How to Make Duct Tape Frogs

The "Stuck at Prom" scholarship contest has created a unique line of clothing. Since 2000, high school couples have used duct tape to create colorful prom attire. Duct tape frog closures can give your prom dress an Asian flare, as well as being almost indestructible. Used instead of a standard button and buttonhole closure, a frog closure consists of two parts--a ball and a looped frog.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Pins
• Paper
• Pencil
• Waxed thread
• Needle
• Duct tape

1. Craft duct tape cords by cutting three 16-inch strips of duct tape with scissors. Place one strip of tape, sticky side up. Fold over a small piece of the top left hand corner. Press it flat to stick to the tape. This will leave a small non-sticky triangle on the corner. Starting with this triangle, roll the duct tape down and diagonally. Make the cylinder as tight as possible. Continue to roll until you reach the end of your tape. Repeat with the other two strips of tape.

2. Loop A will look like this. pink ribbon art image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com

   Create the ball part of the closure. Pin one end of the duct tape cord to a piece of paper. Use the long, free end as your working end. Make a simple loop; this is loop A. Make a second loop over top of loop A and tuck the working end under the pinned cord. This is loop B. Make a third loop and begin to weave the working end through the other two loops. Weave the cord over the right-hand side of loop B, under the right-hand side of loop A, over the left-hand side of loop B and finally under the left-hand side of loop A. Gradually tighten all the loops until you have a ball. Trim the ends, then use waxed thread and needle to sew the ends to the back of the ball.

3. Construct the frog part of the closure. Draw a simple frog design on a piece of paper. The simplest frog looks like a flower with four petals. Begin at the center of the flower and make your first petal (loop). Leave the loose end overlapping 1/4 inch at the center of the frog. Pin the top of the first petal to the paper. Make the second loop with your long end. Pin that petal to the paper. Make the third and fourth petals, also pinning them at the top. The cord will cross at the center of the frog four times. Using the waxed thread and needle, stitch all cords together at the center and trim the ends. Create a second frog for the button side of the closure.

4. Placing frogs on both sides makes a garment symmetrical. chinese fashion image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com

   Remove the pins from the frog petals and turn it over. This is the good side of the frog. Sew the backside of the frog to the right side of the garment, letting one loop of the frog overlap the edge. This is your button loop. Take the second frog and sew it on to the left button side. Sew the button on to the edge of the second frog. Close the garment by taking the loop from the right side and placing it over the button.

Tips & Warnings

• Pushing the needle through the duct tape cord is hard work; use a thimble to shield your thumb.

References

• New York Fashion: Will You Be Our Date to the Duct-tape Prom?
• University of Kentucky: Sew Like a Pro: Couture Techniques

Resources

• Duck: Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest