Jewelry-Making How-To Videos

How to Create Tassels Using the Beadalon® Tassel Maker

Courtesy of Beadalon
F356

Tassels are all the rage in jewelry and accessories. Learn how to create your own custom tassels with the Beadalon® tassel maker and threading of your choice.

: : : Materials : : :

Initial Setup

STEP 1
Inserting Rod and Add Wing Nut Insert one of the rods into the truss. Add a washer, then screw-on the wing nut to secure. Do the same with the other rod on the opposite end of the truss. These are adjustable to achieve the desired length of your tassel.
STEP 2
Put Wahser on and Screw Onto Shaft Next, put the washer on the screw and insert it into the center of the truss. Take a flathead screwdriver and screw-it into the shaft of the crank.
STEP 3
Add Suction Cups Finally, push the 4 double suction cups onto the base of the tassel maker at each of the four corners (make sure suction cups are clean and free from dust). This may require slight moisture for proper suction. Push the tool down onto a non-porous surface to securely adhere for proper tassel making.

Tip: Use a plate or other item if a non-porous surface is not available.

Instructions

STEP 1
Add Thread or Cord to Tassel Maker Choose the desired thread or cord that you desire. Unscrew one of the wing nuts enough to catch a piece of the material between the washer and the truss, leaving about 3 - 4 inches (7.6 -10.1 cm) extra for a tying tail.
STEP 2
Tighten Wing Nut Tighten the wing nut to secure the tying tail onto the tassel maker.
STEP 3
Wrap Material By Turning Crank Wrap the material by holding it with one hand and turning the crank on the handle of the tassel maker.
STEP 4
Material On Steel Bars The fastened end of the material will need to cross over the truss and onto the steel bars as shown.
STEP 5
Turn Crank Wrap the material by turning the crank.
STEP 6
Wrapping Material Continue to wrap until the desired thickness of tassel is reached.

Tip: Count the number of revolutions to allow you to reproduce the equal size tassels later.
STEP 7
Cut Material Leaving Tail Once the desired number of revolutions has been reached, cut the material and leave 4 inches (10.1 cm) extra length.
STEP 8
Grab Tail with Tweezers Place the end of the material into the end of pointy tweezers.
STEP 9
Push Tweezers Through Center Push the tweezers and the material through the center of the wrapped material as shown.
STEP 10
Tie First Knot Bring the loose end back through the loop formed in Step 9, then grasp the end with the tweezers and pull tight.
STEP 11
Tie Second Knot Repeat Steps 9 - 10 to tie another knot to secure the material.
STEP 12
Make Sure Second Knot is Pulled Tight Make sure the second knot is pulled tight.
STEP 13
Loosen Wing Nut Loosen the wing nut that is holding the beginning of the material, gently pull it free, and re-tighten the wing nut.
STEP 14
Secure Other Side Using the new freed material, repeat Steps 8 - 12 to secure the other side.
STEP 15
Make Sure Secind Knot is Pulled Tight Make sure the second knot is pulled tight.
STEP 16
Material on Tassel Maker Your current setup should now look something like this.
STEP 17
Loosen One of the Wing Nuts Loosen, but DO NOT remove, one of the wing nuts.
STEP 18
Angled Peg Once the wing nut has been loosened enough, the peg will angle as shown.
STEP 19
Slide Tassel Loop Off Slide the tassel loop off of the tassel maker.
STEP 20
Tassel Loop Off Tassel Maker The tassel loop should look like this.
STEP 21
Open Jumpring and Add to Tassel Loop Open a jumpring and scoop up the tassel loop.
STEP 22
Close the Jumpring Close the jumpring onto the tassel loop.
STEP 23
Check Jumpring to Ensure Closed Completely Make sure the jumpring is closed completely so that the tassel material cannot slip through the opening.
STEP 24
Cut Thread and Begin to Wrap Cut a piece of thread about 12 inches (30 cm) long and begin to wrap around one of the loose ends.

Note: To make these instructions clear, a different color material was used to show the wrapping and tying.
STEP 25
Make Several Wraps Leaving about a 6 inch (15.2 cm) tail, make several wraps to secure the tassel to the jumpring, make certain that the opening is away from the material.
STEP 26
Tie Double Knot Tie a double knot with the ends of the material used to tie off the end.
STEP 27
Pull Double Knot so It Doesn Pull the double knot carefully so that it does not bind.
STEP 28
Snug Knot Down to Surface Snug the double knot down to the surface of the tassel material.
STEP 29
Add Glue to Knot Use a small amount of G-S Hypo cement at the knot. Before cutting the ends allow some time so the glue can dry.

If making a pair of tassels, repeat Steps 21 - 28 on the other side of the tassel loop.

If making a single (long) tassel, cut the other end of the material and trim the ends.
STEP 30
Cut in Half To make a pair of tassels, cut in half with a sharp scissors.
STEP 31
Example of Tassels The two tassels should look as shown.

Note: The tassel to the left was tied with the alternate color for illustration purposes.
STEP 32
Trim Ends Carefully trim the ends of the tassel to your desired shape. Repeat on the other tassels.
STEP 33
Open Jumpring to Attach to Design Open the jumpring to attach to the design.
STEP 34
Close Jumpring Move the opened jumpring into place on the design and close the ring.

Finished Tassel on Design Finished tassel on a design!

Add Cone to Tassel

STEP 1
Add Wire Around Tassel Loop Cut a 6 inch (15.2 cm) length of 22 gauge wire. Place it under the tassel loop at the top and cross the ends. Bend one wire to the side and one wire straight up so they make a 90 degree angle.
STEP 2
Wrap Wire Wrap the wire pointing out to the side around the wire that's straight up and down twice, and cut it flush.
STEP 3
Thread Cone Onto Wire Thread the necklace cone onto the remaining wire.
STEP 4
Thread Bead Onto Wire Thread a bead onto the wire.
STEP 5
Use Round-Nose Pliers to Make Wrapped Loop Use round-nose pliers to make a wrapped loop on top of the bead.
STEP 6
Finished Loop Finished loop.

Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.

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