Tassel Necklace

‘Tassel’ is a funny word. It just doesn’t look right. I had to look up whether it was ‘tassel’ or ‘tassle’. It seems that there is no consensus on the matter, so I’ll stick with tassel for now and maybe someone can correct me in the future?

Anyway, linguistic tangents aside, I wanted to show you how to make this tassel necklace using leftover embroidery threads I found during a recent clear-out. I’m pretty happy with the nautical vibe of the end product and I think it would look great with a cute summer dress. A matching bracelet may be on the horizon too.

This necklace is so simple. All you have to do to form the tassel is fold the threads over the chain and tie! You could make so many variations if you experimented with length, colour combos and cutting techniques. It’s super quick too, and you can make it quicker by using an old necklace as a base instead – minimum assembly required!

Materials

• Pliers
• Scissors
• Measuring tape/ruler
• Embroidery thread, approx 4 skeins
• Chain
• Extra links
• Clasp (lobster hook) and jump ring

Tassel Necklace : How To

1. Cut the chain approx 45cm with the pliers and add the clasp and loop to each end. The chain I used was quite fine, so I added a larger link to the end before attaching the clasp and jump ring to it.
   

   
2. Cut the embroidery threads approx 12 cm long. As you can see, I wasn’t too precious about this.
3. Take two strands of each colour, fold over the chain and then secure by tying a single knot with the navy thread.
   

   

   
4. Repeat as many times as you like. This necklace has 24 tassels.
5. Trim the threads to tidy up the look.

Extra tip: Remember, when opening a link to pull one side towards you and the other one away from you, rather than opening the link out. This makes it easier to line up the ends of the link again when closing and avoids damage. To really understand what I mean, check out this video from Jewelry Tutorial HQ. I used slightly different pliers that I had to hand and it seemed to work fine.

Post your thoughts and any related tassel untangling musings in the comments section below!

Easter Tree

Spring is here! Lambs are appearing in the fields, daffodils are poking their heads out, the sun is shining…wait really? In Ireland? Erm no, but I’m hoping to inject some spring cheer inside to make up for the fact I still want to leave the house with my duvet. An Easter tree struck me as the perfect remedy to my melancholy.

Unfortunately, I’m not an authority on Easter traditions. I don’t believe Easter trees are very common in Ireland, and it’s unclear how the tradition began, but it originated in Germany and continues to be popular there. I think my first encounter with one was as a child when my granny from Finland was visiting and created one as a center piece for our table on Easter Sunday. At that time, I think my main concern was the lamb and mint sauce, but it must have left some impression, as here I am thinking of her when I sit down to create my own!

So let’s begin…

Materials

• Branches
• Jug/Vase
• Soil
• Gold spray paint
• Card
• Scissors
• Paint brushes
• Small pom poms
• Felt (2-3 sheets)
• Metal links
• Polystyrene eggs
• Gold sequins
• Flower shaped sequins
• Pins
• Acrylic paint
• Mod Podge
• Approx 5 metres 3mm ribbon
• Approx 1 metre 10mm ribbon
• Loop eye pins
• Assorted glitter

The tree

1. Wipe down the branches, removing any cobwebs or lose debris.
2. Spray with gold spray paint. I went for a mottled look, so I sprayed in short bursts and intentionally left some areas without paint.
3. Set the branches upright in the vase/jug and pack densely with soil to secure. Sand, stones or decorative pebbles will give a cleaner look.
4. Glue small pom poms onto the branches.

Felt Circle Decorations

1. Cut a circle approx 3″ in diameter from card, using a compass or glass as a template. Cut 9-12 circles from different coloured felts.
2. Cut templates of chicks, rabbits or anything else of your choosing from card. Draw your own or you can re-size the bunny or chick examples used.
3. Place the animal template onto the circle of felt and spray with gold spray paint. Remove template to reveal the silhouette. Leave to dry.
4. Pierce a hole in the top of the felt circle using a needle or an awl, depending on the size of chain link you want to use. Place link through the hole and close using pliers.
5. Thread the ribbon through the hole and simply knot the ends together. Pull the ribbon so that the knot is hidden at the back of the circle.

Sequined Eggs

1. Wrap the ribbon around the polystyrene egg and push pins into the egg to secure, leaving excess to form a loop. Make the loop to the desired length and again secure with pins at the base.
2. Put sequins onto the pins and push into the egg, beginning at the edge of the ribbon and working your way around. Continue to push the pins in, overlapping the sequins slightly so all of the surface is covered.

Glitter Egg Decorations

Gold Eggs

1. Spray the polystyrene egg with the gold spray paint used on the branches and leave to dry.
2. Paint half the egg with Mod Podge and sprinkle with glitter. Leave again to dry and then spray with hairspray to seal the glitter.
3. Push a loop eye pin into the top of the egg and loop ribbon through and tie a bow. Feed another piece of ribbon through and tie a knot to form the hanging loop.

Lilac Eggs

1. Paint the polystyrene egg with acrylic paint. Two coats will give a good finish.
2. After the paint has dried, dab some glue onto the surface and sprinkle with glitter. I wanted some of the paint to show through underneath to give a dappled effect.
3. Once the glue has dried, spray with the gold paint, using short bursts.
4. As above, seal with hairspray once dry and create hanging loop.

Yellow Eggs

1. Repeat steps as with gold eggs, using yellow paint and iridescent glitter.
2. Put flower sequins on pins and push into the egg, repeating around the centre.

Decoupage Eggs

1. Remove the top printed layer of the napkin and tear into small pieces.
2. Paint the egg with Mod Podge or PVA glue and stick the pieces on to the egg.
3. Repeat, layering the pieces over each other and finish by covering the entire egg with another layer of glue.
4. After the egg has dried, cut a length of ribbon at an angle and pin in place.

Finishing Touches

Hang all your decorations on the branches and enjoy! You could drape extra ribbon on the branches if you wanted a fuller effect. This would also look nice completely sprayed white with a metallic scheme on the decorations. Happy Easter everyone!