DIY Tassels for Jewelry Continued... Larger Tassels with Chinese Knotting Cord Micro Size E

Tassels, especially larger tassels can be a focal center to a neckpiece or mala. This mala has 108 beads with 4 marker beads (the 4 lepidolite). The 8mm beads are strung with C-Lon Bead Cord and knotted in between. The mala can be worn long singly or doubled up as a shorter piece. The 5 inch (12.5 cm) long tassel is made with Chinese Knotting Cord Micro Size E.

I have made these larger tassels from 4.5 to 5 inches long. I tend to make them long as they can always be shortened. Silk can be used for these these larger tassels, but the ones made with the Chinese Knotting Cord drape better than the silk ones. Smaller tassels can be made with Chinese Knotting Cord or with silk.  > Check this DIY Silk Tassel Tutorial

Materials and Tools for a 5 inch Tassel

• 40 yards of Chinese Knotting Cord Size E - 0.4mm in diameter
• Tapestry Needle Size 22
• Sharp Scissors
• A Small Book, Several Layers of Card Stock or a Large Bobbin Plastic Box

1. Wrap the cord 100-115 times around a box, book, or card stock.  

2. With a separate piece of cord and the tapestry needle, wrap many times around the cord bundle. 

3. Use a flat knot to bind the cords. 

4. Cut the tassel cords along the other end. 

5. Fold over the cords of one of the sides over to the other side. 

This will make a perfectly symmetrical tassel. 

6. With a separate piece of cord, wrap the tassel neck, starting with 2 half hitches.

7. Continue with a simple wrap and finish it with 2 half hitches. 

8. Stitch the end back into the tassel and through towards the ends of the cord.

9. To trim the cord ends, wrap a piece of plastic around the tassel. 

10. Use your sharpest scissors to trim the ends. 

11. Using the tapestry needle, the tassel can now be attached. Alternatively, it can be attached prior to wrapping the neck at step 5 or before trimming it at step 8.

References

> DIY Silk Tassel for Jewelry

> Chinese Knotting Cord Micro Size E - 0.4mm in diameter

> DIY Instruction on How to Make a Mala with a Tassel