DIY // boho pom pom + tassel umbrella

Hi guys, just chiming in to introduce our new DIY editor, Hannah of Homemade Banana! She’s a DIY and crafting pro with super cute style and a some really fun, fresh ideas to share. I’m excited to switch things up a bit and showcase Hannah’s great projects and voice! — Joanna

Here in Seattle, we’re well-versed in the art of rainy day style. Galoshes are an absolute must-have and a good raincoat is indispensable… but for those cool, grey days when April showers seem endless and May flowers seem so far away, desperate measures must be taken. It’s no secret that Joanna is a big fan of all things tassel related, so it seemed only logical to fight the rainy day doldrums with a beautifully bohemian umbrella decked out in colorful handmade tassels — and a few pom poms for good measure.

Tools

• pom pom maker
• scissors (we used fabric shears because they’re nice and sharp)
• T-pin

Materials

• embroidery thread
• yarn in lots of colors
• umbrella

Start by making your tassels. Take one skein of embroidery thread and cut two 12″ pieces, then set them to the side. Wrap the remaining thread around the palm of your head, then carefully slide it off so you’re left with a loop. Using the first 12″ piece of thread, place it through the loop and knot twice at the top.

Using the second 12″ piece of thread, tie it around the tassel about 1/2″ from the top. This will form the head of your tassel. Next, take your scissors, cut the loops at the bottom of your tassel and trim off any stray pieces so you’re left with a straight edge.

Pro tip for making your tassels look nice and full: use a T-pin (or your fingers if you don’t have a pin lying around) to comb through the pieces of embroidery thread.

Repeat until you have a big pile o’ tassels (aka Joanna’s dream) — we used 30 in total!

Next, it’s time to make the pom poms! I highly recommend investing $6 in this handy pom pom maker (it’s so much faster!), but if you want to do it the old-fashioned way, you can achieve the same effect by using the cardboard method.

Unfold the 2 1/2″ pom pom maker and wind two different colors of yarn around each side. Snap the arms back into place and use your scissors to cut along the outside. Then, take an 18″ piece of yarn and tie it around the pom pom, making sure to double knot it very tightly.

Remove the pom pom from the maker. At this point, it should be about the size of a clementine, but you’ll want to trim it down to about the size of a golf ball. This is the key to making really full pompoms: start with something that’s about twice as big as you want it to end up!

Here’s the best part: it’s time to create the bouquets of tassels and pom poms. Gather three tassels and one pompom in an assortment of colors and knot them together. Then, braid the tails together, knot the ends and trim any excess embroidery thread — but make sure you leave the extra yarn (you’ll need this to secure the tassels to the umbrella).

Repeat until you have one bunch for each spoke of your umbrella, plus a few extra to hang from the handle.

All that’s left to do is assemble your boho umbrella! Thread the braided tail of your tassels between the tine and the clear part of the umbrella. Wrap it around the endcap a few times, then securely knot the end pieces of yarn around the tine and trim any excess yarn.

Congratulations! You’re now the proud owner of the prettiest umbrella on the block. It’s guaranteed to brighten your mood, even on the dreariest days — something that’s very much needed when you live in Seattle like we do. We’ve got plenty of rainy day forecasts in our future and for once, we’re kind of okay with that.

Stay dry, my friends!

Photography and styling by Jojotastic.

DIY by Homemade Banana for Jojotastic.

Leave a comment and let us know what you think of this umbrella tutorial! And if you make one, be sure to post a photo and tag @jojotastic on Instagram so we can see.