| Retro-Knit Lampshade |
| Retro-Knit Lampshade |
From "Knitty Gritty"
episode DKNG-210 |
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Vickie welcomes Annie Modesitt, the author of Confessions of a Knitting Heretic, to Knitty Gritty to show how to knit a sling for a sling chair. She will take us through the process of measuring and designing the pattern to calculating the quantity of fiber needed. With a great color-change technique, she will knit up the sling and attach it to the frame. But first, Vickie shares with us one of her own creations: a super-fun lampshade.
Knit Bit: Need knitting gadgets but didn't make it to the yarn store in time? Here are some ideas for substituting things from the dime store for standard knitting supplies:- Try tiny elastic or rubber bands as inexpensive stitch markers.
- Bobby pins make great cable needles and stitch markers.
- Use stretchy terrycloth ponytail holders as point protectors.
- Store your little notions in candy tins.
Retro-Knit Lampshade I go through periods of being obsessed with vintage housewares. In a perfect world I would get to spend my mornings trolling through flea markets, searching for that gem of a find. Some of my favorite things to look for are lampshades from the '50s and '60s. Shades from that period seem to have a certain sleek sense of humor, which I adore. This knitted shade was born from my desire to add a bit of uniqueness to a store-bought lamp, while being able to stay at home and hang out with my kids. I used bands of drop stitch to allow more light to peek through and a stripe of contrasting color in the middle to accentuate the natural inward curve that occurs once the shade has been hanging for a while. This is a quickie project that is sure to ad a little retro-fabulousness to an otherwise blah lighting fixture. Got knit? Get lit! Knit-O-Meter Rating: Beginner Finished Measurements: 27"x12" (lying flat) Materials
Rowan Cotton Tape (100 percent cotton; 71 yds/65m): 2 balls Purple (MC); small amount Green (CC)
Needles: long U.S. size 13
Tapestry needle
Lampshade parts: Circular washer top wire, 8-1/4" diameter, and bottom wire in same dimension or 8" embroidery hoop (if you're unable to find the wire).
Clothespins or binder clips Gauge: 10 sts and 12 rows = 4" Pattern
With MC CO 65 sts. Work in St st (knit on RS, purl on WS) for 6 rows (figure A).
RS: *K1, YO 3times (figure B). Repeat from * until end.
Next row (WS): Purl all knit stitches and drop all wrapped (YO) stitches (figure C).
Work 4 rows in St st.
Join CC (figure D) and work 4 rows in St st.
Switch back to MC and work 4 more rows in St st.
RS: *K1, YO 3times. Repeat from * until end.
Next row: Purl all knit stitches and drop all wrapped (YO) stitches.
Work 6 rows in St st. BO.Finishing:
With right sides facing, sew up back seam to create tube (figure E).
Using clothespins or binder clips, attach shade in place around the washer top wire. Using MC and tapestry needle, sew shade on by wrapping the yarn around the wire all the way around circle (figure F). Repeat process on the bottom, with the bottom circle wire or the part of an embroidery hoop that has no hardware attached. Place the shade on lamp halo and secure with washer or finial. Then sit back and let yourself be illuminated by your craftiness!
Next: Sling Chair
RESOURCES :
Books and instructions from Interweave Press
Interweave Press Inc.
Website: www.interweave.com
Confessions of a Knitting Heretic
By Annie Modesitt
ModeKnit Press, 2004
Rowan Cotton Tape
Westminster Fibers, Inc.
Website: www.westminsterfibers.com
Lamp parts
Website: www.lampshop.com
Hemp6 Yarn
Available in 142-yd skeins
Suggested retail price: $4.50 per skein
LanaKnits
Website: www.lanaknits.com
Heavy cotton shipping twine
16-ply, large 2,000-ft cone
Clean Sweep Supply
E-mail: questions.01@cleansweepsupply.com
Website: www.cleansweepsupply.com
Heavy cotton cooking twine
16-ply, 1,240-ft cone
Kitchen Conservatory
E-mail: chef@kitchenconservatory.com
Website: www.kitchenconservatory.com
Nylon masons twine
#36 (white & colors), 225-foot rolls
Available at hardware and home-supply stores
Caron Rainbow Dreams yarn
Maritime 597
Worsted-weight yarn
Caron International
P.O. Box 222
Washington, NC 27889
Website: www.caron.com
Can be purchased at major craft and yarn retailers.
GUESTS :
Maria Del Pinto, SCD, CPD, CHA
Website: www.delpinto.com
Annie Modesitt
Knitting expert/author
Website: www.anniemodesitt.com
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