Do you enjoy making your own accessories? Do you love adding your personal touch to clothing, bags, and jewelry? You’ve come to the right place!
In this post, we’ll learn how to make tassels with yarn. It only takes a few minutes and you’ll only need a few basic supplies.
The best part is that you can make them in any color or size you want. Who can deny the power of a cute tassel? They make everything look cool and trendy—even a boring keychain ring!
So, let’s get started!
What You’ll Need
Before we get into the steps of making a tassel with yarn, here’s a list of the supplies you’ll be using:
- Yarn
- Stiff cardboard
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Large tapestry needle or crochet hook
How to Make Tassels with Yarn in 10 Easy Steps
Follow our easy step-by-step instructions and start making your beautiful tassels today.
Step 1: Choose the Yarn
For this step, you’ll need to think about what kind of tassel you’d like to make. You can use embroidery or crochet thread, or another type of yarn. Bear in mind that thick yarns make poofy tassels, while thin yarns make slimmer tassels.
Insider tip: for a textured look, you can also mix and match different colors and types of yarns.
Step 2: Cut the Template
The next step is to prepare the cardboard template. The length of the template is determined by how long you want your tassel to be. So, think about the length of your tassel. Then, make the piece of cardboard half an inch longer than your chosen tassel length. Regardless of the length of your tassel you’ll want to cut your cardboard template 2 inches wide.
For example, if you want a 5-inch tassel, you’ll need to cut a 2 inch x 5.5 inch piece of cardboard. This will make it easier to trim the ends of the tassel.
Insider tip: an alternative to buying cardboard is to use cereal boxes. If you have plastic or tin container lids, you can use those as well, as long as they’re the right size.
Step 3: Wrap the Yarn
Now, it’s time to start wrapping the yarn around the cardboard. Starting at one end, begin wrapping the yarn lengthwise around the cardboard.
Don’t pull the yarn too tightly because it can shorten the tassel. Pulling the yarn can also cause the yarn to become tangled and hard to manage.
Stop wrapping the yarn as soon as you reach the desired thickness. Remember that the tassel will be made up of the thickness of both sides. So, you should take it into account when wrapping the yarn.
Insider tip: if you’re using crochet or embroidery thread, wrap the yarn an average of 25 to 30 times. If you’re using thicker yarn, like wool, 12 wraps should be enough.
Step 4: Cut the Yarn
Once you have the thickness you want, stop wrapping the yarn at the same end where you started. It makes it easier to cut the yarn.
Take your scissors and cut the yarn only on one side of the cardboard. Carefully remove the cardboard.
Step 5: Make the Loop
In this step, you’ll be making the loop that goes at the top of your tassel. Get your yarn and cut a piece about 15 inches long. Fold it in half. Then, bring one end over the other.
Tie a knot approximately 2 to 3 inches from the ends of the yarn. It mainly depends on how long your tassel is.
Insider tip: you can add a bead or two to the loop before tying it to give your tassel some flair.
Step 6: Knot the Loop
Take the loop and place it facing up. Then, take the yard ends and wrap them around the middle of the tassel yarn. Finally, tie a knot underneath to secure the loop in place.
Step 7: Make the Head
Cut another piece of yarn. This one should be about 10 inches long. Then, decide on the size of the tassel head.
If you want a small head, tie the piece of yarn closer to the loop. If you want a bigger head, position the yarn farther down.
Generally, a tassel head is approximately ¾ of an inch to an inch below the loop of the tassel. Wrap the yarn about 6 to 8 times around the tassel. Finally, secure it in place with a tight knot.
Step 8: Hide the Ends
Congratulations! You’ve made your very own tassel!
Now, all you need is to hide the stray-away yarn edges to give your tassel a smooth and sophisticated look.
Using your embroidery needle, pull any stray ends through the center of the tassel. You can also use a thin crochet hook if you prefer.
Step 9: Trim the Edges
No one knows why exactly, but tassels seem to always have uneven edges. It’s one of those mysteries of life we can’t understand.
What we can figure out, however, is how to make the ends of your tassel look trim and tidy. First, hold the tassel in your hand and smooth all the ends down. Then, using your scissors, start trimming off the uneven strands of yarn at the ends. It’s like giving your tassel a cute little haircut.
Insider tip: work this step slowly to prevent making the tassel too short.
Step 10: Prep the Tassel
This step is optional, but it makes a big difference in the overall appearance of your tassel. If you plan on steaming or ironing the tassel, there are several ways to go about it.
One way is to use a steamer or simply hold it over a steaming pot of water. Just be careful not to scald your hands.
A second way is to iron the tassel. Bear in mind that acrylic yarn will melt if you apply direct heat to it. So, place a cotton cloth or towel between your tassel and the iron.
The third method is to use a good, old-fashioned hair straightener. Again, you’ll need to wrap the tassel in a towel or cloth to protect both the tassel and the hair straightener.
A Final Note
We hope you found our simple instructions on how to make tassels with yarn useful. These cute add-ons are quick and easy to make. The best part is that you can make them in different sizes, thicknesses, and colors to mix and match as you please.
Tassels are such a fun way to add style and charm to clothes, accessories, and even home decor. So, what are you waiting for? Start making some pretty tassels and add some modish chicness into your life!