How to Make Tassels for Belly Dancing
Tassels are often worn on belly dancer costumes. They are fun and flirty and emphasize the dancer's movements. Making your own tassels can be an inexpensive way to customize a belly dance costume.
Things You'll Need
- Yarn
- Embroidery Floss
- Embroidery Needle
- Scissors
- Something To Wrap Yarn Around (Book, CD/Video Case, Etc.)
Instructions
-
Making Basic Tassels
-
1
Holding the end of the yarn flat at one end of the case/book with one hand, wrap the loose end of the yarn around the object with the other hand until you reach a thickness you like.
-
2
Remove the yarn from the case/book, gathering one end into a bunch.
-
-
3
Using a separate piece of yarn, wrap it around the gathered end and tie it tightly.
-
4
Cut the ends of the yarn opposite the tie.
-
5
At this point you can add embellishments, such as beads or bells.
Lay them along the tassel so they hang where you want them to, then tie them to the tied end.
-
6
Use a new piece of yarn, braided rope or beaded rope, whatever you like, and wrap it around the top tie to cover it and give it a finished look.
-
7
Using an embroidery needle and thread, sew through the yarn just under the wrapped end. Push it up and under the tie as much as possible.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can use any kind of yarn; however, a synthetic will be the least expensive. If you want fat tassels, use thicker yarn or double up on a thinner yarn. You can add even more personality to the tassels by adding bells, beads, coins, etc. Wrapping 40 times around the object is a good place to start. Wrap more for thicker tassels, less for leaner tassels. Don't stretch your yarn too tight or too loose as you wrap or it will come out with uneven ends, unless that is the look you are going for. For other looks, try wrapping the body into one column, dividing it into two, three or four pieces and wrap each one. To add texture, twine a cord around the body, then wrap it. Tie off one color before moving on to the next one to change colors. To alternate between colors, don't tie off the first color, just wrap over it. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
