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!
Christina @ The Frugal Homemaker says
Love this lampshade, Beth!!! I love all things cable knit and sweater-like 🙂
I voted for you too 🙂
Rhiannon says
What a great idea, I’m totally grabbing one next time I’m in a charity shop and giving our bedroom lamps the same treatment!
Mary Corbo says
What size sweater was that for that size shade? Looks so great!
Beth@Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks Mary! It was a woman’s size small, but since it was at the thrift store there’s no way to know how much it has stretched or shrunk over the years. 🙂
Dria @ Dio says
This is so unique I tried to vote for you but it looks like the contest is over 🙁 I love what you did with this! What a great use of recycling, if I saw this in a store I’d definitely buy it!! Great job!
Tanya@TakeSix says
Bravo Beth!!! That is the best one there!!! :)))
Donna says
What a fabulous idea! I was too late for the contest, but I do like your entry best.
Rhondi says
What a fabulous lamp. That was the perfect sweater for a lampshade. Congratulations on winning the prize.
Tiffany Stern says
Wow…this is genius! I am dying to try this..it looks so expensive. Great creative mind. I haven’t been on your website before… but I’m adding it to the list. Thanks!
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks so much, Tiffany!
Thistle says
Beth,
I LOVE this idea! Truly! What an awesome project! I have a few sweaters and I have a few lampshades! I can do this!
Have a great day rock star!
karianne
Thistle says
PS Totally pinned it!
Keeping It Cozy says
Hi Beth, it’s my first time visiting and I thought I’d say hi. What a beautiful blog you have and your sweater lampshade is fabulous! What a fun idea. I see that you live in Alabama so I believe we are “neighbors”… we live in TN now but lived in AL for several years. 🙂
jessica@fourgenerationsoneroof says
I love this!!!! I have so many ugly lampshade and I should get my act together and put a sweater on one! 🙂 Great idea. Pinning 🙂
Teresa says
Love, love, love it……..and oh so cheap!
Kris {Driven by Décor} says
So creative! Would NEVER have thought to do this but it looks great!
Jessica @ Decor Adventures says
Hi Beth,
I love this project, I’m actually doing the same thing myself with a cable knit blanket.
But I must ask, how do you get such wonderfully lit photos of your house? They look amazing! Especially by the window. I’d love to hear about your camera settings 🙂
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Thanks Jessica! Here are my settings for the finished pic inside the sunroom:
Settings: 1/100
ƒ/2.8
ISO 800
These were taken with my Canon 60D and Tamron 28-75 mm lens
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
PS- As with all my blog photos I also lightened them in Lightroom a good bit. That’s my biggest trick for good pictures- good editing. 🙂
Beth@Unskinny Boppy says
Ok, you inspired me to write a tutorial on how I edited the pictures! Here you go! Just for you. 🙂
https://bethbryan.com/2013/03/how-to-use-lightroom-to-edit-interior-photos/
C.K. says
OMG That Is So Beautiful !!!!
Stella Maris Herrera says
Muy bueno los trabajos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emily says
Yours was a winner hands down. I went to take a peek at the other entries and yours was still the one I gravitated to. Nice job!!!!
karen buttice says
Love you diy on sweater lampshade, and glad you won for simplicity &elegance!
Jan says
I love the look of the whole room. Is this your room? I love the rug, where did you purchase the grey scrolled rug? Did you paint the tables? I live in South Carolina and would love to try this look, both rooms are great. It is hard to move from the north and try to use your furniture down south. Love this site.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Hey Jan! Thanks so much. The rug is made by Mohawk, purchased at Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Forte-10-ft-x-13-ft-Taupe-and-Flesh-and-Ivory-Area-Rug-289164/202509380#.UZ4fJZwSpmM
I painted the desk in the corner but not the small table, it was purchased at Homegoods. You can read more about the sunroom here: https://bethbryan.com/2011/09/sunroom-updates-finally/
Tanya says
Love your lamp and congratulations for all the well-deserved “features”.
Desiree @ The 36th Avenue says
I love this idea so much! I am pinning and sharing on Google+ So clever!
https://plus.google.com/113833976715725201911/posts/bxceXkHiDYa
Christine says
So cute!!! New follower here.
Linda had a little Lamb says
Cool idea. I would never have thought to do it myself.
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Connie says
What did you do with the sleeves????
Connie says
I can’t figure out what to do with the sleeves
Help me, please lol
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
Hey Connie! I cut the sweater at the armpits so the sleeves were discarded. My shade fit just right to do it this way, but yours might be different?
Sylvia says
What a great way to recycle old sweaters! I can make money doing this too. Thank you so much for sharing.