How to Make a Tassel
When it comes to decorative furnishings, one very common ornament that you’ll see is the tassel. It comes in different versions, and is found on needlework projects, curtains and even on graduation caps. Making one is easy, and here are a few steps you can follow.
What You’ll Need:
Medium-weight yarn in the color of your choice
Thick cardboard
Scissors
Tapestry needles
Cording
Ruler
Procedure:
Pick the cording and the yarn for your tassel. If you want to make a medium-sized tassel that’s six-inches long, you’ll need at least 32 yards of yarn.
Use your scissors to cut out a rectangle from your heavy cardboard. Measure it. The rectangle must be four or five inches wide and half an inch longer than you want your tassel to be.
At the short end of the cardboard, cut two ½ inch slots. There must be an inch of distance between the slots and the edge of the cardboard.
Take one of the yarn’s ends, and put it in either slot, so this end is securely held.
Wrap the yarn across the cardboard, lengthwise. Do this at least 80 times. As you wind, keep the yarn between the two slots.
Cut the yarn, securing the end in the slot opposite from the first. Set this aside for a while.
Get your yarn again and cut two pieces, each one 10 inches long.
Pass one of these yarns between the cardboard and the yarn loops. Keep working it, going to the uncut end of your cardboard. It must lie under the loops, just along the edge of the cardboard.
Take the ends of the yarn piece and tie them securely with a double knot.
Carefully insert a pair of scissors along the slotted end’s length and cut the yarn, cutting through all the threads evenly and slowly. Check that the distance of the tassel’s tied end and the cut length is the same on either side.
Hold your tassel by the knotted yarn piece, so its evenly ends hang. Tightly wind the second 10-inch yarn piece around the tassel, at least 1 ½ inches from the top of the tassel. This will be the head of the tassel. Make sure you do this neatly.
Get your tapestry needle and using the blunt end, tuck the end of the yarn into the binding. Don’t prick yourself with the needle’s point.
Trim the end of the tassel if it’s uneven.
You can save a reasonable amount of money if you create your own tassels for decoration, instead of buying them. All it takes is a few craft items and these easy steps.