how to make a pompom

Tassel

single tassel

Hooray for tassels, they make everything better (much like pompoms).

You will need:

  • yarn leftovers
  • card
  • tapestry needle
  • sharp little scissors

Technique

Cut two pieces of card to the same size. The height of the card will be the same as the length of the tassel. Trap a short piece of yarn between the pieces of card and hold them together.

Diagram of a tassel former

Begin wrapping a single length of yarn around the card. Overlap the threads to hold the end in place.

Diagram showing how to wrap the yarn around the card

Keep going until you have wrapped enough yarn around the card to give you the thickness of tassel needed. Bring together the ends of the thread trapped between the pieces of card and tie a knot to hold the loops of yarn in place.

Diagram showing template completely wrapped in yarn.

Remove the pieces of card. Try to keep the loops of yarn in place as you do. Tie a separate length of yarn around the top of the tassel to fix the loops in place. Sew in the ends of this thread to give a neat finish.

Diagram showing how to finish the tassel.

Cut each of the loops at the bottom of the tassel and trim them neatly to the same length.

Diagram showing finisheded tassel.

Links:

If you want clearer instructions on tassel making you might like the following:

For a nice simple guide with photos try:
The Red Thread Blog's How to Make a Tassel.

For really clear video that shows the technique in a different order try:
Very Pink's Making Tassels.