How to Tie a Mala Tassel Knot
Mala beads are an important meditation tool in the Buddhist and Hindu religions. Traditionally, a mala consists of 108 beads, as well as one larger bead known as the guru bead. The mala is completed with a mala tassel. Many people opt to make their mala themselves but struggle to tie the mala tassel knot. Tying a mala tassel knot is not difficult.
1 Tying a Mala Tassel Knot
2 Unravel the embroidery thread
Unravel the embroidery thread until it forms a single, long thread.
3 Pinch the thread
Pinch the thread around 7 or 8 inches from one end between your thumb and the rest of your hand. Do this with an upturned palm.
4 Wrap the thread
Wrap the thread repeatedly round and round your four fingers, creating a loop. Do so by keeping a tight grip of the thread between your thumb and hand. Repeat until around 7 or 8 inches of thread remains at the other end.
5 Remove the looped thread
Remove the looped thread from your fingers and lie it flat in front of you, keeping the shape and form of the loop intact.
6 Take the thread
Take the thread from the mala bead chain and tie it securely around the middle of the loop of the embroidery thread so that your loop begins to resemble a number 8. Ensure the embroidery thread loop and the mala bead chain are securely fastened together using several tight overhand knots.
7 Take the figure
Take the figure eight and fold it in half so that the two loops are on top of each other, creating one small loop.
8 Pinch the loop
Pinch the loop between your thumb and forefinger and tightly wrap each of the 7- or 8-inch lengths of excess thread from either end of the loop around the top of the loop, where it is attached to the mala beads. Secure with tight overhand knots.
9 Out the loop
Lay out the loop flat and cut the loop at the opposite end to where it is tied to the mala beads. This will change the loop into a tassel.
10 Lay out the tassel
Lay out the tassel flat and trim any uneven ends.
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