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

Materials

  • Yarn
  • Scissors
  • Your Hand or A Piece of Cardboard Depending on the method you will use.

Instructions

  • Wrap the yarn around the palm of your hand 20-30 times.
    PRO TIP: 20 wraps make a sparse tassel and 30 wraps make a thicker tassel.
  • Slide the wrapped section of yarn off your hand.
  • Cut a 10” section of yarn from the skein, and pass it through the looped bundle as pictured.
  • 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 up on top as pictured.
  • If you want a clean tassel without hanging strings up top, 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, as pictured.
  • Carefully cut the loops apart at the bottom of the tassel.
  • Take another 10” piece of yarn, lay it down, and place the tassel bundle on it, near its top.
  • Tie the string around the head of the tassel, pulling tight.
  • Double knot the string around the neck of the yarn tassel.
  • Trim up the bottom of the tassel strings so they are all even.
    That's it! That's how you make a yarn tassel using your hands.
  • If you want to use cardboard instead:
    Wrap the yarn around a piece of cardboard 20-30+ times.
    (20 wraps make a sparse tassel and 30 wraps make a thicker tassel.)
    The longer your cardboard section, the longer your tassel will be. (In our Fall Yarn Tassel Garland tutorial, we made longer tassels with a piece of cardboard that was 8" tall.)
  • Cut a 10” section of yarn from the skein, and pass it through the bundle, sliding it to the top.
    Tie it loosely.
  • Carefully trim the bottom of the tassel loops to get the tassel off of the cardboard.
    Once the tassel is removed from the cardboard, finish knotting the yarn at the top of the tassel to secure it.
  • Take another 10” piece of yarn, lay it down, and place the tassel onto it, near the top.
  • Tie the string around the neck of the tassel, pulling tightly.
  • Double knot the string around the neck of the tassel to secure it.
  • Step 7: Trim the bottom of the tassel strings to even it all up.

Notes

  • You can use either the hand method or the cardboard method to make yarn tassels. The hand method is easy and convenient for making short tassels that are the length of your palm's width or shorter. If you are making tassels that are longer than the width of your palm, use cardboard.
  • The standard medium-weight yarn seems to work the best for yarn tassels. This is a good thing because it's often the cheapest yarn option! Plus it comes in SO many fun colors which means more options for your tassels.
  • Use yarn tassels to make yarn tassel garlands, yarn tassel ornaments, keychains made with yarn tassels, and even DIY yarn tassel earrings!