I was looking for a way to dress up some inexpensive throws I got from Ikea. I like Anthropologie's Temple Bells Throw, but didn't want to spend the money on it. I thought I could create something similar with some handmade tassels and yarn.
To make the tassels you need about 2-4 skeins of yarn depending on how big you are making the tassels. I used 4 skeins because I was making some chunky tassels.
You start by choosing a piece of cardboard the height and width of the tassel size you'd like. The piece of cardboard I used was about 6"high and 3" wide. Next you wrap the yarn around the scrap of cardboard a number of times to reach the desired thickness.
Then you tie a piece of yarn around the middle and knot it. Next you snip the yarn at the bottom of the cardboard. After that take a stray piece of yarn about 12" long and tie it around the top of the tassel. After knotting it loop it around a few times and thread it through a large sewing or embroidery needle. Use the needle to run it under the loops you just made around the top.
Then split the tassel and push the needle up the through the top and down again to secure the tassel. Trim the bottom of the tassel so it is even and is the desired height.
I made 12 handmade tassels and sewed them to the underside of the blanket to make my own tassel throw. It's a fun way to dress up a simple throw.
Hope you enjoy the tassel throw. Let me know if you have any other ideas for homemade tassels. Gift tags? Pillows?
Anne with an E