Create a no-sew tassel for any bag
August's Busy Bagmaker box came with an extra swivel snap hook, faux leather and some washi tape to create a swishy tassel to adorn our finished Lexie Foldover bags.
You too can create a no-sew faux leather tassel to clip on to any bag with my quick tutorial! Want to save a copy for later? Click here for the file.
Here's what you'll need:
- 4.5” wide x 6” high (11cm x 15cm) in faux leather (or other non-fraying fabric like cork) for the main Tassel Piece.
- 0.5” w x 2.5” h (1.2cm x 6cm) piece of faux leather for the Tassel Tab
- 0.25” (20mm) swivel snap hook or split keyring
- Ruler
- Quilting mat
- Rotary cutter or scissors
- Washi tape (3/8” or 1cm wide)
- Strong clear fabric glue (e.g Beacon Fabri-tac)
- Quilt clips
- Optional: a 9mm Rivet and rivet setting tool or Chicago screw
- a belt hole punch or awl
1. Loop the Tassel tab through the swivel snap hook so that the shorter ends meet. On the wrong side of the Tassel tab, add a dab of glue to one short end. Press the short ends together and hold in place with a clip. Allow to dry.
2. With the Tassel Piece wrong side up on the mat, place a strip of washi tape along a shorter edge to hold it down. The width of the washi tape needs to be in line with the raw edge of the fabric - we will be cutting up to the tape. If you don’t have tape, draw a line 3/8” (1cm) from the top edge
3. To mark the tassels - either draw lightly on the back of the faux leather with a pencil or fabric pen, or use the ruler and mat to gauge where to cut (I 'eyeball' this bit, I don't aim for perfection here!). Measure and cut 0.25” (6mm) lines up to the washi tape.
4. Remove the washi tape from the tassel. Add a line of glue to the top edge of the tassel. With the swivel snap hook facing up, place the Tassel Tab at one end of the Tassel Piece leaving a gap of about 0.5” (1.2cm) between the tab and Tassel Piece.
5. Fold the Tassel Piece over the Tassel Tab until you reach the end. Aim to have the last fold in the centre.
Hold the tassel in place with clips and allow to dry.
6. Optional - add a rivet or Chicago screw centred at the top of your tassel to secure.
Clip on to your favourite bag for a bit of swish factor!
For a printable version of this tutorial, click here.
I'd love to see your tassels! Share over on my Sew Sofia Bag Patterns Facebook Group or tag me @SewSofia on Instagram.
