Putting a tassel on a graduation cap takes about 30 seconds once you know the trick. The tassel has a loop at the top that slides over the small button in the center of your mortarboard, and a quick tug locks it in place. Here’s exactly how to do it, plus how to handle the common hiccups that come up on graduation day.
How to Attach the Tassel
Find the top end of your tassel. You’ll see two strings that come together to form a small loop. This loop is what connects the tassel to the button on your cap.
Hold the cap in front of you with the front edge facing you. Bend the loop in half and begin passing the tassel side of the loop through the loop end. This creates a small opening that fits over the button. Place that opening over the center button on top of the cap, then gently tug both sides of the loop downward, pulling it snug under the button’s edge. You should feel (and sometimes hear) it snap into place. Give the tassel a light pull to confirm it’s firmly seated. The tassel should hang freely and swing without resistance.
Which Side the Tassel Goes On
For high school and undergraduate ceremonies, the tassel starts on the right side of your cap before the ceremony begins. At the designated moment during the ceremony, usually right after degrees are conferred or diplomas are handed out, you’ll move it from right to left. This switch is one of the ceremony’s big symbolic moments, so follow the cue from whoever is leading the event.
Graduate students earning a master’s or doctoral degree wear the tassel on the left side from the start and leave it there. If you’re wearing a doctoral tam instead of a standard mortarboard, the same rule applies. Position the tam flat and level on your head with the tassel falling on the left, near your temple.
Keeping the Tassel Secure
The loop-and-button connection holds well for most people, but if you’re worried about the tassel slipping off during the ceremony, a few simple fixes add extra security without being visible.
- Bobby pin: After looping the tassel over the button, slide a bobby pin through the loop and secure it to the fabric on the underside of the cap. This is probably the easiest option and keeps the loop from jostling free.
- Safety pin: Pin it through the tassel loop and attach it to the cap’s fabric near the button, on the inside of the cap.
- Clear elastic hair tie: If the loop is too big for the button and keeps slipping, wrap a small clear elastic around the base of the button a few times to tighten the fit.
If you’re decorating your mortarboard, design your artwork around the central button rather than covering it. This way the tassel can still swing freely from right to left without snagging on decorations during the turning moment.
What to Do if Your Cap Has No Button
Some caps arrive without a button on top. The fastest fix is to push a sturdy safety pin through the very center of the cap from the inside out. This leaves a small metal loop on top that works perfectly for hooking your tassel onto. If you want something more permanent, sew a small flat button directly onto the center of the cap. Either method holds up for the full ceremony.
Fixing a Wrinkled or Tangled Tassel
Tassels often come out of the packaging looking creased or tangled. Hold yours over the steam from a kettle or use a hairdryer on low heat for about 30 seconds. The warmth and moisture relax the fibers so they hang straight.
If the year charm falls off its small metal ring, a pair of pliers can gently squeeze the ring closed again. In a pinch, reshape a sturdy paperclip to temporarily reattach the charm. It’s not elegant, but it will get you through the walk.