Sunday 18 March 2012

Croch-shade


Crochet lampshade makeover

When I saw these little lampshades for the bargain price of 75p each, I knew what I wanted to do with them.
It mostly involved ripping off the ghastly material and recovering them with something infinitely better.

Crochet lampshade

And there's nothing better than crochet.

Fancy a go?

I'll attempt to tell you how I did it, but i'll warn you know, this is a seriously-sort-of-winging-it project;
 I frogged mine many times through its making, but it was quite cathartic. No pattern to follow, so no right or wrong. I used a basic shell stitch around the shade with some rows of double crochet (UK treble) to make the decreases in.
You'll need to reduce your number of stitches right from the start, but don't worry about counting obsessively- just do what seems right. Spare stitches at the ends of your row can always be slip stitched into, or decreased together to help fit the shape of the shade.   

Image from Fotolr Photo Studio HD!

You'll need an old lampshade, stripped down to its frame and yarn and hook of choice. (I used dk cotton yarn and 4mm hook)  [And for good measure, a bit of peace and quiet, some patience and a few well-seasoned swear words.]

1. Put a slip knot on your hook and single crochet around the bottom rim, heading in a clockwise direction. Make sure the stitches fit quite snugly together to cover it well.

2. Start reducing your stitches in this row:  
  Chain 3, *Double crochet in next 3 stitches, dc2tog* rep around. 

3. This is the beginning of the shell stitch
  Chain 1, sc *skip 2 stitches, 5dcs into next st, sk 2 sts, sc* rep around

Image from Fotolr Photo Studio HD!

4. This is the other half of the shell pattern. You may need to slip stitch around to get yourself in the right place 
  Chain 1, sc in the 3rd dc (the middle stitch of a shell), *sk 2 sts, 5dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st* (middle of next shell again) repeat around.

5. More reducing of stitches in this row. -I found that I had the best result when decreasing using plain double crochet, rather than decreasing in a shell stitch row.
 Chain 3, dc2tog around.

6 onwards. Repeat the shell stitch pattern around.
When I reached the ends of my row, I sometimes reduced a few more stitches to help it fit. 

Crochet lampshade makeover

When you've done enough, finish off by single crocheting around the top rim. You may need to put two single crochets into some of the stitches to give a nice finish and cover the rim.

Crochet lampshade makeover

Crochet lampshade makeover

See what I mean about this being a winging-it project? Be brave- have a go.

Lampshade crochet makeover

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a really big shade to try this on next...

Enjoy your week, all
Xx 

49 comments:

  1. WOW, this is fantastic. I love, love, love your lampshade, it looks amazing.
    Anne xx

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  2. I must say that's really clever the way you have crocheted that lampshade......xx

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  3. Oooooh this is wonderful . You are very clever....I love it :0)
    Jacquie x

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  4. This looks sooo fab,wish,wish I could crochet
    XX Manda XX

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  5. You are so amazing. My sister recovered a lamp shape with vintage crochet lace, it was gorgeous lit up just like yours. Really fantastic job!
    Meredith

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  6. I LOVE IT. I've wanted to try this for a couple of months. You may have given me the small shove to start mine. And I love that you frogged it and made it up as you went. I'm working on a little caplet for Roxy and that is basically what I'm doing. It's kinda fun.

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  7. OH, my, that is superbly lovely! Definitely going to give this a go sometime!!! Fantastic idea :)

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  8. I know I sound like a broken record but you are the cleverest gal aren't you!! I adore your lampshade so much. It totally reminds me of the fabulous pink shade my folks had in their room when I was little. I'm off to scout around the house for a lampshade that needs some hooky treatment right now. Have a fab week gorgeous girl.
    Leah
    xx

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  9. What a super makeover for those little shades. The shell stitch was a great choice...so pretty!

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  10. "I'm lovin' it, I'm lovin' it, I'm loving it." Inspired and bloody brilliant :D

    Jo x x x

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  11. Oh you clever gal! This is fabulous, I love it! Such a pretty colour too!
    Rachel x

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  12. Now that's brilliant.....I love winging it projects, I'm pretty rubbish at remembering to actually read instructions so any pattern with none is right up my street!

    Love your lampshade you're far too clever!

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  13. looks fantastic, and very elegant!

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  14. I likey your lighty! Very nice Sarah, Hugs, Jill x

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  15. I think that is fab. I can see that appearing at your stall in Arundel anything soon!
    Tres swish.
    See you Friday.
    xx

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  16. Wow, that looks incredible. Who would have thought it was the same frame! Clever you x

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  17. OMG Sarah, I have been looking for something to replace my bedside shades for ages and not found anything, but this is fab!! Thanks so much!!

    *Sarahtoddlesofftoskinherlampshades*

    Hugs,

    S x

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  18. Well aren't you a clever sausage! Loving this, what a great way to make yucky lampshades into loveliness :-)

    love Lori xxx

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  19. I love this idea. I did pin this idea to try sometime, it's so clever and yours looks fabulous!

    S x

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  20. Nowhere and I mean not anywhere does it tell you how to decrease or increase in pattern. It's all very well in stitches like single/double or triple crochet. No wonder many of us just don't get so far as we want! It has driven me mad over the years. I have done lots of experimenting but I can't do proper shaping to save my life!

    Mostly books just say to increase the number of stitches or only do half a stitch patten but don't say how or my pet peeve. 'Your pattern will tell you what to do.' Drives me mad I can tell you.

    You have done an amazing job, I don't think they were that bad to start with though, I mean plenty of people think crochet is hideous - it's all a matter of personal taste isn't it?

    Much as I would love to emulate your lovely example I know I won't be able to. Very nice though.

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  21. Oh My Gosh! I love this big time! I am so going to give this a go. I have a little lamp just like this poked away in the basement I will dig out and crochet up a new shade for. So pretty when turned on too!
    Thanks!
    Danette

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  22. OMG I absolutely, totally and utterly adore your lampshade. I wish wish wish I could crochet. With much love, awe and admiration ... Lorraine x

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  23. Now that is a triumph. Oh yes a triumph. i can see it being cloned across the globe. Love the play on words. Croshade...GENIUS!

    xxx

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  24. Wow! You talented lady, you!!! I love it!!!
    Carly
    x
    P.S. I was trying to crochet my first granny square last night - for 3 hours! I must have undone it all at least 15 times. And, by the time bedtime came around, I had precisely nothing to show for my time. I WILL NOT let it beat me, though..... ;-)

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  25. Blimey! That's amazing. You are the cleverest! I will be scouring the thrift shops for lampshades now, too. Brilliant.

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  26. What a beautiful lampshade. You are such a clever gal,and well done for providing a pattern.

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  27. Dear Anonymous comment-leaver,
    Please Google 'how to decrease crochet stitches' to find some excellent explanations/ videos to help you, as decreasing stitches is really a very simple technique to master. (dc2tog means double crochet the next 2 stitches together- again, see google for further help).
    I thought I had made it clear that this is just a guide as to how I approached this project.
    I am sorry that this is beyond your capabilities and hope you find something else better fitting for your level of expertise.

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  28. Love your croch~shades,Annaboo,thankyou for sharing,I would love to give them a go.xxx

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  29. I love it! totally amazing. you are so clever

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  30. This is great.... I think it is a new trend.... Thanks for sharing your process!

    Stacey

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  31. Oh my, you are super clever!! They look great and it's so nice that you shared your process! Your projects never cease to amaze!

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  32. beautiful...beautiful...beautiful - so pretty with the light behind it - I am impressed :)

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  33. Wonderful, you've made a fantastic job of the lampshade. It's not as easy as it looks I know because I've just started 'winging it' on a larger frame. lol.
    I'm not sure mine will ever get finished though. Fingers crossed!

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  34. Wow you have done it again! Fabulous. You make it seem so easy!!!! Love the way it looks lit too. You are an inspiration.

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  35. You never cease to amaze me with your creativity! This is over the top wonderful!!!! I was JUST cleaning some very filthy lamp shades yesterday...and whining to myself because they are falling apart (lace edging unglued and falling off, etc.)...now I happen upon THIS fabulous idea! I love crochet for its fudge-ability...definitely going to try this! Thank you, thank you!

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  36. This is super lovely! I will have to make myself one someday! I considered maybe covering a shade with some handmade crochet lace but I REALLY love the way the light shines through this!

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  37. Just read your troll comment and your reply. Good for you. Why even bother commenting. I don't understand stamping and atcs etc but I don't warble on..... Trolls indeed! X

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  38. I love this!! And a very clever name!

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  39. I have a wonderful lamp base that I bought at a garage sale, and wanting to do exactly this sort of thing! Love it!

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  40. Your lampshade tuned out beautiful, you've done a lovely job! I have this linked to my crochet post too today, well done!

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  41. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I have a beautiful wooden post type floor lamp which has the most hideous shade. I love the lamp itself and have never been able to find a replacement shade that I liked. On top of that, because it is a HUGE shade, the ones that I find that I could possibly tolerate are horribly expensive. I don't mind paying a bit more for something I like, but not for something that is just so-so.

    I am so thrilled that I came across this 'pattern' and it's fantastic that it's a wing it kind of project because I don't have much experience with adjusting patterns. I will post back again as soon as I finish it. Thanks again. As someone said in an earlier comment, you're a GENIUS!!!

    Steph xx

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  42. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I have a beautiful wooden post type floor lamp which has the most hideous shade. I love the lamp itself and have never been able to find a replacement shade that I liked. On top of that, because it is a HUGE shade, the ones that I find that I could possibly tolerate are horribly expensive. I don't mind paying a bit more for something I like, but not for something that is just so-so.

    I am so thrilled that I came across this 'pattern' and it's fantastic that it's a wing it kind of project because I don't have much experience with adjusting patterns. I will post back again as soon as I finish it. Thanks again. As someone said in an earlier comment, you're a GENIUS!!!

    Steph xx

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  43. Very Nice! I love it! So clever! I do like to recycle what ever I can with Crochet. I'm off to start lamp shades for my bedroom :)

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  44. 2022 - 10 years later, and your blogpost is still inspiring others I am off😊🏆👍 to try it out! Thanks for the inspiriation!🌷💟

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I'd love to hear from you, so leave a comment or ask a question and l'll reply to you right here.
Have a fab day.
Sarah Xx