Tassels are fun additions to many craft projects and add a fun element or a sense of lightness, which can give your work a little extra something.
When it comes to picking out the best yarn for tassels, you can go in any direction. Each type of yarn brings its own unique properties, and you aren’t necessarily limited to one particular material.
So what is the best yarn for tassels? The best yarn for tassels is silk. Maybe not pure silk, but a wool-silk blend, for example, is a recipe for success with regards to making tassels. It depends on the tactile sensation you want from your tassels, and if you are looking for something high-quality, or affordable and durable.
For me personally, I like my tassels to feel super soft and evoke a feeling of comfort and coziness.
But in case you are different from me and have different ideas of what you want from your tassels, I’ve put together this comprehensive article detailing the different types of yarn, my recommendations, and the general pros and cons of each for making tassels.
Best Yarns for Tassels
Without further ado, let’s dive straight into the best yarns for tassels so you can make an informed decision when it comes to picking the perfect material for the job.
As you’re probably well-aware if you’re as immersed in the world of DIY crafts as I am, there are a wide range of yarns out there for all sorts of projects and purposes.
So let’s break them down one by one and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses as materials for making tassels.
- Silk – Lightweight, durable and super soft.
- Linen – Strong, comfortable and resistant.
- Cotton – Durable and soft to the touch.
- Wool – Undeniably warm and cozy.
1. Sari Silk Yarn
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Silk is a super smooth, and soft material that makes a great option for making tassels.
Allow me to suggest a great silk yarn that is highly suitable for making tassels. This beautiful, colorful Sari Silk Yarn pack from Generic is a shoo-in for the best tassel material.
What I love about this yarn, in particular, is the mesmerizing color combination. Tassels should be colorful if you’re using them for decorative purposes especially, and you could do a lot worse than this stunning yarn.
Coming in a pack of 3 to 4 skeins, of different weights, this product will last you a while, and be plenty of yarn to make a bunch of tassels.
The satisfying tactile sensation you get from touching silk, in my opinion, makes it hands down the best option for making tassels.
When you think about tassels, or at least when I do, you imagine brushing your fingers along them as if you were in a field of tall grass, except with a much softer and cozier quality. This is well worth seeking to create with your tassels, for whatever the end-use of them ends up being.
What you may not know about silk yarn though, is that it is also very absorbent. The benefit of this is that if you happen to get it wet, it is very quick to dry. Which makes it perfect for tassels you want to add to a towel or something that will come into contact with liquid regularly.
What’s more, silk is a natural material, meaning that it is a sustainable choice. Choosing sustainable materials is becoming more and more important in the current climate, so this factor should raise silk above more unsustainable alternatives.
While it may be slightly costly, and that is the main drawback of choosing silk yarn, you will be able to make the most amazing tassels which I promise will feel so good to the touch.
Finally, to wrap up silk yarn as an option, silk is the most hypoallergenic fiber around. What does that mean for you? Well, you won’t have to worry about a whole host of irritating allergens like dust and mold.
2. Lusie’s Linen Yarn
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Linen fiber yarn isn’t as common to see in craft projects as say cotton or wool, but it definitely has its strengths.
Now let’s take a look at an example of great linen yarn. This 100% linen yarn cone from Lusie’s Linen oozes class.
I adore the deep, dark purple color of this yarn, which makes it look so regal and majestic.
If that isn’t reason enough to invest in this to make your tassels, then how about the fact that it is highly durable and 100% pure linen, not a blend.
Despite the higher cost, with this yarn, you will have a luxurious product that is more than suitable for any tassels.
For a start, linen is stronger than cotton, which makes it a better option in some ways. Although you may not think that your tassels need to be strong and durable, it is important because they can fall apart otherwise and fray away.
What’s perhaps more important though when it comes to tassels, is the comfort factor. Linen has that side of things down. If you need proof of that, then lay down on some linen sheets and you’ll soon see that it is a very enjoyable material to come into contact with.
Linen, like silk, is very absorbent too. So you won’t have to be afraid of spilling liquid on the tassels, or accidentally dabbing them in water, as they will soon dry.
Being machine-washable, linen tassels are going to retain their form and structure even after a heavy wash. This is ideal for those inevitable moments when you need to clean them up and means you don’t have to worry about taking the easy option with the washing machine.
Finally, linen is biodegradable, making it an eco-friendly option. Paying for quality and environmentally-friendly materials should be a no-brainer.
3. Sugar’n Cream Cotton Yarn
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Cotton has always been a popular choice in the world of knitting due to its lightweight nature, high durability and incredible sustainability.
One of the most recognized yarn brands around, you needn’t look further than this product from Lily Sugar’n Cream.
This cotton cone from the trusted company comes in a wide variety of variegated yarns. That means you can add a healthy splash of color to your tassels without needing to mess around with several different threads of yarn.
For me, this is a no-brainer when it comes to choosing a cotton yarn, and you can see from the hundreds of glowing reviews that people love this product.
But what makes it an especially good option for making tassels?
Firstly, cotton is super soft, as I’m sure you aware. This is the primary reason it is used so often for clothing and towels. Comfort is something cotton has in spades, making it a good choice for tassels.
Then, due to it being machine-washable, you won’t have to worry about staining and discoloration. Plus, cotton is unusual in that it becomes softer after each wash, which certainly isn’t a bad thing I’m sure you’d agree!
Especially compared to silk and linen, cotton is a very reasonably-priced yarn to invest in. While of course the more you pay the higher the quality, you can get some fantastic cotton yarn at a fraction of the price of some higher-end materials.
Yet this doesn’t mean the product is weaker and less durable as a result. Cotton is actually incredibly strong and holds its shape very well. Pilling won’t be an issue either.
However, the downside with cotton is that it holds on to water. This means that if your tassels are exposed to a large amount of water, they could sag and lose shape.
4. Knit Picks Wool Yarn
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Last up on this list of the best yarns for making tassels we have the cozy, comfortable and warm fiber that is wool.
My recommendation for wool is that you splash out a little, and pay a bit extra for that superb quality and amazing texture for your tassels.
That’s why I want to suggest this Knit Picks 10-pack. Made from wool of the Andes, you can be sure that you are getting a high-quality product, sourced from the Peruvian Andes mountains.
What I love about this particular yarn is the detail in the threads, and the gorgeous colors which would make the best tassels. From mustard yellow and cream, to a cozy dark green and a warm red, with this pack you will be able to get creative and make all kinds of fun and cozy tassels.
The fact that it’s a multipack means you get more value for your money, and you’ll have plenty of yarn to do as many tassels as your heart desires, and maybe even knit a winter sweater too!
Wool is typically used for winter clothing and accessories like scarves due to it’s soft and warm nature. I think this translates really well to what makes good tassels. Especially if you want to make tassels for a rug or something that your bare feet will come into contact with, wool could be the yarn you need.
What else makes wool a great option for making tassels?
First and foremost, wool is incredibly sustainable, coming from sheep, and is relatively quick to harvest. This makes it a fantastic option for the environmentally-conscious among us.
One feature you might not have considered when it comes to wool is that it is highly fire-resistant. Which is important for tassels that might hang over a surface and be susceptible to catching fire when lighting a candle for example.
As a downside, wool tends to need to be washed by hand. While this isn’t a huge problem per se, if you are likely to get it dirty often, this might seem like a bit of a chore.
Plus, it can be susceptible to the bites of hungry insects like moths, so it can fray away if you’re not careful and it’s exposed to little critters.
