Make a Basic Tassel

Posted by admin on Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Decorating a finished bookmark, scissor fob, pincushion or other needlework project with a tassel made from matching thread can really add a special touch, especially for gifts or ornaments you have stitched for the upcoming holidays.

In today’s blog, I’ll show you how to make a basic tassel.

I’ve shown the process in 2 colors for clarity – green for the tassel and yellow for the wrap and tie.

Tassels can be made in virtually any combination of colors, or solid. You can even make a one from specialty threads, like DMC Light Effects to give you a truly festive-looking tassel, perfect for the upcoming holidays!

Tassels can be skinny, medium or chunky. The choice is yours, and depends on what you prefer, and the type of embroidery thread used to make it.

My tassel is a bit chunky in this sample, because I’ve used nearly an entire skein of DMC #3 Pearl Cotton, but a finer tassel can be made using a narrower thread like DMC Embroidery Floss.

Here’s how to do it:

Wrap the thread around a piece of cardboard that has been cut to the desired length of the tassel. In my sample, I am making a 3-inch tassel, so I have cut my cardboard 3 inches in height.

When wrapping the thread, wrap fewer times for a skinny tassel, or wrap additional times for a larger tassel.  I’ve wrapped about 65 times.

Next, slide a second piece of thread measuring about 10 inches under the wrapped threads.  Slide the thread off the card carefully (without losing any loops) and tie the second piece of thread into a knot to secure the loops together.

From a third piece of thread measuring about 20 inches, make a loop near the knot.  Wrap the remaining thread snuggly around the loop to make the neck of the tassle.

Slip the end of the thread through the loop you made before wrapping, and carefully pull the tail behind the wrapped threads.  Trim the excess thread tails.

Clip the loops at the opposite end of the tassle, trimming the ends evenly if necessary.

That’s all there is to it. Tassel Accomplished!

~Emma

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