DIY Denim Tassel Necklace — Upcycle Old Jeans into a Boho Pendant

Turn an old pair of jeans into a stylish boho necklace with this easy DIY denim tassel pendant. This project uses simple materials — denim scraps, a wooden ring and a leather cord — and can be customized with beads, paint or colored cord for a unique look. Below are clear steps, materials and helpful tips to guide you through making your own upcycled denim necklace.

Creating your own DIY denim necklace is a fun, creative and eco-friendly way to refresh your accessories. You can add beads, charms, or paint to personalize your necklace further. Grab a seam ripper and scissors, and follow the steps below to make a tassel pendant you’ll want to wear or gift.

Materials

• For the tassel, a strip of denim about 20cm x 3cm (7″ x 3″) — adjust size for a bigger or smaller tassel.
• Denim seam from the inside leg of a pair of jeans, long enough to wrap around the wooden ring, or a coloured hemp cord.
• Denim belt loop — easily removed from the waistband with a seam ripper.
• Wooden curtain ring or craft ring.
• Leather cord for hanging the pendant.
• Needle and thread and/or glue.

Wrapping the Wooden Ring — Step 1

Wrap the wooden ring with a coloured cord or a denim seam, and secure the ends with glue. You can make multiple variations by using different materials or colours.

Making the Denim Tassel — Step 2

To make denim tassels, fray the fabric by removing threads one at a time. A seam ripper is handy for picking out threads, making them easier to pull out by hand.

Step 3: Fray Both Ends

Work on both ends of your denim strip, pulling threads until you have about 5 cm of frayed fabric on each end. You can create tassels in two different colours from the same piece of denim: removing the white threads leaves a blue tassel; removing the blue threads leaves a white tassel.

Step 4: Form the Tassel Tube

After fraying both ends of the denim strip, fold it lengthwise so the ends meet. Secure them together by sewing or using glue. This forms a double-sided denim tassel that looks like a small tube.

Assembling the DIY Denim Necklace — Step 5

Gather the belt loop, covered wooden ring and denim tassel.

Step 6: Attach the Tassel to the Ring

Drape the denim tassel over the wooden ring so it hangs down. Encircle the top portion of the tassel with the belt loop and secure it by stitching or gluing. The belt loop both secures the tassel and adds an extra denim detail to the pendant.

Step 7: Add the Leather Cord

Attach a leather jewellery cord to the top of the pendant so it can be worn as a necklace. This denim pendant also makes a charming embellishment for upcycled denim bags or other accessories.

Tips & Variations

• If you prefer a neater finish, sew the top of the tassel securely rather than using glue.
• Add beads, charms or paint to the wooden ring for extra personalization.
• Experiment with different cord materials (hemp, coloured cord) or ring sizes to change the necklace scale and look.
• When fraying, work slowly to keep the frayed sections even and avoid cutting into the main body of the strip.

Enjoy your unique upcycled accessory — this simple project is a great way to give denim a second life and create a bespoke piece of jewelry.