How to Make A Tassel Necklace & Earrings

St. Patrick's Day is a little stressful for me because I have no green clothing - not even a shamrock pin! And who wants to get pinched and teased all day? So this year I learned how to make a tassel to whip up a simple pair of earrings and a pendant necklace with emerald embroidery thread (love that stuff!) And you know what, I love this bright, bold color - and since it's the Pantone color of the year you can look trendy wearing these all year long.

Emerald Tassel Earrings

For the earrings you will need:

2 6-foot pieces of emerald green embroidery thread
4 pieces of thread in a complimentary color (I used a silvery metallic). 2 6-inch pieces and 2 12-inch pieces.
A credit card
2 earring hooks

1. Take your 6-inch piece of thread and make a knot that keeps a small loop. Set aside.

2. Then wrap your emerald thread around the card as shown.

3. Feed the 6-inch piece of thread under the wrapped thread and tie a double knot. Then slide the green thread off the card.

4. Snip the ends of the thread you just knotted, keeping the small loop at the very top.

5. Now take your 12-inch piece of thread and wrap it around the top of the tassel. Make a knot and snip the ends.

6. Now take your scissors and cut the ends of the tassel. Snip a bit more to even the length.

7. Attach the earring hook to the small loop at the top. You may need to open and close it with your fingers or round nose pliers.

8. Repeat for the second earring.

Trust me, tassel-making is addictive. Once you've mastered the earrings, try this pendant necklace for another bit o' green.

Emerald Tassel Necklace

1. Make a tassel just like you did with the earrings. Except this time, add a bit more length of thread - about 9 feet - and use the long end of the your card. (I almost used an actual credit card for this project - until I realized publishing those photos would be a really bad idea!)

2. Attach a headpin to the loop at the top of the tassel (or you can use a jump ring if you don't have a loop).

3. Feed a small gold bead and a wooden bead onto the head pin.

4. Cut the excess length of the head pin and curl it into a loop with pliers.

5. Measure a piece of chain to the length of your liking. I made mine pretty long so that it's more of a pendant necklace. Then attach the chain together with a jump ring and insert the jump ring into the head pin loop. And you're done!