Making Leather Tassels

[UKRay]

Can anyone, please, give me some clues on the best or easiest way to make neat leather tassels - the sort of thing that might be used to decorate sporrans or leather brogue style shoes?

I have added a picture to explain the sort of thing I'm looking for - but if you have a better looking style I'd really appreciate hearing about it.

Hope you guys can help!

Cheers,

Ray

[TigerPal]

Just looked at a pair of shoes with tassels exacty like that. They were made from a very thin piece of leather, cutting strips like you would in making a fringe, then rolling it up around a thong with a knot tied at the end, then sewing a few stitches across the "solid" (uncut) end. Another pair had the cuts made only in the middle, with both edges uncut (somewhat like belt slots, except just narrow slits). When sewed, the cut portion bulged out like an old-fashioned lantern. And still another had the end of each strip of the fringe tapered, like a belt end.

Edited May 13, 2011 by TigerPal

[UKRay]

Thanks for the suggestions, TigerPal.

I have made several tassels today and think I've cracked the method. The trick seems to be to glue the roll of leather as you roll it around whatever is used as a central core or ''lace' - in my case a bit of braided 'bolo' tie leather. It has to be left for the glue to harden before attempting to put stitches in it. At least, that is the way i'm doing it for now LOL

Cheers,

Ray

[HellfireJack]

The video linked to in this thread shows the making of a tassel at about the 7:38 minute mark.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=23244&st=0&p=148555&hl=sporran&fromsearch=1entry148555

[UKRay]

Great film, Jack. Many thanks.

Ray