Tassels are everywhere! Make your own tassels, save money, and get what you really want! DIY yarn tassels are so easy to make. The basic supplies are a box or piece of cardboard that you can wrap your thread, yarn, string, or fabric around and a pair of scissors! You can learn how to make a tassel with our step-by-step tutorial.
Use a bigger box or piece of cardboard to make longer tassels. Add more loops of thread to make fatter tassels.
Have fun with this quick project that can add some fun and a decorative touch to your home decor projects. Maybe add a tassel to the top of a knit hat, or even to the bottom of a quilt!
Tassels can be tied to a garland to make a tassel garland. Add to the bottom of a ribbon for a tassel bookmark. Make tassels from yarn and sew to the corners of a home dec pillow. Use chunky fabric tassels to tie back your curtains. So many great ideas for DIY tassels!
Here is our quick tutorial that shows an easy way to make tassels.
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How to Make a Tassel
Handmade tassels are easy to make and add a bit of flair to home dec projects and accessories.
Here are our step-by-step instructions.
Materials
- Thread, embroidery floss, yarn, string or fabric strips - I used one skein of Perle cotton embroidery thread for this tutorial
Tools
- Small box or piece of cardboard to wrap the tassel. You'll want it to be about the length of the desired finished tassel length
- Scissors
Instructions
- Start with some yarn, string, thread, fabric strips or embroidery floss and begin wrapping around a small box or a piece of firm cardboard. I'm using a skein of perle cotton embroidery thread
- Begin wrapping your thread/yarn around your box or cardboard.
- Keep winding the thread/yarn until you have as much as you'd like for your tassel. You can make skinny tassels with fewer loops or nice bulky tassels with lots of thread/yarn. For this tassel, I used an entire skein of embroidery floss. Reserve about 20" of thread/yarn to finish off your tassel.
- When you are done winding your thread/yarn, take a piece of the thread/yarn about 12" long and tie off all of the threads. This becomes the top of the tassel. Make a good strong knot.
- The next step is to tie it securely several times. I like to use a double knot.
Then, carefully slide the tassel off the box or cardboard. Hold the thread/yarn that you tied off at the top. With sharp scissors, carefully cut through the other end of the loops to make the bottom of the tassel.
. - Use a piece of thread/yarn to do the next tie-off. The piece of thread should be about 3x the length of your tassel.
- About one inch down from the top of the tassel, wrap the thread or yarn a few times around to create the head of the tassel, Knot off with tight knots. Trim your threads. If the bottom of your tassel isn't nice and even, carefully hold the bottom threads and trim with your scissors. And, that is how easy it is to make your custom tassels from any thread, yarn, string or fabric strip!
Notes
TIP: Before you start, make a few wraps around your box or cardboard. Carefully slip off the loops and make sure that is about the right size that you'd like for your tassel. Vary the length of the cardboard to change the length of the tassel.
Try different weights of threads and yarn, or make really big and chunky tassels from fabric strips.
Recommended Products
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No need to purchase premade tassels. There is no tricky tassel-making technique. You can make beautiful tassels in different sizes in no time!
What are different ideas for making tassels?
- Make mini tassels with six-strand embroidery floss and a small piece of cardboard. Tip: use a yarn needle or tapestry needle to slip through loops to make the top of the tassel.
- Make smaller tassels with lighter weight yarn and a shorter piece of cardboard. These would be fun to tie on a zipper pull for a purse charm!
- Make long tassels with a long piece of cardboard.
- Make bigger tassels by winding more yarn around the cardboard. The thickness of your tassel depends on number of loops as well as the thickness of the yarn.
- Don’t have a cardboard sheet? Use a cereal box to cut different size templates for your tassels.
- The top string can be used for hanging your tassel or tying it to a package.
- Have uneven ends? Take sharp scissors and carefully trim up the bottom of the tassel.
Here are some more DIY tassels for your inspiration. We made a red and white twine tassel and a jute tassel. These are inexpensive ways to make cute tassels! Add a little flair to packages with these simple yarn tassels.
Add some bling to the top of your tassel. Here is how to make a beaded top tassel.
Like this project? You might also like our article on how to make pom poms.
Browse through more home dec projects and ideas on Create Whimsy.
