No-Hassle Tassel Necklace

By Francesca Stone

It’s that time of year to work your party dress, slip into some killer heels and style a serious hairdo, but let’s not forget about the accessories: big, bold and statement-making. And so we made this to help you stand out from the crowd. With this copper tassel necklace tutorial, you’ll learn to DIY a one-of-a-kind statement piece that you can customize by choosing fringe that complements your shoes, bag or hair accessories. There’s never been a better reason to pass up that sequined dress — this is the new way to shine bright this holiday.

Materials:
– copper sheet
– copper necklace chain
– 8 copper jump rings
– embroidery floss in various colors

Tools: 
– metal hole punch
– scissors
– tin snips
– pen

Instructions:

1. Using a ballpoint pen, draw the shape of the necklace base onto the copper. You can make a template by folding a piece of paper in half to give it perfect symmetry.

2. Cut around the shape with tin snips. The edges should not be sharp, but you can file these down with a metal file if you want to be sure.

3. Using your fingers, bend the copper to make a slightly curved shape.

4. Punch holes in both of the top corners — this is where you’ll string the chain later.

5. Make a tassel by winding embroidery floss around two fingers. When you feel the tassel will be thick enough, take the long end of the floss and wrap it around the top of the loops you’ve made. Tie it off and then cut the loops at the other end to make your tassel.

6. Make enough tassels to run along the bottom of the necklace and lay them out into position under the necklace base — we’ve made six tassels, but you can make more or fewer.

7. Mark the copper with a pen above each tassel to determine where each will hang on the necklace.

8. Punch holes at each of these points.

9. Attach your tassels to each of these holes in turn using jump rings (for a visual demo on how to open jump rings, look here).

10. Add jump rings to either end of your copper chain, then attach it to the corner holes with those same jump rings.

First draw the shape of your necklace base on the copper sheet. It could be anything from a rounded half moon like ours to a thick bar or even a full circle. Cut out the base using tin snips and bend the base in its center to give it a slight curve. Add holes to either corner for the chain, which you’ll put on later.

Now let’s work on those tassels. Start by winding embroidery floss around two fingers until you’ve reached a good thickness — how thick you want ‘em is up to you. Then take the long end of the floss and wrap it around the top of the loops you’ve made with your fingers. Tie it off and cut the looped end so that it now looks like a tassel. Make enough tassels to run along the bottom of the necklace — we made six, but again, that number is up to you!

Position the tassels along the bottom of the necklace to visualize the final layout, then mark off the spots on the base where you want the tassels to hang. Punch holes at each of these points, then attach your tassels to each of these holes in turn using jump rings until they’re all attached.

Attach the chain to the corner holes and you’re ready to wear your new necklace all over tinsel town!

The real beauty of this piece is just how customizable it is: from the color of the tassels (we went with a wintry ombre) to the material and shape of the base. So when you gift this to your bestie, work wife or even mom, each necklace can be personalized to fit their style best. How about that for happy holidays?

Click here for the full tutorial.