DIY Tassel Tote

Spring is in full bloom and my weekends have been spent soaking up the glorious weather, shopping at the farmer’s market, embarking on mini getaways and enjoying picnics in the park. Surely, these outings need a carryall to reflect my chipper state of mind, right? With a bevy of handmade, multicolored tassels, I gave the ubiquitous straw market tote a much needed makeover. The result is a bag that couldn’t look happier if it tried . . .

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You’ll need:

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For every skein of embroidery floss, you will be able to make 2 short tassels. So with 60 skeins, you will get 120 tassels – this is enough to cover the entire bag. If you want to just do the front side, then 30 skeins should be enough. Start by removing the paper sleeves from the skein of embroidery floss. Cut about 16 inches of floss off the skein and save it for later.

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Cut the skein into two sections and then cut each of those sections in half to create a total of four sections.

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Combine two sections together. Now cut the 2 feet of extra floss into 4 equal sections. Center one of the strands under one of the bundles of floss and tie into a double knot.

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Fold the bundle. Center another strand under the folded bundle.

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Tie the top into a double knot. Trim but keep the top strands intact.

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Turn on your favorite TV series and get ready to dedicate a couple of hours making tassels . . . 120 of them! Be patient – it’s so worth it!

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Thread one end of the strands through an embroidery needle. Sew one end through one section of the straw bag and sew the other end through the other side.

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From the inside of the bag, tie the strands into a double knot.

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Continue tying on the tassels!

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And that’s all, folks!

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(images by HonestlyWTF)

Leave a Comment

79 Comments

  1. Elisa wrote:

    Really love the bag!! Great DIY!

    xx Elisa
    My Fantabulous World

    4.24.14
    Reply
  2. Mira wrote:

    The bag looks marvelous! Super cute diy idea 😀

    xx Mira

    http://www.glamdevils.com

    4.24.14
    Reply
  3. I love it!!!! it’s so colourful!!!

    DIY BLOG
    http://www.stelstyle.com

    4.24.14
    Reply
  4. Paty wrote:

    I loved it!
    I’m posting looks from Los Angeles and accessories:

    http://www.thegavlaks.com

    4.24.14
    Reply
  5. lauren wrote:

    this is so full of colour and fun
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx

    4.24.14
    Reply
  6. Oh my gosh. I LOVE this, so much!!!!

    4.24.14
    Reply
  7. Anni wrote:

    Wow, that’s such a great idea!! I’ve been making my Xàbia Bags just literally last week (http://fabulousfinnish.com/?p=1794). Definitely going to make some of these fab tassled bags as well! Creative you 🙂 Thanks for inspiring me!

    4.24.14
    Reply
  8. Amanda wrote:

    Really creative idea, will try this out. Thank you xx
    http://www.oh-hunni.blogspot.co.uk

    4.24.14
    Reply
  9. Sue wrote:

    Absolutely loved this – I never knew how those little tassels were made but now I do – there’s no stopping me! Thank you!

    4.24.14
    Reply
  10. SO Cute! This is officially on our list of crafts!

    http://www.sunflowersandlace.com

    4.24.14
    Reply
  11. Love it! Did you do the tassels all the way around or only on one side?

    4.24.14
    Reply
  12. Francey wrote:

    That is so adorable! You did a great job! <3

    4.24.14
    Reply
  13. awww it looks so cool!
    If I do it, I would only have one line of tassels, but it looks great the way you have it
    Xo, Belen
    Androbel Insider

    4.24.14
    Reply
  14. Malind wrote:

    Thanks for this awesome idea! The framer’s market is coming up soon where i live and that would be cute to tote around. PS where are you killer shoes from? I want them.
    -Malind

    4.24.14
    Reply
  15. Namrata wrote:

    How on earth do you make these things look so easy?? I love those coloured tassels and there is so much you can do with these. A nice bohemian necklace will look great!

    Namrata
    http://seasoncheck.blogspot.com

    4.24.14
    Reply
  16. Sandra wrote:

    wow this looks absolutely incredible. DIY all the way 🙂 if u know how to :)))

    Sandra from http://www.chicplaisir.com

    4.25.14
    Reply
  17. Carla wrote:
    4.25.14
    Reply
  18. Shauna wrote:

    You NEVER disappoint. This is the cutest bag ever!!!!Please tell me where you purchased your shoes. They are soooooo friggin cute!!!!

    4.26.14
    Reply
  19. Amelie wrote:

    Thank your for this awesome tutorial! 🙂

    4.27.14
    Reply
  20. Jade wrote:

    This is so amazing I’m speechless!! LOVE

    http://www.jadeclectic.blogspot.in

    4.27.14
    Reply
  21. PhotoGirl wrote:

    OK. This is excellent. So glad I paid attention during my color theory class. Will be applying this DIY to that straw tote that I was just about to throw away.

    4.27.14
    Reply
  22. Norma wrote:

    Brilliant idea! BTW where you get your shoes???

    4.27.14
    Reply
  23. Lara wrote:

    Qué fácil de hacer y que bonito, además tengo un bolso de este estilo que le falta un toque divertido como este. besos

    COMO COMBINAR UNA FALDA LARGA

    4.28.14
    Reply
  24. Susan Evans wrote:

    Thanks so much for posting the tassel project…. Just got back from Joanne’s with tons of embroidery thread;()

    5.7.14
    Reply
  25. Emilie wrote:

    Hi Erica,
    You always have great DIY ideas!!
    Could you please tell me where these shoes are from?? Love them!!
    Thanks,
    Emi

    6.10.14
    Reply
  26. Sasha wrote:

    Really pretty bag <3
    http://tinygoldengirl.com/

    7.9.14
    Reply
  27. lynn mazlina wrote:

    Good idea…. & nice combination colours. I like the shoes very much where to purchase??

    7.13.14
    Reply
  28. Supercute!!! I love it!!

    7.22.14
    Reply
  29. Zen wrote:

    I really, really, really love all your DIY tutorials. The photos and end products are gorgeous- totally stuff I would use 🙂 I only wish mine could be as good- 1 day! 🙂 Anyway, I was wondering fi you would mind if I put a link to this tutorial on my post? I did a tutorial for DIY tassel earrings (https://hapinesswherever.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/5-min-diy-long-tassel-earrings/) and thought of doing a DIY tassel tutorial as well- but there are so many good tutorials out there already, there didn’t seem to be much point! So going to do a compendium post of all the tassel tutorials out there instead 🙂 Would love to include yours! 🙂

    7.31.14
    Reply
  30. Lo' wrote:

    Fabulous 🙂

    12.5.14
    Reply
  31. sheila wrote:

    Great idea,beautiful bag.Thank you.

    6.20.15
    Reply
  32. test wrote:

    lookie here

    2.15.16
    Reply
  33. imgrum wrote:

    Love this tutorial! I saw some tassel bag sold in store, but I often don’t invest in them, I just buy bag which I could use in any occasion. This DIY will help me have a tassel bag with no budget.
    https://www.imgrum.one/instagram-sign-up

    12.21.17
    Reply
  34. Josefina wrote:

    Hello Erica
    I love your pictures are very inspiring, one of the pictures with the bag and colorful embroidery floss I just loved it, I need to ask for a permission because I want to use your picture as one of my profile picture for my slow fashion blog in Facebook, considering I am starting and I don´t have many pictures.

    Thanks,
    I will wait your answer.

    2.4.18
    Reply