Do you frog?

Today I spent the day finishing up a new project for a Fall Crochet Magazine, and I thought while I was crocheting and sewing that perhaps a tutorial was in need since what I was doing is not readily known. What was I doing? Making frogs.

I love frog closures. There is just something so unique about them, that makes your project look so cool when they are used. You can easily purchase them at the sewing store, but making them is so much fun!


Frog Closure Tutorial
Makes one closure approximately 3.5" long by 1.5" high.


What you need:
- strap yarn and matching hook (I used sport weight yarn and 4.0mm hook)
- 8 or so straight pins
- tapestry needle
- tape measure


Loop Side: Make chain approximately 10" long, turn and slip stitch in each chain across. Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.



Step 1a: Measure and place pins A and B 1.5" apart in the North/ South direction. Measure and place pins C and D 2.25" apart in the East/ West direction.



Step 2a: Pin end of chain in center. Loop other end around D in the counter-clockwise direction.









Step 3a: Loop end around center pin and around B in counter-clockwise direction.









Step 4a: Tuck end under previous step. Loop end around A in clockwise direction.









Step 5a: Place end on top of previous step towards C.











Step 6a: Loop end around C in clockwise direction and tuck under previous step.










Step 7a: Pin center of closure secure with remaining pins. Unpin A, B, C, and D.










Step 8a: Turn closure over. With tapestry needle, secure center of closure with long tail. Weave in opposite end.









Loop Side Complete: With tapestry needle and long end, embroider loop end to fabric.







Button Side:

Button: With adjustable ring, chain 1.
Rnd 1: Single crochet 5 times in ring. Pull ring closed.
Rnd 2: *Single crochet twice in next sc, single crochet once in next sc, repeat from * once, single crochet twice in last sc, do not turn. (8 sc)
Rnd 3- 4: Single crochet in each sc around, do not turn.
Rnd 5: *Sc2tog [sc decrease] over next 2 sc, sc in next sc, repeat from * once, sc2tog over last 2 sc, do not turn. (5 sc)
Rnd 6: Sc4tog over next 4 sc.
Chain for 8", turn sl st across ea chain back to button. Fasten off, leave long tail. Squish button flat. Using tapestry needle and long tail secure button flat by sewing from front to back multiple times.

Step 1b: Measure and place pins A and B 1.5" apart in the North/ South direction. Measure and place pin C 1.125" from center in the East/ West direction.


Step 2b: Pin button off center slightly. Loop end around A in counter-clockwise direction. Tuck end under top chain at center.









Step 3b: Loop end around C in counter-clockwise direction over last step.









Step 4b: Loop end around B in clockwise direction and tuck end under previous step. Repeat directions 7a and 8 a above.










Button Side Complete: With tapestry needle and long end, embroider loop end to fabric.


And that's it. You can get more fancy by making a longer chain and adding more loops. Hope you have fun!