Helen's Strap

This is a pretty easy to make purse strap, it is quite lovely if you make it in two colors, so that the loops will show more. Sew the ends to purse rings and you're set!
Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your choice (I used Red Heart) in at least 2 different colors (for the sides), I chose to make it in 3 different colors for effect.
Crochet hook size H.
Scissors
Pins
A surface to pin your ropes to while you loop (it could be a pillow or a piece of cardboard)

As usual, we will start with two crocheted ropes. Please refer to our tutorial on how to make them.
You will find it here:
How to Make the Crocheted Ropes
Your ropes can contrast or match your bag in any combination of your liking.
To start, make your ropes. Pin them to the top of your working surface or pillow.
Step 1- Take rope #1, the one that is to the left and bring it to the front of rope #2, then around that rope to the back of it and then pass it over the little curve that formed as you went around, and bring it back to the front again.
Step 2- Now take rope #4 (the one that lies first to your right), bring it to the front of the middle rope (rope #2), around it toward the back and then
bring it to the front again, passing it over the little curve that forms on the side as you work. Tighten a bit.

To form your strap, repeat step #1 and step #2 alternately for as long as you need to to form the length of strap you want.
Fasten off, and sew ends to purse rights.

Done!

If you want to, you can make the loops a bit more loose to allow the middle color to be seen. But if you make them tight, you will have a nice, strong strap that you
look very nice pretty rings in a small purse with pretty as a substitution to a more expensive wooden handle. It also makes a strong strap for a large tote bag.














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A Courageous Attitude. . .

Snail Frog Closure

This very easy frog closure looks wonderful in both clothing and in bags and totes! I used it recently for a scarflet and realized how pretty it would look at the end of a purse flap or to close up a tote and decided to add it here also. Once you learn how to make it, you can experiment and make variations to suit your taste and your bags!

With Bright Yellow and H hook, leaving a long tail at the start, ch 2.
Row 1- 1 sc in second ch from hook. Turn. (NO ch 1)
Row 2- Take a close look at the side of your stitches, there is a tiny loop on the side, insert hook into that loop and pull up yarn
through it, now you have two loops on hook, yo, and pull yarn through all loops on hook. Turn. (NO ch 1)
Row 3- Now you will see that 2 loops have formed on the side of your stitches, insert hook through BOTH of those loops and pull up yarn,
yo, and pull yarn through all loops on hook. Turn. (NO ch 1)
Row 4- Rep row 3.
Rows 5 to 32- Rep row 3. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Note 1- Notice that little loops form at the edge of your rope as you crochet, you will be using those little loops to sew up your frog closure.

Forming the Snail-
Thread blunt needle with leftover tail. Turn the end of the cord into a circle, and using the loops on the edges, stitch your circle, continue to
turn the rope around itself and to sew, until you have only 3 inches of rope left. (Use a measuring tape to make sure.) Fasten off and secure yarn
at back of the circle formed. (this is the snail's shell.) You can now snip the leftover yarn or leave to use it to attach your frog closure to the scarfie, that is what I will do.
Now, Turn the leftover rope around towards the "shell" you just formed. This is the rest of the snail and also the buttonhole loop of your frog closure. Using the tail you left at the beginning
of your rope, sew the buttonhole loop to the "shell", secure at back of rope. Now, take a good look at your snail. If the "shell" is too much to the side, simply,
turn the circle a bit, towards the top of the buttonhole loop and secure in place by sewing the side loops together. Secure at back. If you consider that the buttonhole loop is too
large for the button you have selected, simply sew a couple of side loops together on the inside of the buttonhole loop and then bring the yarn to the back of the rope. Fasten off. Secure at back.



Done!





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The Key to the Storehouse










Join Craftybegonia on Facebook!

I want to thank Bar Purple's Dropped Stitches for giving me this award.

I am a little embarrassed when I get these awards, but do want to show my appreciation to the people who kindly give them to me!
Seven things about myself?
1- I love ragdoll cats but my cat Lilly is a gray tabby. She's bossy and loving and absolutely wonderful!
2- All of our pets have been rescued. We have two dogs that were abused and we are trying with love, to heal their trust in people. They are very loving too.
3- I love peach and pink, and every color of the rainbow, but almost never buy the one that i first thing I want when I go for yarn!
4- I do not design anything ahead of time, but make them as I go.
5- I love lace and vintage things.
6- One of my most enjoyable things in crafting is to do charity items. I think it is very rewarding and fulfilling.
7- I love God.
I'm going to do something different, and instead of offering 15 blogs, I will offer 15 people worthwhile to follow on Twitter. Here they are:
@vashtirama
@allsocute
@CrochetSpot
@Crochetnmore
@CrochetAllDay
@daisydaycrochet
@NexStitch
@KristinOmdahl
@AmigurumiPatt
@HotLavaCrochet
@HOTS_Crochet
@amigurumix
@FiberValleyGirl
@ReginasFiberArt
@CrochetLibFront

Heart Frog

This is a pretty frog that would enhance the look of any bag or tote you make. It is very easy to make also.

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your choice (I used Red Heart Hot Red)
Crochet hook size H

Make a crocheted rope 16" long. (If you do not know how to make a crocheted rope, please refer to this tutorial: How to Make Crocheted Ropes)

Once you have your rope made, proceed as follows to make your frog:
Fold rope in half, matching ends. Twist once, forming a loop the size of the button you will be using. Thread a blunt needle with the yarn you used to make the rope, sew the center loops right below the twist you made to form the buttonhole (about 5 loops).

Turn one end up to form one of the sides of the heart, and continue to sew center. Stitch also the portion you curled up to secure the heart shape. Rep on the other side. Twist the ends that are on the sides to form small circles and sew to secure. Fasten off. Weave in tail.

Note-
Always use side loops of rope to sew shapes together.
Done!

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Moving Mountains. . .

Frog Closure

This is a pretty and easy to make frog closure that is wonderful for a garment as well as for a bag.

With Spring Green and H hook, ch 2.
Row 1- 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, insert hook in side loops, pull up, yo, pull loop through.
Row 2- Insert hook in side loops, yo, and make a regular sc. Rep this row until you reach 16 inches long.
Fasten off. Thread a blunt needle with Spring Green.
Bend the cord in half, matching both sides so that they will have the same size. Turn one of those ends around as a spiral, as you turn, secure the spiral turns in place with small stitches using the little loops on the sides of the cord, fasten off.
Stitch the other end of the cord to the top of the spiral, fasten off. Take the loop you have now formed and make a knot in the middle of it with your fingers, forming a buttonhole. Sew in place. Sew your chosen button on opposite side.
You're done!

You can make variations of this closure by using a thicker yarn, by using both yarn and a filament-enriched cotton thread, a yarn together with a metallic thread, etc.
Let your imagination give you ideas!

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God can Provide

Jasmin's Strap

This strap is very, very easy to make and it looks cute on a large tote. It is a knotted strap. You can make it with cords of a single color to match your tote, or if you work like me, in many colors, you can tailor it to the color palette you used to make your bag.

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of appropriate color to make your cords
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Pins
Purse rings
Pillow or piece of fabric to pin your cords to for stability when knotting

To learn how to make the Basic Rope to make this strap, please go here:Basic Rope Tutorial

Make 4 cords in the colors you have chosen for your bag.
Pin the cords to a pillow, to allow you to work more freely.
You will working in pairs as follows:

1- Bring first rope on the left to the front of second rope to the left, move the end of the rope to the back and around the second rope, and through the loop that is formed, pull to tighten.
Repeat for the second part of the knot.
Now, working on the opposite side, bring first rope to the right in front of second rope to the right, take it to the back of the second rope and then through the loop that forms. Repeat for the second part of the knot.

2- Repeat step #1

Leave a little bit of slack so that the colors will show. And now, let's work the center.

3- Bring second rope to the right in front of second rope to the left, around the rope towards the back, and then through the loop that forms. Repeat to form the second part of the knot.

4 and 5- Repeat step #1, twice.

Alternately repeating this process for as long as you need to, will form your strap. Wasn't that easy?

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Broken Toys

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

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