Flipper Frog

Description:  Flipper Frog sits on a branch or dowel. His name refers to the fact that he looks like he is about to do a back flip. Also, he has very large, flipper-like feet. He’s an attractive little guy, and would love it if you made a second one (a girl).  You can attach them to the same branch, for a unique decoration that is sure to be noticed.  This Macramé project is a type of wall hanging, but you can make it as a towel holder for a bathroom or kitchen, by using a dowel instead of a branch.

This is the easiest of the three Macrame Frogs I have listed, and is a good beginner's project.

• 6mm Green Cord material (60 yards)
• Two 2-inch metal rings
• Two Frog Eyes
• Tree branch or dowel
• Craft Wire

• Larks Head knot (reverse variation)
• Double Half Hitch (DHH)
• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Barrel Knot
• Square Knot (SK)
• Vertical Half Hitch

Step 1:  Cut 14 strands of material, each 4 yards long (144 inches).  Cut 1 cord, 36-inches long.

Creating the Eyes

Step 3:  Attach the 2 ends to the bottom of the ring with Double Half Hitches (DHH), making sure they are pulled taut. Attach one eye by sliding the stem between both portions of the cord.  Apply the washer to the stem, so the eye is secure and snugly attached. Try to arrange it so the eye is in the middle of the ring.

Step 4:  Mount the 36-inch cord between the two knots at the bottom of the ring, and center it. Use one portion and make Half Hitches to cover the left side of the ring.  Repeat the process with the other portion of the cord, wrapping the right side of the ring. When you are finished, both ends should be near the top of the ring. 

Step 5:  Attach 4 additional 4-yard cords to the bottom of the ring with reverse Larks Head knots. The heads of the knots should face backwards. Two of them should rest to either side of the DHH in the center.  These knots should be mounted onto the ring as well as the cord used to cover it.

Step 6:  Repeat steps 1 thru 5 for the second eye. 

Take the four ends of the cords used to wrap both rings, and tie a tight Barrel Knot (or Square Knot). This will be used to hang Flipper Frog on your wall.

Step 7:  Place the rings side by side and tie a Square Knot between them.  Use 2 strands from each ring, which are resting closest to each other. This will connect the two eyes.

Designing the Face and Mouth

Step 8:  Make 2 rows of Alternating Square Knots just below the eyes, using all the strands.  Each knot should consist of 4 strands, with 2 working cords and 2 fillers.

Step 9:  Add 2 cords, one at each side of the design, by passing them through spaces at the edges of Flipper Frog's face.  Be sure to center the cords, so they are balanced.  Tie another row of ASK using all the cords, including the new ones.

Step 10:  Repeat step 9, adding the last two cords.

Step 11:  Mentally number the strands 1 thru 28.  Use #1 and 28 as the holding cords, and direct them towards the center of Flipper Frog's face.  Secure them so they are taut. 

Cords 2 thru 14 should be attached to the left holding cord with Double Half Hitches.  The remainder should be attached to the right holding cord.  Work from the edges towards the center as you tie these knots.

Step 12:  Use the holding cords as well as the 2 strands resting to either side of them, and tie a Square Knot. This will connect both portions of the lip. Make sure the holding cords are used as the fillers for the SK.

Making the Body and Legs

Step 14:  Mentally re-number the cords again, and tie 6 rows of Alternating Square Knots, using cords 9 thru 20 only.

Step 15:  Use cords 5 thru 8, and tie a sennit of 8 SK.  Remember that a sennit is several knots tied one right after the next. Do the same with cords 21 thru 24.  These are the front legs.

Step 16:  To make the left back leg, cut 1 piece of craft wire, 24 inches long. Attach one end of the wire to the back of the Flipper Frog design, near the mouth. Refer to the images to determine the proper placement. Use cords 1 thru 4 to tie a long sennit of 16 SK.  The wire should be combined with cords 2 and 3 to act as the fillers. The working cords are 1 and 4.

Repeat this process using cords 25 thru 28, to make the right back leg.

Creating the Webbed Feet

Step 18:  Organize all the cords so the strands used for the body (9 thru 20) are behind the branch.  The cords coming from the legs should be in front of it.

Step 19:  Use the 3 strands remaining from the left front leg as the holding cords.  To make Flipper Frog's left foot, use BODY cords 9 thru 14 as the working cords.  Take each working cord and tie a vertical DHH onto each of the three holding cords.   It's best to move from left to right as you tie the knots. The first row of knots will be close together.

As you attach each of the remaining 5 cords, there should be more and more space between the holding cords so the webbed foot spreads apart, and becomes wider.

Step 20:  Tie a Barrel Knot with each holding cord, so it rests next to the last row of DHH.  Cut off any remaining cord. If you prefer, you can trim the cords to 1-inch and unravel them, to form a small fringe.

Step 21: Repeat the last two steps to create the right front foot. The working cords for the right foot will be 15 thru 20, and the holding cords are the three strands coming from the right front leg.

Step 22:  To start the back feet for Flipper Frog, cut 6 cords approximately 18 inches long.  This step is slightly different than what you did for the front feet, because you need to add more cords.

Add the first 3 strands by directing them through spaces near the bottom of the left leg.  Center the cords so the ends are even. Direct these new cords behind the branch.  They will be the working cords.  The 3 existing strands from the legs will be the holding cords, and should be in front of the branch.

Repeat step 19, tying vertical DHH with the working cords (the ones you added).  Make sure you increase the spacing as you work your way to the bottom of the foot.

Step 23:  Repeat step 20.

Step 24: Repeat steps 22 and 23 to make the back foot on the right, adding the last three 18-inch cords. Attach them in the same manner, to the right leg.