Make a Fluffy Lampshade

Have you got some fluffy yarn you don't know what to do with? Then why not try making a fluffy lampshade out of it!

WARNING: Do not do this with a lamp holding a normal incandescent or low energy bulb, as they get hot. Only do this if the lamp contains an LED bulb, as this remains cold.

You will need:

• A lamp with an LED bulb and shade (My shade was approximately 8.5" high and 10" in diameter).
• ​A ball or two of fluffy yarn (I used King Cole Luxe Fur Eyelash Yarn in Ostrich and I only had one ball).
• A crochet hook (I used a size 8mm as my yarn was chunky).
• Normal yarn that matches (I used black double knit yarn I had in my stash).
• Darning needle.

Terms used are UK based.

​Step 1

Chain until the length goes around the shade tightly. The yarn will loosen up as you work. Slip stitch to the first stitch to create a loop.

The foundation chain should just about go around the shade

I have to say that I couldn't tell if I'd twisted the foundation chain or not when I joined it, but it didn't seem to matter in the end!

Step 2

In third chain from hook work a Triple Crochet.
* Chain 1. Miss a Chain. Triple Crochet into next stitch.
​** Repeat from * to ** to end. Slip stitch into first chain space.
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Step 3

Now comes the challenge: how to find the chain spaces!
Stick your fingers into the work and you can see where they are! To be honest, I think I missed a few initially, but you can feel them as you go.

Chain 4. * Triple Crochet into next chain space. Chain 1. **
Repeat from * to ** to end. Slip stitch into first chain space.

Work into the chain spaces from the previous row.

Step 4

Repeat Step 3 until the work reaches the top of the shade.

You want the work to be stretched tightly over the shade, so you get the effect of the chain spaces. As I only had one ball of yarn, I had to really stretch the work!! You can see from the photo below that the work only reached the centre of the shade before stretching.

If you want a more dense looking shade with no visible holes you may need two or maybe three balls of yarn.

Finished work before it is stretched onto the shade

Step 5

Put the finished tube over the shade. Pull the bottom edge of your work over the bottom edge of the shade. Using your matching non-fluffy yarn, join the yarn in the bottom row of your work then slip stitch around this bottom row. You will find the slip stitch edge tightens everything up. You need this row to be smaller than the shade circumference, so the work stays in place when you stretch it. Fasten off at the end and darn in the tail.
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​Step 6

Pull the finished tube up over the top of the shade. The bottom slip stitched edge may not stay where it should if you've had to really stretch it (like I did). Don't worry. You can adjust it as you go.

Slip stitch the top edge like you did at the bottom. As I only had one ball of yarn, the last slip stitch row was quite tough to do. I had to keep rolling the bottom edge back over the edge of the shade. However, once you get half way round it starts getting easier. Secure yarn at the end and darn in the tail.

Slip stitch top and bottom edges onto the shade

Finishing

When you've got your work securely onto the shade, you can now adjust it. It's easier if you turn on the light, so you can see the squares. I smoothed the work round so the seam was at the back and made sure the squares looked even.

Now sit back and enjoy your unusual fluffy shade.
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