Learn how to make beaded tassel earrings with this easy jewelry making tutorial. Made using dainty seed beads in black, bronze and gold, these earrings are not just pretty, they are easy to make too.
Each tassel is made up of 10 strands of seed bead dangles with each strand measuring approximately 5cm. The tassel strands are tied together to an eye pin and inserted into a lacey bead cap. The top of the tassel is adorned with a gold bead and hooped into a matching gold earring hook. Each completed earring measures approximately 7.5cm in length. These earrings are perfect for casual wear (daily wear) and are equally great for special occasions too.
If you like these DIY tassel earrings, check out these easy beaded hoop earrings in blue, pink quartz hoop earrings, pearl drop earrings and these seed bead earrings in purple and green.
🎥Video Tutorial
Here is the full video tutorial on how to make beaded tassel earrings. The detailed list of supplies, step-by-step instructions and images are right below this video section on this page.
🧾Tools and Supplies
- Black seed beads (340 beads measuring 2mm in diameter)
- Bronze seed beads (200 beads measuring 2mm in diameter)
- Gold seed beads (160 beads measuring 2mm in diameter)
- Metal gold beads (2 beads measuring 4mm in diameter)
- Bead caps in gold (2 caps measuring 8mm in diameter at the bottom opening and 6mm in length)
- Eye pins (2 pins measuring 25mm in length)
- 2 gold colored earring hooks (earring wires )
- Beading thread
- Beading needle
- Hot glue or craft glue
- Scissors
- Round nose pliers
- Flat nose pliers
✂️How to Make
Step 1: Make the bead tassels. Measure and cut 2 strands of thread measuring 70cm each. You will be using 2 strands for each earring.
Note: Cutting the thread into 2 instead of using a single long strand will prevent it from tangling as you work on threading the beads. You can also cut the thread into 4 strands if that is easier for you to work with. For each strand, give an extra allowance of at least 20cm of thread for the needle and easy handling.
Tie the end of the first strand to an eye pin (image 1). Make 2 knots and test by pulling it to make sure it does not come off. Cut off the shorter excess thread.
Insert the other end of the strand of thread into the beading needle (image 2).
Thread 15 black seed beads and push them to the end of the thread tied to the eye pin (image 3).
Next, insert one bronze bead, followed by 1 black bead, 2 bronze beads and 1 black bead again (image 4).
Continue with 5 bronze beads (image 5).
Next, add one gold bead, followed by 1 bronze bead, 2 gold beads and 1 bronze bead. Complete the strand with 5 gold beads (image 6).
Loop back to the start of the bead strand by inserting the needle into the second last gold bead on the strand (image 7) and threading it through all the beads in the strand all the way back to the first bead (image 8).
Note: It is important that you skip the last bead in the strand when looping back to the top. If you don't, the beads will all fall off.
Insert the needle into the eye pin from the bottom (image 9).
Loop the beading thread over the needle once (image 10) and pull the needle to make a simple knot on the eye pin. This knot will lock the beads in the strand. This completes the first strand.
Repeat the beading process for the next 3 or 4 strands, depending on the length of the thread available (image 11). Fasten with a knot at the end of each strand.
To replace the thread with a new strand for the remaining bead tassels, fasten the existing one well. To fasten the thread, insert the needle into the eye pin from the bottom. Hold it half way in the pin and loop the thread around the needle and pull to make a knot (similar to the knots made after each strand in the steps earlier).
Repeat to make another 4 knots. Finally, thread through a few beads in the last strand (image 12) and cut off the excess thread (image 13).
To start with the next strand of thread, tie it to the eye pin with 2 knots in the same way as the first strand.
Thread the beads and make the remaining tassels (image 14) until you have 10 strands of beads for each earring. Fasten the thread and trim the excess thread off.
Step 2: Apply craft glue or hot glue. To prevent the strands from coming off the eye pin, apply a small dot of glue to block the gaps in the eye pin loops (image 15).
Step 3: Attach the bead cap. Insert the eye pin to the bead cap (image 16).
Step 4: Insert the gold bead (image 17).
Step 5: Hoop the eye pin. Pull the eye pin to hold the tassel closely in the bead cap and loop the eye pin (image 18). Try not to leave any gap to prevent the bottom of the eye pin from showing outside the bead cap.
Step 6: Attach the ear wire. To complete the earrings, use a flat nosed plier to open the loop of the ear wire (image 19).
Insert the tassel into the ear wire (image 20) and close the loop (image 21).
Note: When opening the loop, push it side ways instead of in opposite direction to not distort the shape of the loop.
Repeat the above steps to make the second earring.
Options:
- Color combination - you can change the color combination of these tassel earrings to your own choice. For a lighter colored pair of earrings, you can make white tassel earrings by replacing the black beads with white beads. You can also make pink tassel earrings or blue tassel earrings or in any other color you like by simply replacing the black beads with a color of your choice. You can also make these earrings in silver combination instead of gold. To do that, replace all gold elements in the earrings to silver.
- Beading patterns - I used 3 different colors of beads and each color transitions to the next gradually. You can use a different beading pattern as you like so long as the number of beads used in each strand is the same.
- Strand length - If you wish make longer tassels, increase the number of beads used in each strand.
- Bead type and size - I used 2mm seed beads to make these beaded pair of earrings. Using larger beads will make the tassels bulky and you will require a larger bead cap to fit the top of the bead strands.
Tips
- Use a cloth to line your work space. This will prevent beads from rolling off easily.
- If you find it difficult to work with long strands of thread at a time, cut them shorter and simply add more strands as the thread is used up.
- The bead tassels for earrings are best made with small beads. Large beads will make bulky tassels.
- Make sure the needle is thin enough to pass through the beads.
- Use thread color that is close to the beads so that it does not show, especially on the last bead of each strand.
Leslie Harris says
What type and size thread did you need to pass through the beads twice?
Priya Maha says
I used normal sewing thread.