TASSELS (7 easy ways to make them)

DIY Tassels – Make them to decorate your clothes.

Tassels are a bunch of fibers grouped and tied at the top, making them look like a flower. It is used at the end of a cord to hide the ends and as a decorative element in accessories, home decor, and at the time, even clothes.  

Easy tassels with thread

Take a bunch of thread (one whole embroidery floss would do) and keep it around your cord, as in the picture below.

Learn how to make your own cord here.

Tie at the head, catching the cord and the thread, some 1/2 inch from the top.

Bring the whole thread to the front, flipping it. Tie another thread to catch the whole thread some 1/2 inch down. 

Fluff up your tassel threads with a hair comb.

Another simple embroidery thread tassel

This is a very easy method to make tassels. Just take embroidery floss and some yarn.

Wrap the yarn in the middle tightly and when finished glue the end of the thread to secure it.

Bend the middle portion and tie it with another piece of yarn.

Cut off the excess floss.

Get your tassel really fluffy by running a comb over the thread. This will separate the floss and really fluff it out.

You can make INSTANT TASSELS from Embroidery thread skeins.

If you have an unused skein of embroidery thread, just tie a thread at the middle (or on the fold in one side if you want a thinner tassel) and fold it. Insert a folded thread a little above the skein, like it is explained above. Then tie another thread at the neck, holding all of the threads together.

Cut off the thread fold at the bottom. Level the threads. You have a beautiful tassel in your hand, with a hanging thread.

Make simple tassels of any size with any thread

You can use rayon thread for very shiny tassels.

Step 1.

First, decide on the length of the tassel you want. Cut out a piece of cardboard that is 1/2 inch longer than this. Your hands can replace this if you are in a hurry. I think I have seen someone use a fork to make tassels. 

(If you are not using cardboard, make a bundle of threads that are about  18” long. It’s easier to start longer and trim than to use pieces that are short and hard to handle.)

Step 2.

Wrap embroidery cotton thread around the cardboard; some 20 times is what I have done. When you wrap remember that the tassel will be as thick as the thread on both sides of the cardboard.

Remember to keep the threads in the center of the cardboard and keep the threads from spreading out. Also, ensure you are not wrapping the thread too tight that the cardboard is bending or too loose that the loops are slipping out. The tension should be even.

Stop the wrapping when you feel it has reached the thickness you want.

Step 3

Now we have to remove it from the form.

Cut out a piece of thread, and thread it through a thick needle. Slip the needle between the cardboard and the thread loops. Tie a knot.

Slip the loop from the cardboard carefully. Once it is off the form, cut away any tails.

Step 4.

Tie the tassel at the neck. The neck is some 1/4 inch from the top. Cut out 6 inches of the full strand of embroidery thread or thin metal wire to secure and attach the loops of the tassel. Wrap this thread or wire over the loops some 1/4 inch down from the knot you just made. Tie securely. You can also use thin satin ribbons for this.

You can make a head for the tassel ( used to cover the head of the tassel) using beads, or even polymer clay.

Step 5

Cut all the ends of the tassels evenly with sharp scissors. Separate the yarns. Thread some beads and tie them to the car keys. If I had added some metallic thread in between, it would have added a sparkle in between.

Separate the strands for a fuller look to the tassels.

I found this Tassel earring in a showroom which is stunning, which is completely doable. Checkout this post on making earrings for easy ways to make this.

Decorate your tassels with beads for an ornate touch.

How to make tassels from  fringe trims

This is also a quick tassel ; Infact it is the easiest. You just need to have the ready made fringe and some cord to tie it.

Checkout this post on the 9 different types of fringes and ways to make them.

Cut out 10 inches of the cord. Tie a knot at one end of this cord.

Apply craft glue on the fringe base and some around the knot.
Wrap the fringe around this knot tightly. The fringe should cover the knot at least once all around. I am using simple fabric frayed at the edges to make the fringes.

You can wrap it with thread at the base instead of relying on the glue. It will look like this.

Turn the whole thing to the front.

Just under the knot, use a thread to tie tightly securing the fringe to the cord. Cut out the thread tails.

Now turn the fringe upside down so that the knot is inside the fringe threads 
Now use another thread to tie at the neck of the fringe 1/4 inch from the top.

How to make tassels in suede or leather

You need to find very soft material to make these very elegant and modern-looking tassels. They look great attached to bags and purses. I even made a keychain tassel with a faux leather scrap piece, but the constant use is killing it. 

You need to cut out two pieces of the material to make this tassel. One for the loop and the other for the fringes. And a piece to wrap around the top for a neat look.

Cut out one rectangle of size 10 inches by 4 inches for a bigger tassel or 4 inches by 2 inches for a medium one and one rectangle of 2 inches by 1/4 inch.

Cut out the pieces as follows, or as you like it.

Make lines starting from one side spaced 1/8 inch, and ending 1/2 inch from the top. Cut out these lines carefully with scissors; you have a leather fringe in your hand.

Attach the ends of the smaller rectangle together to make the loop. Use binder clips to keep them together till the glue dries off.

Here is another easy one. 2 strips of leather folded and inserted through a ring. 

Use wooden bead on top of the tassel for a rustic charm. 

How to make bead tassels

Beaded tassels – supplies 

• Assorted beads (Seed beads, bugle beads, or crystal beads)
• Beading needle
• Upholstery thread 

Step 1

Determine the amount of length you need for the tassel. The thread would need to be double that, plus 1 inch. Cut five pieces of that length from the thread.

Step 2.
On each of the sewing threads, tie one end; String a big bead, then small beads in a sequence, then another big bead, and tie a knot.
Make some 4-5 strings like this.

Step 3.
Fold these strings in half. Insert a thread into the fold and tie the whole thing together.
Fix knots in silk thread with clear nail polish (use two coats) when dry, trim.

Step 4.

Finish off with a bead cap. You can also simply add a big bead on top through the hanging thread. 

These tassels can be sewn to the ends of shawls or dupattas as individual strands.

Checkout this post – 8 ways to make beaded tassels and edge beading for more details

Make cord tassels

You can make very pretty tassels from cord. A cord consists of a bunch of fibers twisted together. If you tie them, and then release the fibers, you get fluffy tassels.

Fold 2 or 3 cords together by the middle and tie them at the neck as in the picture below.

Twist the rest to make a clover shape. You can stitch this in place and then tie the neck again.

Fluff the fibers to get the look of a tassel. You can use silk cord or cotton cord for this, depending on the shine you want.

Check out this post on the different types of cords you can use for this.

7. How to make Sari Tassels ( Sari Kuchu)

Sari tassels are used in the hems of the pallus of saris. They add to the beauty of the sari. Some silk saris will have thread hanging down to make these tassels, and you just need to tie them. You do not have to add extra tassels here. These tassel threads are made of warp threads of the sari fabric.  

But sometimes, you may need to add extra sari tassels. You can make them with simple hand embroidery threads or machine embroidery threads.

How to add extra tassels to sari pallus

1. Finish the hem of the sari as usual with a rolled hem or a picot edge or a zig zag stitch.
2. Cut out ten strands of thread ( machine embroidery thread is best) of about 6 inches ( or more if you want longer tassels or layers of tassels). More strands will result in a thicker tassel. Fold them in half.

3. Make a series of small holes in the hem at regular intervals. Draw the folded thread through one such hole half-way through. (not fully) 

4. Insert the other end ( loose thread end) through this  loop so that a knot is formed

5. Tie the neck of the tassel with a piece of thread, to secure it. Cut off the tails of this thread.

6. You can now trim the tassel threads now or continue tying the tassels.  

The long length of the tassels can be tied again for layers of tassels. The first tassel is parted in half. One part is tied together with a part of a nearby tassel. You part the tassel threads into sections and tie them to each other. Use beads strung onto the tassel threads for a beautiful and ornate look to your sari.
7. Trim the loose threads evenly after all the ties have been done.

Do you know that in some religions, tassels have spiritual connotations? It is said to represent the roots of the lotus plant, which is why many prayer necklaces and bracelets have tassels. And if you make them in red, it is considered a lucky talisman.

Once you have started making tassels, you will find plenty of ways to use it, so don’t worry; Go ahead and make a lot. Don’t ask me how I know.