The tassel ("tzitzit") on each corner is made of four strands, which must be made with intent. These strands are then threaded and hang down, appearing to be eight. (It is customary that each of the four strands is made of eight fine threads, known as "kaful shemoneh"). The four strands are passed through a hole (or according to some: two holes) 1-2 inches (25 to 50 mm) away from the corner of the cloth. There are numerous customs as to how to tie the tassels. The Talmud explains that the Bible requires an upper knot ("kesher elyon") and one wrapping of three winds ("hulya"). The Talmud enjoined that between 7 and 13 "hulyot" be tied, and that "one must start and end with the color of the garment". As for the making of knots in between the "hulyot", the Talmud is inconclusive, and as such later poskim have interpreted this requirement in various ways. The Talmud described tying assuming the use of "tekhelet" dye. Following the loss of the source of the dye, various customs of tying were introduced to compensate for the lack of this primary element.