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. . .

Gigi's Purse Strap

This narrow braid made into two short strips to be sewn to purse rings, makes a really attractive substitute for a commercial purse handle.
It is ideal for a purse or a small bag and it is quite easy to make!

To begin with, you will need to pick two contrasting colors that either match your purse or contrast beautifully with it. For example, if you have made a bag whose purse handle would have been a commercial wooden handle, why not make this one in two different earthy tones? Attach the ends to wooden purse rings and you've got a winner! If your purse was made in a variegated, pick the two most outstanding matching colors and use them for the strap, then sew them to metallic rings and you'll see how pretty it looks!

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

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of two colors of your choice (1/2 skein)
Crochet hook size H
Scissors
Pins
Pinning surface (it could be a pillow, an old cushion, a piece of cardboard, a macrame board)
Tip:
 About your ropes or I-cords: Make them approximately twice as long as you would need them. (I suggest you leave one end of the I-cord or rope attached to the ball of yarn just in case you need more to get your desired length. This thing is definitely not a precise science!)
Pin the cord to your pinning surface, leaving free the end that has the ball attached to it. If you can manage your knotting with the ball, that is just wonderful. You can also wind some extra yarn to a wooden clothespin to make sure you have some extra yarn to work with in case you need a bit more I-cord, and then work, using the clothespin as they used to do macrame a century ago by using bobbin lace bobbins (you can use modern bobbin lace bobbins too), do whatever you consider, but it is best to have some yarn left than to be short on cord and no yarn to work with and to have to start all over again!
To make the strap proceed as follows:
Make 2 I-cord or crocheted ropes of each chosen color.
1- Leaving the rope on the left hanging and holding it straight with one hand, bring the one on the right to the front and around it towards the back, forming a rounded loop, then pass the end of the rope through to the front again. Tighten.
2- Now keeping the right rope hanging and holding it straight, repeat the process by bringing the one on the left to the front of the one on the right and around it, forming a rounded loop, and then pass the end of it through to the front. Tighten.
Repeat these 2 steps to form your pretty strap.
That was easy, wan't it?

Happy Holidays!

Bible Universe

Peony Pink Frog Closure

Materials-
Red Heart Shocking Pink
G hook
Measuring Tape.
Pinning surface (could be an old cushion or even a piece of cardboard)
Pins
Blunt needle to sew yarn


With G hook and Shocking Pink make a crocheted I-cord rope that is 25" long.

► To make the frog closure, proceed as follows:
Place the rope on the pinning surface you have chosen to use. Match ends of the rope.
Pass left leg of rope over right leg to form a loop (adjust to the size of the button you have chosen) and pin down.
Take left leg of rope and bring it around the right leg towards the back, forming a loop, then take the right leg and move it tot he back, then toward the front around the left leg and into the loop formed. Tighten a bit to form a knot.

Turn the end of the rope into a circle by curling over itself, then, slip the end of the rope through the loop formed and tighten, making a knot.
Repeat ont he opposite side.
Sew remaining ends of the rope to the back of the center knot as seen in photos.
Secure the top loop (buttonhole) with a few stitches.

Done!

Bible Universe

Kathlyn Frog Closure

Frog Closures are such a  lovely finishing touch for a bag or even for a simple tote for daily use! This one is very easy to make. If you have never made one of our closures, start with this one, you will not be disappointed! Don't be intimidated by its beauty, it is as simple as knotting and sewing. Go ahead, make Kathlyn!

Materials-
Red Heart worsted weight yarn (color of your choice)
Button of your choice
Pinning surface (could be an old cushion or pillow, a macrame board or a thick piece of cardboard)
Pins to hold your work in progress
Scissors
Measuring tape
Yarn or blunt needle

Make 1 crocheted I-cord or rope that is 17 1/2 inches long.
If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:
How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

To make Kathlyn, proceed as follows:
♦ Fold your rope in half, matching ends.
♦ Cross one leg of the rope over the other (still matching ends) and pin at the desired height to form a loop to match the button you will be using.
♦ Take the left leg (hanging cord) and turn it over itself to form a circle, insert the end through the circle and pull through (not too tightly) forming a knot.
♦ Repeat with opposite leg.
♦ Cross Right rope over Left rope, ends over each other, then bring towards the knot on each side and secure with a pin.
♦ Thread blunt needle with yarn and sew the center loop secure at the level of the button of your choice, then sew the ends secure on the sides of the knots, right underneath the knots. Fasten off
and weave ends at back of Frog.

♦ Sew onto your purse or bag using the little loops on the sides of the ropes, taking care not to pull nor deform your Frog Closure.

Enjoy!

  Bible Universe

Tessa

This is a very easy 4-strand braid, one of the easiest you can make, you can use it to enhance the look of a large bag or tote by sewing it to the front of the bag or using it as a strap for the bag.

Materials-

Worsted weight yarn of your choice (I used Red Heart Pumpkin, Turqua, Bright Yellow and Delft Blue,) less than 1/2 skein each color

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 braid you need 4 ropes or crocheted I-cords.
Once you have your ropes, pin them to your pinning surface, and make the braid as follows:
Mentally, count your ropes 1, 2, 3 and 4, from the right to the left.
Take rope 1 and pass it over rope 2, under rope 3 and over rope 4.
Take the new rope 1 and pass it over rope 3, under rope 3 and over rope 4.

Repeat the same process until you get the desired length of rope you want.

You can leave a small length of rope at both ends to sew around a purse ring or you can insert it into a small crocheted square and sew it directly to your purse or bag. You can place it between small granny motifs that you will then sew to your bag, there are many ways to use these beautiful ropes!

  Bible Universe

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