Cynthia's Purse Strap or Handle

An interesting and pretty purse handle or strap can add interest to even a common-looking tote or bag. This one's pretty easy and you can use it to liven up any bag!

Color is key in a rope strap. You can make the strap in contrasting colors or in different hues of the same color of your bag.
Make 4 crocheted cords (please, use the search box in this blog to find the tutorial on how to make ropes) in 4 different colors, this way you will be able to follow the tutorial , the more easily.

Pin the ropes to a pillow or a piece of cardboard with some fabric on top to avoid soiling.
To make the braid proceed as follows:

1- Place rope #4 over the two central ropes and under rope #1.
2- Bring rope #1 under the two central ropes and out over rope #4. Carefully, tighten up a bit to
pull up the beginning of the knot.
3- Bring new rope #1 under the two central ropes and over rope #1, bring rope #1 over the two central ropes and under rope #4. Tighten up a bit. You just formed a square knot.
4- Bright rope #1 over rope #2, rope #4 over rope #3, bring the two new central ropes over one another, the left one over the right one. Bright the two ropes at the edges over the two central ones, and cross them one over the other as before. Bring the ropes that are now at the two edges to the center over the other two and cross them as before.
5- Repeat a square knot.

Alternate rows 1 to 5 until you have the length of strap you need. When you finish, sew ends to purse rings. Fasten off.

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Bible Universe

Half Hitch Bag Strap

There are many ways to make attractive straps for bags and purses. Sometimes, a common-looking bag can be "spruced up" by a surprising strap that doesn't follow the expected road. You could use this hitch stitch even to decorate a bag, but it is used most often for bag straps.
It is very easy to make, and if you make it in two colors, it's very attractive and calls attention to the bag.



To make it, you will need:

Two crocheted ropes, the color of your choice, (please search for the braiding tutorials to find how to crochet the cords or ropes) approximately twice the size of the length of the strap, leave one end of the crocheted rope attached to the ball of yarn, just in case you need to make it longer after all,
and work with the opposite side that you've already finished. This will save you problems, if for some reason, you wind up with more cord or less cord than you need for your strap.

Half hitches are a macrame stitch. It is one of the basic stitches and one of the most used to make bag straps. The strap we will be making is an alternating half hitch chain, made with two ropes or cords. To make it, proceed as follows:

1- Pin the working end of your ropes to a piece of cardboard or to a pillow securely.
Then hold the inactive cord straight down, keeping it somewhat taut. Bring the opposite, or working rope across and place it in front of the inactive rope, then
bend it around the inactive cord, and then out of the bend above the working rope, moving it towards you. Then lift the working rope's end and tighten a bit.

2- Now, making the second half hitch running on the opposite side. To make that one you will put the working rope behind the inactive rope, bring it around from back to front, forming a loop and insert the end of the working rope towards the back of the working cord. Pull to tighten into place.

To make the strap you will alternate these two half hitches back and forth for as loong as you need to.












Don't forget always to alternate the strand until you get the length of strap you want. Now, sew the ends of the strap firmly around a purse ring, or if you prefer, for added strenth, join a bit of yarn to one edge of the strap and crochet 1 or 2 rows of sc, across, thus joining the cords to one another, and then, bend the end of the halft hitch strap around the purse ring and sew it across this little strip of sc stitches.







That will make it stronger for daily wear. Do the same thing with the opposite end of the strap.



You're done!


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From STRESS to Joy