How to Make Yarn Tassels

Learn how to make yarn tassels in this DIY tassel tutorial, showing two methods - one by hand and one using cardboard for making tassels.

Yarn is one of the most versatile craft supplies; you can make everything from yarn pom poms, yarn pom wreaths, diy yarn tassel garlands, and everything in between.

Plus, yarn is affordable and comes in hundreds of different colors. What’s not to love!

A simple yarn tassel has the power to dress up anything from a DIY tassel pillow cover to homemade tassel earrings, or DIY back-to-school keychains to a wood bead and tassel garland.

If you’ve been wondering how to make tassels, let’s take a look at two different methods for making yarn tassels - one using your hand, and the second using a piece of cardboard.

Let’s get started!

How to Make Yarn Tassels with Your Hand

Step 1: Gather Supplies

Supplies Needed:

• Yarn
• Scissors
• Your Hand

Step 2: Wrap the yarn around the palm of your hand 20-30 times.

(20 wraps make a sparse tassel and 30 wraps make a more thick tassel.)

Step 3: Slide the wrapped section off of your hand.

Step 4: Cut a 10” section of yarn from the skein, and pass it through the looped bundle as pictured.

Step 5: Tightly tie the thread into a knot to secure the top of the tassel.

If you want to use the ends of the knotted tie string to hang or display your tassel, you can leave them.

Otherwise, if you want a clean tassel without hanging strings, rotate the knotted tie string so the knotted section moves to the underside of the tassel, and the top has a straight section of yarn on top.

Step 6: Carefully trim the loops at the bottom of the tassel.

Step 7: Take another 10” piece of yarn, lay it down, and place the tassel bundle on it, near its top.

Step 8: Tie the string around the head of the tassel, pulling tight and double knotting.

Step 9: Trim the bottom of the tassel strings to even it all up.

Step 10: That’s it! Your tassel is complete and ready to be used!

Here's a photo showing the difference in tassels made by wrapping the yarn around your hand 20 times, 30 times etc.

The more you wrap, the thicker the tassel becomes.

How to Make a Yarn Tassel using Cardboard

Step 1: Gather Supplies

Supplies Needed:

• Yarn
• Scissors
• A piece of Cardboard

Step 2: Wrap the yarn around the piece of cardboard 20-30+ times.

(20 wraps make a sparse tassel and 30 wraps make a more thick tassel.)

The longer your cardboard section, the longer your tassel will be.

Step 3: Cut a 10” section of yarn from the skein, and pass it through the bundle as pictured, sliding it to the top.

Knot it loosely.

Step 4: Carefully trim the bottom of the tassel loops, to get the tassel off of the cardboard.

Step 5. Finish knotting the yarn at the top of the tassel to secure.

Step 6: Take another 10” piece of yarn, lay it down, and place the tassel on it, near the top.

Step 7: Tie the string around the head of the tassel, pulling tight and double knotting.

Step 8: Trim the bottom of the tassel strings to even it all up.

Step 9: That’s it! Your tassel is complete and ready to be used!

DIY tassel crafts are fun and easy to make. (Here are 13 yarn craft ideas!)

You can make yarn tassels like we did here, or you can use any other type of string to make embroidery floss tassels and cording, to twine or even long strips of fabric to make DIY fabric tassels.

Turn your diy tassel into a keychain, ornament, or garland.

You can also add it to a pillow cover, and you’ve created instant fun and visual interest in your home decor!