Easy Peasy Bag Charm — Free Tutorial
There is something deeply satisfying about adding a little handmade touch to an everyday accessory. A bag charm is one of those small details that can completely transform the way a handbag, backpack, tote, or even a keychain looks and feels. It signals personality, creativity, and a willingness to put a little love into the things you carry every day. The best part? You do not need to be an experienced crafter to make one. This easy peasy bag charm tutorial is designed for complete beginners, though seasoned crafters will love it too because it comes together so quickly and the results are always charming.
Whether you are looking for a fun afternoon project, a heartfelt handmade gift, or a way to use up some of your yarn and bead stash, this tutorial has you covered. By the end, you will have a beautiful, tassel-style bag charm that you can customize endlessly in terms of color, texture, and embellishment. Let’s dive in.
What Is a Bag Charm?
A bag charm is a decorative accessory that hangs from the zipper pull, handle, or strap of a bag. They come in many forms — tassels, pom-poms, keychains, miniature plush toys, beaded dangles, and more. High-end fashion houses have sold them for hundreds of dollars, but the wonderful truth is that handmade bag charms often look just as gorgeous and cost only a fraction of the price to make.
Bag charms have enjoyed a steady surge in popularity over the past several years, and it is easy to see why. They are expressive, affordable, and incredibly giftable. A set of handmade bag charms in someone’s favorite colors makes a thoughtful birthday or holiday present, and because they are small, they are easy to ship or tuck into a card envelope.
Materials You Will Need
One of the best things about this project is how minimal the supply list is. You likely already have most of what you need.
For the tassel:
Yarn, embroidery floss, or chunky wool — roughly one small skein or the equivalent of about 20 to 30 yards depending on the thickness you want. You can also use a combination of different fibers for a layered, textured look.
For the top wrap:
A coordinating or contrasting color of yarn or embroidery thread to wrap around the neck of the tassel.
For the hardware:
A lobster clasp, swivel clasp, or trigger snap hook in gold, silver, or antique brass. These can be found at any craft store or ordered online for very little cost. You will also need a jump ring (a small metal ring) in the same finish, and optionally a short length of chain to add a little drape between the clasp and the tassel.
For embellishment (optional but recommended):
Wooden or acrylic beads, seed beads, charms from a craft store, dried flower petals sealed in resin, small tassels within the tassel — the sky is the limit.
Tools:
A pair of scissors, a large-eye tapestry needle or yarn needle, a ruler or a piece of stiff cardboard, and a pair of round-nose or flat-nose pliers for the jump ring.
Step One: Choose Your Color Palette
Before you cut a single piece of yarn, spend a moment thinking about color. This is where a lot of the magic happens, and a little planning upfront saves you from pulling apart a half-finished tassel because the colors are not working together.
If you are making the charm for yourself, think about the bags you use most often. Neutral tassels in cream, camel, or black will go with almost anything. If you tend toward a maximalist aesthetic, go bold with terracotta, deep teal, mustard yellow, or a jewel-toned burgundy. If you are making this as a gift, consider the recipient’s wardrobe and personality.
You can use a single color for a sleek, minimalist look, or layer two to three colors for something more playful. Ombre effects are gorgeous and easy to achieve by simply grouping yarns in a gradient from light to dark before you wrap them.
Step Two: Make Your Cardboard Wrap Template
The easiest way to make a consistent, neat tassel is to wrap your yarn around a piece of cardboard cut to the length you want your finished tassel to be. For a bag charm, a finished tassel length of about three to four inches works well, though you can go longer for a more dramatic effect or shorter for something more petite.
Cut a piece of cardboard to that length. The width does not matter much — a few inches wide is plenty. If you do not have cardboard handy, you can wrap around a hardcover book, a DVD case, or even just your fingers.
Step Three: Wrap the Yarn
Hold one end of your yarn against the cardboard and begin wrapping, keeping the tension consistent and the loops close together but not overlapping. The more times you wrap, the fuller and more luxurious your tassel will be. For a standard medium-density tassel, 40 to 60 wraps is a good starting point. For a chunky, voluminous tassel, go up to 80 or more. For a wispy, delicate tassel, 25 to 30 wraps may be enough.
When you reach your desired fullness, cut the yarn, leaving a tail of about six inches.
Step Four: Tie the Top
Cut a separate piece of yarn about twelve inches long. Slide it under all the wrapped loops at the top edge of the cardboard and tie it in a very tight double knot. This tie is what holds your entire tassel together, so do not be shy about pulling it firmly. Leave the two tails long — you will use them later to attach the tassel to your hardware.
Step Five: Cut the Bottom Loops
Carefully slide the wrapped yarn off the cardboard, keeping your fingers pinched around the tied top. Using sharp scissors, cut through all the loops at the bottom. You should now have a bundle of yarn strands held together at the top with your tie.
Give the ends a little shake to let them fall naturally. Hold the tassel by the tied top and smooth the strands downward with your fingers. If the bottom looks uneven, you can trim it into a straight line with scissors — hold the tassel taut and snip across the bottom in one clean line.
Step Six: Wrap the Neck
This is the step that transforms a bundle of yarn into a recognizable tassel. Take your contrasting wrapping yarn or embroidery floss and thread it onto your tapestry needle.
About a quarter to a third of an inch down from the top of the tassel, begin wrapping the yarn tightly around the bundle, working in smooth, even rows. Wrap as many times as you like — more wrapping gives a neater, more polished look, while fewer wraps give a more relaxed, casual feel.
To finish, thread the needle down through the center of the wrapping and pull it out the bottom, then trim the excess. Alternatively, you can tie off the wrapping yarn against one of the tassel strands and tuck the end in. Either method works beautifully.
Step Seven: Thread Beads (Optional)
This optional step adds a wonderful amount of personality and visual interest to your charm. Take a few of the tassel strands at the top of the bundle — the ones that hang near the front — and thread a bead or two onto each. Use a needle if the yarn is thick or if the bead holes are small. Tie a small knot below each bead to hold it in place.
You can also thread beads onto the two long tails that you tied at the very top. Knot them below the bead and then trim the excess, or leave the tails hanging as a decorative element.
Seed beads, wooden disc beads, faceted acrylic beads, and small metal charms all work wonderfully here. Mix metals and matte finishes for a bohemian feel, or stick to a single bead type and finish for a more polished look.
Step Eight: Attach the Hardware
Take your two long tie tails from the top of the tassel and thread them both through a jump ring, pulling the tassel up snug against the ring. Tie the tails in a double knot against the ring, then use your tapestry needle to tuck the ends back down into the tassel so they disappear among the other strands.
If you want a little extra length and movement, attach a small chain between the jump ring and your lobster clasp. Use your pliers to open the last link of the chain, slip the jump ring through, and close the link. Then open a second jump ring to attach the lobster clasp to the other end of the chain.
If you prefer a simpler, shorter charm, skip the chain entirely and attach the lobster clasp directly to the jump ring on the tassel.
Step Nine: Final Fluff and Finishing Touches
Give the tassel one last trim to even out any stray ends. For a silky smooth finish, you can gently steam the tassel using a clothes steamer or by holding it briefly over a pot of boiling water, then smooth the strands downward with your fingers while it is still slightly damp. This is especially effective with yarn that has a bit of natural fiber content.
For a more whimsical, poofy look, skip the steaming and instead pull at the strands gently to fluff them out.
Your bag charm is now ready to be clipped onto any zipper pull, bag handle, or key ring.
Creative Variations to Try
Once you have mastered the basic tassel bag charm, the possibilities really do become endless. Here are a few variations that are just as easy and equally satisfying to make.
Two-tone tassel: Wrap two colors of yarn simultaneously around your cardboard template. When you cut and hang the tassel, the colors will blend naturally throughout the strands.
Layered tassel: Make two tassels of slightly different lengths and attach them both to the same jump ring. The longer one peeks out from behind the shorter one for a lush, layered effect.
Pom-pom charm: Use a pom-pom maker or the wrap-and-cut method to make a fluffy pom-pom instead of a tassel. Attach it to hardware the same way.
Beaded chain charm: Skip the tassel altogether and string an assortment of beads onto a head pin, attach it to a chain, and add your clasp. This gives you something more structured and jewelry-like.
Macramé charm: Use waxed cotton cord and simple macramé knots — a few square knots and spiral knots — to create a knotted charm with a completely different texture and feel.
Personalized initial charm: Attach a metal letter charm to your jump ring alongside a small tassel or pom-pom for a personalized gift.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
A few small habits make a big difference in the finished quality of your bag charm.
Use sharp scissors for clean cuts. Dull scissors crush yarn fibers and leave frayed, uneven ends that are difficult to trim neatly.
Wrap firmly but not so tightly that the cardboard bows. Even tension throughout the wrapping gives the tassel a more uniform, professional appearance.
Match your hardware finish to other metal elements in the owner’s style — if they tend to wear gold jewelry, gold hardware feels intentional; if they prefer silver, go silver.
Store finished charms in a small zip-top bag or hang them from a hook to prevent the tassel strands from getting tangled or flattened before gifting.
If you are making multiple charms as gifts or to sell, make a little assembly line — wrap all the tassels first, then trim all the bottoms, then wrap all the necks, then attach all the hardware. This saves a surprising amount of time.
Why Handmade Bag Charms Make Wonderful Gifts
There is a reason handmade gifts feel so special, and bag charms check every box. They are small enough to feel like a treat rather than a burden, useful enough to actually be used rather than tucked away in a drawer, and personal enough to show real thought and care. A bag charm made in someone’s favorite color, or in materials that suit their aesthetic, says far more than a generic store-bought trinket.
They are also wonderfully versatile. Beyond handbags, they can hang from a school backpack, decorate a gym bag, dangle from a camera strap, clip onto a journal cover, or attach to a keychain. Someone who does not carry a traditional handbag will still find a use for one.
For crafters who sell their work, bag charms are an ideal product. They are fast to make, inexpensive in materials, easy to photograph, and simple to ship. They work well as add-ons or stocking stuffers and tend to sell well at markets and in online shops year-round.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
The tassel looks thin or wispy. Add more wraps next time, or double up your yarn by holding two strands together as you wrap.
The neck wrap keeps slipping down. Make sure the top tie is very tight before you begin wrapping the neck. The tighter that initial knot, the more the neck wrap has to grip against.
The jump ring keeps pulling open. Use pliers to close it more firmly, and make sure you are using a jump ring that is an appropriate gauge for the weight of the tassel. Heavier tassels need heavier-gauge hardware.
The beads slide off the yarn strands. Tie a larger knot below the bead, or use a tiny drop of clear-drying jewelry glue to secure the knot.
The tassel looks uneven after trimming. Hold the tassel vertically and very taut before trimming, and cut with one clean stroke rather than multiple small snips.
Go Make Something Beautiful
Bag charms are one of those rare crafts where the effort is minimal, the supplies are inexpensive, and the results feel genuinely impressive. They are the kind of project you can start and finish in a single sitting, emerge from with something lovely in your hands, and immediately want to make six more of.
This tutorial is a starting point, not a rulebook. Swap in leather cord instead of yarn. Use silk ribbon for a luxurious drape. Try air-dry clay beads you make and paint yourself. Attach a pressed flower pendant alongside the tassel. Combine macramé knots with beaded strands. Make one that looks wild and experimental. Make one that looks understated and sleek. The only rule is that you enjoy the process and love the result.
Share your makes using the hashtag of your choice, leave a photo in the comments if you try this tutorial, and feel free to pass this post along to any fellow crafters in your life who might enjoy an easy, satisfying afternoon project. Happy crafting!
