Crochet lampshade

Whilst being ill with bad cold etc for the last week or more, I still wanted make something but didn't want the effort of having to concentrate.  This is where crochet comes in.  I hadn't done any crocheting since before christmas. After the rubbish cowl I had been attempting to make for myself, see this post, I had been put off!  Not by crochet itself but in my ability to adapt to make my own design for my needs.

However the best thing about crocheting is that it works up fast.  I love instant gratification.  It also doesn't take much concentration, so it is easy on the brain, and eyes.  So I went for it.  I frogged my rubbish cowl, and used the beautiful Rowan Cocoon wool to make this lampshade cover for our bedroom.

The light was bad, so please excuse the pictures.  It looks so much better up. See...

I am really pleased with how it turned out.  I adapted this pattern which is a beautiful shawl, to make the shade, working in the round and just basically winging it.  I am so pleased with the results.  I might actually get round to making a tutorial one day!  I will definitely make another one, probably in a brighter coloured yarn for the lounge.

I am hooked on crochet once more. In fact I have started a shawl for my mum as her birthday gift.  It's going to be quite big so it will take some time!

What projects are you doing?  Did you have a good weekend?

Finishing your embroidery - quick tutorial.

   

 

I am really loving these little cross stitch patterns!  I have purchased the PDF patterns from andwabisabi a cute Etsy shop that I cannot stop browsing!  Find it here.

I also decided to finish the back without using my glue gun.  I find it so messy and often get it stuck all over my work.  Here is how I do it:

- Cut out a circle of using the inside of the outer ring as a guide. 

- Place this on the back of your stitching.

- Put fabric glue on the outer edge of the inner ring, and place this on top of the felt and stitching.

- Put fabric glue of the inside edge of the outer ring.

- Carefully turn your piece over and line up the outer and inner rings, with your work sandwiched    between.

- Screw the fastener as tight as it will go.  I use a hair clip to finish tightening!

- As you have used fabric glue you can spend a little time lining the piece and the rings up. 

- Trim the excess fabric with scissors close to the edge of the rings.

 I always found that I didn't have enough time to line the piece up properly with a glue gun as it always set too quickly so making a fabric glue sandwich works much better for me!

Let me know your best ways to finish a piece.  I would love to hear your ideas.  Leave a message in the comments box :)