How to Knot a Cord & Tassel
Many homeowners and decorators use cord and tassels as tiebacks for curtains and decorations at the corners of tapestries, as well as to finish the corners and edges of furniture. Those who love Victorian or traditional decorating styles may use tassels and cording at the ends of table runners or around the edges of pillows. They add a sophisticated feel to a room and may give objects a finished look. Unfortunately, pre-made cording and tassels can be very expensive, especially if you want to use a lot of them. One very practical way to save money and make sure you get the cording and tassel colors you want is to make them yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- Satin, cotton or linen embroidery floss
- Scissors
- Cardboard
- 2 dowel rods
- Vice
Instructions
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1
Make a tassel by wrapping your embroidery floss around the center of a piece of cardboard. The piece of cardboard should be about 1 foot long and 4 to 6 inches wide. Wrap the floss width-wise around the cardboard for about 200 revolutions.
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2
Slide the loose end of floss on the left side of the cardboard under the wrapped floss to the right and the loose end on the right under the wrapped floss to the left.
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3
Pull the ends through and up to one edge of the cardboard. Tie the ends together, pulling firmly so that the wrapped floss gathers between the tightening ends. Knot the ends firmly together.
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4
Gently slide the wrapped and tied floss from the cardboard. Gather the wrapped floss together in one fist just below the knotted ends. Tie another piece of floss around the wrapped floss just above your hand and just below the knotted ends.
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5
Cut the loops of wrapped floss apart at the bottom to complete the tassel. It should look a bit like the straw end of a broom.
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Create twisted cord by measuring out and cutting 3 times as much floss as you need. For instance, if you want your finished cord to be 12 inches long, cut a length of floss 36 inches long. To make a thick cord, cut several lengths of floss and gather them together.
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Knot one end of your floss or gathered pieces of floss to one dowel rod and knot the other end or ends to a second dowel rod. Secure one dowel rod in a vice and hold the other in your hands.
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Twist your dowel rod until the floss tightens so much that it begins to fold in on itself in the center. Grip this center fold in a fist and remove the second dowel rod from the vice. Twist both dowel rods together until the folded floss is twisted all along its length. Slide the ends from the dowel rods and knot them together.
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Slip the finished cord into the bound end of your tassel. There should be a small loop formed by the gathered floss at the bound end; slide the cord through this loop and knot the ends together.
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References
- Photo Credit orange brush image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
