How To Make Beaded Tassels
Adding tassels to any outfit or piece of decor takes your piece up to another decorative level. It can give an old piece of clothing a new look or add a simple decorative touch to a classic piece of furniture. Using beads to create your tassel will allow you to make your tassel any way you like, as well as allow you to adjust your look later, if desired.
Things You'll Need
- Beading needle
- Seed beads, 500
- Upholstery thread
- Millinery needle
- Larger beads, 2 per trailer
- One giant bead
Instructions
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1
Cut a length of upholstery thread three times the desired length of the trailers. A small tassel can have trailers of 41/2 inches. Any number of trailers can be created, but for a small tassel, start with nine trailers.
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2
Put a large bead on the bottom of the first trailer. Add seed beads behind the large bead as desired for your pattern. Remember to stop with two-thirds of the string left.
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3
Place a second large bead on your trailer, and then add a final seed bead behind it on the string.
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4
Thread the string through the beads using the beading needle, skipping the final seed bead.
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5
Hold the last bead between your fingers and pull the string taunt.
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6
Repeat Steps 1 through 5 until the desired number of trailers are created.
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7
Line up all the trailers and knot the strings together. Try to make the knot as close to the tops of the trailers as possible.
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8
Trim the ends of the thread. To seal the knot, melt the ends of the trailers together. A lighter or candle flame should be plenty to melt the ends.
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9
Thread a needle with another length of upholstery thread. Make a knot in the end of the string and run it through the tassel knot. Add an extra large bead onto the string and push it down so that it covers the knot. Attach the tassel to your project as desired with the excess string.
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Tips & Warnings
To keep from losing beads, tape the trailers to your work table to hold them in place until knotted together.
Make sure the trailers are pulled very tight. If not, they will lose the look of a tassel and will show string.
