We’ve
been crushing on tassel garlands recently, ever since we saw them in a friend’s wedding pics.
These garlands are all the rage right now. They are great
for birthday parties,
bridal and baby showers, and other special events, so we had a go at making a set of our own for the I Love Leroy stand at 2013 Design Indaba.
This tutorial below
was super helpful and easy to follow. These are easy as pie with no-sewing. Here’s how you can make one too. Enjoy!
How to Make a Fabric Tassel Garland
I made my fabric tassels quite large (12-15″ long), but you can make them any size you like. Your final tassel will be just about half the length of the longer side. I cut my fabric rectangles around 24″X30″ for most of the tassels, or you could get 4 out of a standard yard by cutting them 18″X24″. I recommend you choose fabric that looks the same on both sides (a solid cotton, linen, or even a lighter weight fabric like a chiffon would be lovely) since they will both show on your final fabric tassel. So fold your fabric in half so the two shorter sides meet.
Make cuts in your fabric about an inch apart,
stopping around 2″ to 3″ before the fold. This is much less tedious if you use
a rotary cutter rather than scissors.
Now unfold your fabric and lay it flat.
Grab one uncut end, at the center, begin to roll
your fabric up.
Continue until you have a tube with fringe at each
end. As you roll, untangle the fabric fringe, and try to keep your roll as
tight as possible, though it doesn’t need to be super-tight to look nice.
Pick it up, fold it in half, and pinch the top
together so the fringe ends meet and the edge of the fabric is hidden between
them.
Use a fabric scrap to tightly secure the top of
your tassel.
This is what it looks like. Trim it so the ends
look even if you need to.
Make another one,
and another one, and
another one, and another one. Have a glass of wine or beer. Then make another
one. And so on. Tie them to a string of some kind (I used a thick and
sturdy jute because my tassels are quite large and heavy) with another little
fabric scrap.
That's it! So easy, a quick
touch of fun to any party decor.
I Love Leroy at the 2013 Indaba Design
Alternatively you can use tissue paper in
whatever colour's best fit the occasion, party planners can create tassel
garlands that are as
cost-effective as they are cute.
We hope you enjoy making pretty
tassel garlands for your next party too.
Remember to hang them somewhere you can enjoy them. Between trees for pre-party drinks over
the Easter holidays perhaps? We can’t wait!
We’d love to see how you get on, share
a picture of your garlands and the fabulous event you showcased them at with
us on the Mr & Mrs Facebook
page!