Jazz Up Your Projects with Tassels

If you’ve been reading this page for very long, you probably know that one of my obsessions (or shall we say interests?) is using yarn stash as much as possible. I have an unreasonable stash, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one, so whatever we can do to use a little more yarn in each project seems like a good thing to me.

And one way to use more yarn on a project or as a totally different standalone thing is making tassels.

They add interest to clothes, purses or any item you add them to. In jewelry making, they’re a perfect addition to boho necklaces, fancy earrings, purses, clutches and scarves. If you knit a pillow, blanket or scarf, you can add tassels to the corners to emphasize a color used in the project or just to add another color that ties into your decor or your favorite coat.

They are super quick and easy to make and can have so many different uses. You can make tassels for pillows, blankets or bookmarks, add them to back packs, purses or zip pouches.

Hello Sewing has a tutorial for making tassels out of yarn that includes a video to show you how it’s done. They also have a suggestion to make smaller tassels just but cutting a skein of embroidery floss, which is a great option if you do cross stitch or embroidery and maybe have a little more thread than you need (also guilty).

While their examples show using the same kind of yarn throughout the tassel, it’s also a lot of fun to grab a bunch of leftovers in the same color or coordinating colors to make a boho, multi-textured tassel that uses even more leftovers. These are great to decorate gift bags or even make a fun holiday garland if you use the same colors that are on your tree.

Get the tutorials from Hello Sewing.

[Photo: Hello Sewing]

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Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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