So, you may have noticed...I have a thing for tassels.  All kinds.  And I like to put them on everything.  Everything.  And I'm not just talking about beaded or chain tassels.  Recently I've been attaching little silk tassels to pillows, scarves, sleeves...basically anything that can't move.  I can't get enough!  (I will seriously put them on anything, so stand next to me in the checkout line at your own risk...I waited to pay at Whole Foods for thirty minutes last week.  I could have made four or five in that time.) 

I recently made some jewelry with these little tassels for a friend and she was completely obsessed.  She said to me, "You have to sell these!  Everybody would want one!"  Well, I thought about it, and I decided instead of selling them to you, I'd teach you how to make them.  They are so easy to make, and they instantly make anything look fantastic.  It's like that saying about the man and the fish and something about eating it: 

"Give a woman an accessory and she'll look good today.  Teach her to make accessories and she'll have more than she can wear in a lifetime..." 

or something like that...

Let's make some stuff, ladybirds!

First things first: the tassel.  

You will need a few basic supplies:  

-Thread, yarn or embroidery floss (3 to 4 yards per tassel, depending on the finished size of your tassel).  I like to use a medium weight silk thread, but you can use any type of thread, embroidery floss or yarn.  Be sure to practice with a less expensive thread before investing in fancier materials. 

-A needle (make sure that your thread will fit thru the eye)

-A piece of card stock. I like to use inventory tags...you can get them at any office supply store or even in the stationary section of the drug store.  I find that their weight and size is just right for tassel making but regular card stock will work.  And a piece of paper folded several times will work too.  

-Scissors

First, decide how big you would like to make your tassel and trim your piece of card stock accordingly.  

Next, wrap your thread around your trimmed card stock.  Keep wrapping.  Almost there....A little more...Now cut!  As a guide, wrap your thread somewhere between 35 and 50 times around the card.  The actual number of wraps will depend on the finished size of your tassel and the thickness of your yarn. 

After wrapping your desired number of times, take a small piece of the same thread, about 8", and tie it securely to the top of your wrapped thread.  Afterwards, I like to put a piece of tape (preferably pretty tape!) around the ends of the wrapped thread, just to keep them from getting in the way.  Sometimes it can be easy to confuse which piece of thread is for what... 

Now, very carefully and very slowly, begin to wiggle the yarn off the card.  Take your time!!!

The next step is to create the thread wrap.  

First, take another length of matching thread.  Create a loop with the first few inches of the thread.  Align the loop with the bottom of the tassel and the tails with the top of the tassel . 

Next, hold the loop and tassel tightly in one hand, and with the other hand begin to carefully wrap the long piece of the thread around the loop and the tassel.  

Once you have your desired number of wraps--I find 8 to 10 times is a nice amount--take the end of your thread thru your loop (above left).  Next, gently pull the top end of the thread (above right).  This creates a hidden knot.  

Finally, to hide the tail, use your needle to pull the thread behind the wrap and into the tassel.  

Cut the loops and give it a little haircut, making sure the ends look nice and even...

Tah-dah!  You made a tassel! 

Now, let's turn it into a charm...

To create your charm, you will need a closed link or jump ring.  I used a simple jump ring that measures a little more than a 1/4" across.  You can find these at any craft or jewelry supply store.

Take the long tails at the top of the tassel and use them to knot the tassel to the link.  After the tassel is tied securely to the link, use your needle to hide the tails by inserting each end into the tassel.  Trim any excess length.  

Now you've got a charm!  Add it to your favorite chain, necklace or bracelet.  Make two matching tassels and you've got a pair of earrings.  

Add a couple of extra charms for added pizzaz...or leave it clean.  It's up to you...I made a clean tassel to add to my skinny necklace (see below).  A simple stretch bracelet got an update with a little ivory tassel and a piece of moonstone.  For the pink tassel, I added a couple of charms and a piece of turquoise, and then I added the whole thing to a pretty chain for the perfect summer necklace.  The possibilities are endless!

Okay...I know I said that if you teach a woman to fish, she'll have a bunch of accessories or something like that, but all teaching and no sharing is not really my style.  

Soooo...I've decided to give away this pink tassel charm necklace.  Hooray for sharing!  You know the drill...like it and/or repost it on my Facebook page and I will draw one lucky name on Friday (5/29/15).   

Teaching a woman to tassel may accessorize her for life, but sharing a tassel with a woman will make all of us smile...

Words to live by.  

Happy tasseling ladybirds.  

xo...

ki