Instructions for Tassels

Use embroidery floss to make a tassel in minutes.

Tassels are most often associated with high school and university graduation ceremonies, but they have several other applications in fashion and fabric decoration. Rows of tassels can create a fancy fringed edge for rugs and scarves, and single tassels can be made to adorn fezzes worn in Muslim countries.

Things You'll Need

• Cardstock or cardboard
• Embroidery floss, thread or yarn

Instructions

1. Cut out a square of cardboard the length of your desired tassel. Decide how long you want the head of the tassel to be -- the head is the tied section at the top of the tassel. Measure down from the top of the cardboard and mark the head length.

2. Cut a slot in the cardboard: cut horizontally to the left about 2 inches, through the marking made in the last stem. Cut down about an inch, and cut another line to the right that is parallel to the first line.

3. Orient the cardboard so the slot is horizontal, with the opening facing right.

4. Wrap floss around the cardboard, from top to bottom, over and around the slot. Keep wrapping until the tassel is as thick as you like.

5. Pass another piece of floss horizontally through the gap and around the tassel. Knot it around the tassel twice to make the head.

6. Slip another piece of floss through the top of the tassel and tie it in a knot twice to make a handle.

7. Cut the looped yarn at the bottom of the cardboard to make the tassel fringe.

8. Slide the tassel off the card, fluff out the bottom and trim the ends.

References

• Sew4home; How to Make a Tassel; Liz Johnson; August, 2009
• Nezumi World: How to Make -- Tassels

Resources

• The Budget Decorator: How to Make Tassels