You can make tassels from a number of textiles, including embroidery floss, any weight yarn, new exotic yarns, raffia, and straw. Just make sure the material can be wrapped, cut and tied easily. The steps for the basic tassel are the same. The size of the foam board and the number of times you wrap will depend on the desired tassel size and the kind of wrapping material you are using. Experiment to find your favorite style.
Wrap yarn around and around the board in one direction.
Slip a length of yarn or cord under the wrapped yarn and pull it up to the top edge of the board. Tie once to secure strands. Slip yarn off of the board, then pull the tying cord as tight as possible and complete the knot. Pull all of the strands straight down from the top and cut through the bottom loops. You may prefer to do the cutting after completing the tassel.