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produced by ALYSSA CLOUGH photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK
Think you have to drop big bucks to get stylish throw pillows for your sofa or bedroom? Think again. With this pillow tassel DIY, courtesy of Annie Sloan, you can accessorize your throw pillow in a matter of minutes—we promise. Keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to make cute little tassels.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Linen that is loosely woven and can be pulled apart
- A throw pillow
- Fabric scissors
- A needle
We used Annie SloanColoured Linens in Louis Blue & Graphite and French Linen & Old White to make one 16 x 16 pillow and one larger 20 x 20 pillow. We started with one yard of each fabric and had plenty leftover.
make your pillow
If you want your tassels to be cut from the same cloth as your pillow, make sure to purchase enough fabric to DIY a throw pillow covering and the number of tassels you plan on crafting. (We made 16 for our larger pillow and 12 for our smaller one!) Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of sewing your own pillow… Because you don’t have to. There are seven ways to cover your pillows, no sewing machine required.
STEP 1: cut a rectangle of fabric
We cut our fabric into 5 x 2.5 inch rectangles to create our tassels. The larger the rectangle, the thicker and longer the tassels. We wanted ours to be tiny and dainty, which explains the smaller dimensions. Pro tip: Cut the fabric so the color of thread you would like as the tassels run parallel to the shorter segment of fabric.
STEP 2: pull the threads
It’s as easy as it looks! Peel away the darker threads to reveal an almost caterpillar-like shape.
Do so on each side until each section is ⅓ of the width of the rectangle.
We wanted the “old white” threads to be showing!
We opted to cut our rectangles in half here to create even smaller tassels. (Make sure to save, not throw away, these darker threads!)
STEP 3: fold—don’t roll—your tassels
Folding, instead of rolling, your fabric will ultimately make them easier to create. Fold until you have a double-ended tassel.
Here, you can tuck in the unfinished cut of the fabric for a cleaner look.
STEP 4: fold your double-ended tassel in half
This creates a single-ended tassel! (Yes, it’s this easy!)
STEP 5: tie your tassel
Remember when we told you to save your other thread? Use those to secure the shape of your tassel. You can use as little or as many strings as you please to get your desired final look. We used only one string, tying it once on the first side, flipping it over and tying twice on the second side, and then again on the first side.
If you create larger tassels, using more than one string will be absolutely necessary!
STEP 6: attach your tassels
It’s time to sew your completed tassels onto your pillow! Thread your needle with a long piece of thread from your fabric (the color is up to you!).
Stick the needle through your tassel first, then loop the needle through the seam of your pillow where you would like your tassel to be placed. Loop through your tassel once more before securing with a knot.
STEP 7: you’re done!
Style on your sofa and enjoy! It wasn’t as hard as you thought it was, now was it?