My plain white lampshades needed an update, and the first thing that popped into my head was to create a cozy cable knit sweater lampshade. Since I don’t own any cozy cable knit sweaters that I want to chop up, I ran down to the Thrift Store on Friday night and scored not one but THREE sweaters that were potential candidates for my lampshade makeover project. Who knew the thrift store had such a plethora of knitted goodness?
The final sweater winner turned out not to be cable knit at all, but it had these fun pompoms over a harlequin pattern that I just love! The best part? It was only $2.99! Score!
I brought it home and gave it a quick wash just to knock the thrift store smell off of it. Then I went to town giving my plain white lamp shade a cozy winter white upcycle. Not counting the time it took to take photographs for this blog entry, this project took me less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Here are the super simple instructions:
I pulled the sweater down over the top of the shade in the same fashion as putting a pillow case over an overstuffed pillow. It was tight, but tight is good in this scenario. The sweater was a ladies size small, but it had enough stretch in it to fit snugly around the shade when I pulled it down around it.
I pulled the waistline of the sweater right down to the bottom edge of the shade so it was even all around, then trimmed off the excess material at the top, leaving about 1” all around. Then I secured the sweater around the top edge of the shade with a few dots of hot glue. It’s so tight around the shade that I didn’t even bother gluing around the bottom. If your sweater is larger than your lampshade, you should be able to just cut it up the back and pull it tight, then glue it down the seam.
And that was it, folks!
The end result is SO simple and beautiful!
It’s the perfect winter white addition for my sunroom lamp. Blogging mojo? FOUND. I’m totally in love with how quickly and easily this project came together! Definitely try it and let me know how it works for you!
Gayle @ Cumming GA Real Estate says
What a great idea! It is adorable and looks so expensive.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks so much, Gayle! 🙂
Nancy says
That turned out beautiful! And you have a beautiful home!
keri @ shaken together says
You are amazing. Really!! That is such a creative idea! Heading over to vote!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks Keri!
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says
That is fantabulous! $2.99 – you’re my lampshade hero!
Kelly
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
I can be your hero, baby.
Stacey says
That is absolutely adorable and so much better than a plain white shade.
BTW, the link doesn’t work.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
I am so sorry for the delay in the voting, but the link seems to be working now. Hopefully you’ve got a minute to vote for me? Thanks so much!
http://www.lamps.com/blog/diy-blogger-lampshade-challenge/
Stacey says
Just went back and voted. Keeping fingers crossed for you!
Courtenay says
I love it so much! I just wish I could vote for it. That is one classy-looking Winter white lamp!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks Court! I am so sorry for the delay in the voting, but the link seems to be working now. Hopefully you’ve got a minute to vote for me? Thanks so much! http://www.lamps.com/blog/diy-blogger-lampshade-challenge/
Kelly @ View Along the Way says
Oh no! The link to vote didn’t work for me. 🙁 Boo! The lampshade though? Totally works for me. I love how easy this makes it to add a little extra texture to a corner.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks Kelly! I love that extra texture too. The poms are what sold me.
I think the link is back up now! 🙂 Thanks so much!! http://www.lamps.com/blog/diy-blogger-lampshade-challenge/
Virginia @ LiveLoveDIY says
All I can say is AWESOME! And I’m shoutin’ it from the mountaintop!!! Seriously, my favorite.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
😀 You’re so dang awesome, Virginia!
Crystal @ The Hollidays at Home says
Love the way the shade turned out! Can’t wait to try this out. I voted for you in the contest.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks for your vote Crystal! I truly appreciate it!
Shannon @Fox Hollow Cottage says
Beth this is SO cute. What a perfect sweater for your shade. It’s DARLING! So wintery-white and perfect.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks Shannon! I loved the winter white, too. It’s so warm and fuzzy. 🙂
Inspire Me Heather says
I’m voting for sure Beth, love your lampshade!
Sandy A says
What a great idea and your shade looks so beautiful and very high end! This is a project I am going to try…
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thank you Sandy! You’d never guess it was a $2.99 thrift store find? Good news!
Heather says
Wow – your diy shade is just beautiful Beth! I love how the color of the sweater you chose picks up the whites and creams in your lovely room! Great idea to bring a cozy touch to a space for winter too. I voted for you too!!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thank you very much Heather! Score one for the thrift store! 🙂
maryanne fields says
I’ve seen several sweater/lampshade redo projects on Pinterest, but I have to say, this is the best one I’ve ever seen. I love this look. It’s easy and I’m sure picking the perfect sweater made it my favorite.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Wow, what a nice compliment! Thanks SO much! 🙂
kristin says
You know what the problem is? We are all going to run out to our thrift stores to get pom pom sweaters and they are going to be all sold out because of you 🙂 I mean that in the nicest way possible hee hee. I love this project, seriously love! Voting, pinning, posting on FB…blah blah blah, you know I love you.
XO
Kristin
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
I bet you could figure out how to diy it! 😀 Poms are all the rage right now! The 80’s are back. My mom used to make yarn pom-poms for the backs of my socks when I was a kid. If I had a little girl I’d totally be pulling that little nugget out of my mom tool box. But, I have a boy, so I can’t use it.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
And THANKS for your shares and votes! You’re awesome, Kristin!
xerox drivers says
You are amazing. Really!! It is such a creative idea! good luck!
SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says
how fun and pretty, Beth! Heading over now to vote. 🙂
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
I surely appreciate it, Sheila!
xerox support says
Thank You For The Tutorial Using A Sweater. Greetings ??
Jennifer @ Celebrating Everyday Life says
That is SO adorable Beth! I voted for you!!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks, Jennifer! 🙂
Erin @ DIY On the Cheap says
Love this, Beth! Simple but so pretty and creative. And of course, I voted for you. Great job!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thank you Erin! I appreciate your facebook share as well!
Mary Stewart says
So BEAUTIFUL… I’m on my way to the resale shop to get me some sweaters! I voted for you, hope you win…and me too!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
I hope you find some awesome sweaters! Look in the men’s department, too!
filehippo 2018 says
Tutorial Using A Sweater Is Very Cool, Really. Thanks for you
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
Beth, your shade is pure genius! I voted for ya!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks so much Jane! 🙂
Vanessa says
I love your lamp. I beautiful it turned out. I found your blog and just love looking around and I am a new follower. I vote for your beautiful lamp too.
Vanessa
Rhonda says
Love love love this! Sooooo cute! I did the same with vases!
jennifer rizzo says
OM gosh! That sweater is awesome and perfect for that! LOVE it! I am so going to steal that if I can ever find a sweater like that!!!!
Suzanne says
I seriously love this sweater lampshade. The pom-poms in the harlequin design are so cute! Heading over to vote for you now.
Erin Kaven says
Yours is absolutely the best,,,,had to vote for you.
Cindy Eikenberg says
Beth, this is absolutely fabulous and I love the white.! What a great idea and super easy…I totally want to try this! Voting, of course, and thank you so much for sharing!
Heather @At The Picket Fence says
This is seriously gorgeous and amazing! I’m picturing sweaters on every lamp in my house now! Brilliant! Off to vote.
Heather
Kelly says
That is brilliant and beautiful! I voted for you. Good luck!
Michael @ re.Create Design says
I’ve voted and good luck. Yours really was the best of the bunch!
Renee Ault says
I went and voted for you…great idea and great job! I hope you win!!!
Pendra says
You got my vote! This turned out sooooo cute, You’d never have known this was an old sweater! Seeing a lot of old sweater creations right now, but I think this is the prettiest yet!!
Hugs,
Pendra
vickie says
LOVE your lampshade and just got back from voting for you!
Christie says
Your shade looks terrific. You got my vote. Good luck.
Angie@SlipcoveredGrey says
You are brilliant Beth! Love it! Headed over to vote for you now. 🙂
Janice Carpenter says
You got my vote! Super idea.
Laura @ Finding Home says
I voted and I love it! Pinning!
Sharon says
I had no problem voting for yours because it was by far my favorite! Beautiful and inexpensive! It doesn’t get any better than that.
Jana says
Beth,
Your lamp shade turned out great! I never would have thought that putting a sweater on it would make one look so good. Awesome idea!
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says
What a beautiful lamp. Love the room, love the colors! Great photos.
Deb. Mathenia says
I REALLY do like yours the best! Voted! <3
Sheila says
Hands down, the coolest and prettiest!! Awesome! I just love it, and I voted. 🙂 Best wishes!
The HOME GIRL says
This is just awesome! I love how easy and beautiful this is! I voted for you on the Lamps.com page and I’m going to look into making one of these for my home too! I’ll let you know when it’s up on my blog and will make sure to give you a shout-out when it’s up there! Thanks again for posting this! =D
Miss Kitty says
Hi Beth! Your lampshade is amazing! Thanks for the great instructions too. Hey, I did vote for you over at the contest. I was having a hard time finding some sweaters to make some pillows out of in my town in the thrift stores. I was in your “neck of the woods” near Alabaster and found several white sweaters at the big thrift store there and snatched them up. Hopefully, I will actually DO something with them…you are an inspiration!
Kim L. says
Such a clever idea. The lamp is absolutely adorable! I love the soothing beachy colors and decor.
Vicki says
Beth, this is truly magnificent! I love, love, love it! And I voted for you! IT’S THE BEST!
GOOD LUCK!
jennifer Findlay says
Absolutely brilliant and gorgeous!!! Kudos to you.
Bliss says
That was a no brainer – I liked yours best, actually it was freaking awesome so I pinned it.
Bliss
Lucy says
Seriously amazing. I LOVE it!! That sweater is adorable and on the lamp….it rocks! I voted for ya!
The HOME GIRL says
Hi Beth! I just wanted to let you know that I found it SO inspirational that I featured it on my blog page for one of my “FIVE FABULOUS FINDS FRIDAY” posts today. I hope you’ll come check it out. Thanks again for posting this!
The HOME GIRL says
OOPS! I meant “I found THIS SO inspirational…” Sorry about that!
Tracy says
Love this so much Beth! so simple, but completely ingenious! Voted! xoT
Christina @ I Gotta Create! says
Fantastic idea! You lamp looks fabulous. Pinning 🙂
<3 Christina @ I Gotta Create!
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