's Braid

This is a pretty braid that looks as if it had been made with 3 strands of rope, but in reality it is made with 5. The difference between making this braid and making a common 3 rope braid is the change in colors, which is really evident and beautiful all through the length of the braid. You can use this braid to embellish a bag but also you can use it to make the bag's handle. if you want it to embellish the front of your bag, measure the length and make extra cord (please see our previous tutorials to see how we do it) pin the ropes to the top of your bag, leaving an excess that will go over the edge of the bag and we sewn to the inside of it and under the lining of the bag. If you want to use it for the handle of your bag, simply sew the ropes firmly to a ring and begin braiding, once you have the length of handle you want, sew the other end of the braid to another ring. Fasten off. Attach rings to bag.
This braid is worth making if you want wonderful colors! You don't get all these colors with 3-strand braids.

Here is how to make Kelly's braid:


After choosing what you will do with the braid, either sew the ropes to a ring or pin them to the top of your bag as explained before.


1. Take the first rope that lies to the right and bring it to the middle, then take the first rope that lies to the left and bring it to the middle and cross it on top of that one.


2. Take the rope that is now the first one on the right and bring it to the middle and then take the rope that has now become the first one on the left and cross it over that one.


Continue this process until you get the length of braid you want!

Encouraging Promises

Anna-Marie's Braid

My sister's name is Anna-Marie, so I decided to name this braid after her in honor of the fact that she's a terrific Sis. This is a very easy braid that you can use to decorate a tote or a large bag.
For the making of the cords, please refer to previous tutorials of this series.

Materials:
4 cords, twice the size of the bag or tote you will be decorating
Pins
Sewing thread in matching colors to attach cords to the bag
Sewing needle

Note- Until you learn how to make all these braids easily, use cords of different colors when you make them, so that it will be easier for you to follow the position of each cord and to get satisfactory results. (And to tell you the truth, braids look better when they're multicolored!)

To Make Anna-Marie's braid proceed as follows:

Make your cords, do not fasten off, just in case you need to either lengthen them or shorten them. Leave one end attached to yarn ball or skein and work with the opposite end.
1-To do the actual braiding, pin the 4 cords to the top of your bag, leaving a little excess that will go under the bag's lining and will be sewn to the inside of the bag under the lining.
2- Twist cords 1 and 2 together 3 times, pin down again. Twist cords 3 and 4 three times and pin pin place.
3- Pass cord 4 over cord 2, cord 2 over cord 4, and cord 4 under cord 1.
4- Place cord 3 over cord 1, then twist the two cords that wind up at both ends, the two on the left, twist them over each other, and the two that ended up on the right, over each other, pin in place. Rep steps 3 and 4 as many times as needed to complete your braid. Pin in place at each change.
Thread sewing needle with matching color and secure the braid to the bag.
Done!



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