Update a Tired Throw With Chunky DIY Tassels
Don't pack away the winter blankets just yet, embellish them with this season's fluffy trend first
Give your room an on-trend, budget-friendly update by learning how to make giant tassels that will easily spruce up a boring throw.
What you’ll need:
- Balls of thick yarn
- Scissors
- Cardboard
- Ruler
- Sewing needle
- Cotton thread in matching colour
- Blanket or throw
Step 1: Get snippy
Pre-cut some yarn into two strands: one at 12 centimetres and the other should be about 90 centimetres long. They will be used as ties for your tassels, so put them aside for later.
Pre-cut some yarn into two strands: one at 12 centimetres and the other should be about 90 centimetres long. They will be used as ties for your tassels, so put them aside for later.
Step 2: Cut the cardboard
Cut your piece of cardboard twice the length of your desired tassel length; I’ve chosen to make tassels that are about 7.5 centimetres long so my cardboard piece is 15 centimetres long.
Cut your piece of cardboard twice the length of your desired tassel length; I’ve chosen to make tassels that are about 7.5 centimetres long so my cardboard piece is 15 centimetres long.
Step 3: Get wrapping
Find the end of a ball of yarn and start wrapping it around the cardboard. Wrap it around 40 times and cut. Put ball aside to make three more tassels later, repeating all the steps again.
Find the end of a ball of yarn and start wrapping it around the cardboard. Wrap it around 40 times and cut. Put ball aside to make three more tassels later, repeating all the steps again.
Step 4: Take it off and twist it
Carefully remove the yarn from the cardboard and hold each side of the loop, as pictured, before twisting it in a figure eight.
Carefully remove the yarn from the cardboard and hold each side of the loop, as pictured, before twisting it in a figure eight.
Step 5: Lay it over
Lay your figure eight over the 12-centimetre strand of yarn and tie the strand in a loose knot around the centre of the figure eight. Leave enough space for this strand to be turned into a hanging loop.
Lay your figure eight over the 12-centimetre strand of yarn and tie the strand in a loose knot around the centre of the figure eight. Leave enough space for this strand to be turned into a hanging loop.
Step 6: Fold it
Making sure the knot in the strand of yarn is hidden, fold the figure eight back onto itself, keeping the single-strand loop at the top.
Making sure the knot in the strand of yarn is hidden, fold the figure eight back onto itself, keeping the single-strand loop at the top.
Step 7: Make a knot and wrap it up
Lay your folded yarn over the 90 centimetre pre-cut strand. Tie the end of the yarn tightly over the top of the fold, roughly 1.5 centimetres from the top.
Lay your folded yarn over the 90 centimetre pre-cut strand. Tie the end of the yarn tightly over the top of the fold, roughly 1.5 centimetres from the top.
Tightly wrap the rest of the pre-cut yarn around the top of the tassel. Tie off the last of the yarn onto itself. There’s no need to trim the excess yarn left over, the excess will fall into the tassel.
Step 8: Cut the loops and trim
Cut the through the longer looped ends. You should end up with a rough looking tassel. It’s now time to trim the tassel strands so they are all the same length. Do this by gripping the tassel tightly with one hand and cutting straight across with the other.
Cut the through the longer looped ends. You should end up with a rough looking tassel. It’s now time to trim the tassel strands so they are all the same length. Do this by gripping the tassel tightly with one hand and cutting straight across with the other.
Step 9: Secure the tassel
Thread a large sewing needle with strong cotton thread that matches the tassel colour. Sew the tassel to the corner of the throw by threading the needle through the top loop, sewing through the corner of your blanket and tying it off. Make three more tassels and repeat with the remaining four corners.
TIP: Sewing under the existing hem of the throw will hide the cotton thread and give it a more professional finish.
Thread a large sewing needle with strong cotton thread that matches the tassel colour. Sew the tassel to the corner of the throw by threading the needle through the top loop, sewing through the corner of your blanket and tying it off. Make three more tassels and repeat with the remaining four corners.
TIP: Sewing under the existing hem of the throw will hide the cotton thread and give it a more professional finish.
Step 10: Snuggle up
Drape the updated throw over your sofa to add a warm-looking and textural element to your living space, and snuggle under it for an afternoon nap.
YOUR TURN
It may be time to plan a crafter-noon so you can give a boring throw a tassel makeover. If you do attempt this DIY, we’d love you to upload a photo of it to the Comments below, or tag @havven or @houzz_au on Instagram.
MORE
Browse more brilliant DIY ideas
Drape the updated throw over your sofa to add a warm-looking and textural element to your living space, and snuggle under it for an afternoon nap.
YOUR TURN
It may be time to plan a crafter-noon so you can give a boring throw a tassel makeover. If you do attempt this DIY, we’d love you to upload a photo of it to the Comments below, or tag @havven or @houzz_au on Instagram.
MORE
Browse more brilliant DIY ideas