The Anthropologie textured lamp shades have really caught my eye lately. The tassels, fringe, macrame, tufts, and embellishments are just gorgeous! But expensive. I really loved the half moon tasseled lamp shade, but it cost $128. Here's my version for much less!
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Here is my inspiration lamp shade. I loved the texture the tassels bring in. But I also love the colors of the next two shades. So I decided to combine them and make something unique.
Since this lamp shade is for my $100 Room Challenge project, spending $128 on it is not an option. All totaled, I spent $32.45 on this Anthropologie inspired tasseled lamp shade project. I could have cut that down by a lot if I had been able to find a thrifted white lamp shade. Every one I found was either the wrong color or size.
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Materials Needed for Tasseled Lamp Shade
- Lamp shade (I used a slightly tapered shade that was 10" diameter at the top and 12" at the bottom, 9.5" high)
- Embroidery thread (I used three of each color, plus one extra for the stitching)
- Center rings (I used two packages of 23mm twisted rings, but here are other options)
- 6mm round jump rings (I used one package that had 180 pieces)
- Needle nose pliers
- Embroidery needle
- Scissors
- Comb
- Small piece of cardboard cut to size
Instructions
1. Wrap the Thread
I tested a bunch of different lengths and numbers of strands of thread,
as well as methods to make and attach the tassels. In the end, this is
what I came up with that gave a full looking tassel with the least
amount of thread.
I cut a piece of thin cardboard (I used the card the split rings came on) to 2” long. I marked which direction to wrap it so I wouldn’t lose track. After tying many tassels I decided to take off that corner to let the wrapped strings slide off easier.
Each half moon circle is made up of five tassels. To make a tassel, I wrapped the thread around the card 10 full times, so there were 10 threads on each side of the card when I was done.
Then I slid the string loop off of the cardboard carefully, trying to keep the threads neat. Once I had them off, I pulled them from each end of the loop to straighten them.
2. Connect the Tassels to the Ring
I put one end of the looped thread through the circle. Then I pulled that end around and pushed the other end through it. Like this:
Then I cinched it down pretty tightly and straightened the threads that made the knot if they needed it.
For the next four thread loops, I turned the tassel over with the front side down. Then I stuck the first loop through the center of the finding. Then I pulled it through just like the first one.
3. Clamp Tassel With Jump Ring
Now to keep each tassel in place and also add a little something to the design, I put a gold colored jump ring on them. I opened the ring with my needle nose pliers and slid it onto the threads.
Then I flipped it over to the back so I could see, and tightened the jump ring back down.
When I was sharing this process on my Instagram stories, about this time I got replies that this was way too much work and they would rather buy something. If that's what you're thinking, I found a lot of cool lamp shades full of tasseled character on Etsy for you.
Then I flipped it back right side up, and closed the ring a little more
Here are all five tassels attached to the center circle and clamped with a jump ring.
4. Cut, Comb, and Trim Tassels
Next! Cut through each of the tassels loops at the bottom. Stretch the loop out as far as it will go before you cut.
Remember when you used to brush your Barbie's hair when you were little? Have fun with this and comb out all of those strands!
After the fringe is all combed out, use scissors to trim the ends evenly.
And there's your half moon of tassels! Now do that 300 more times. I'm kidding! I used a total of 24 of the tasseled circles for this size lamp shade. 24 x 5 = 120.
As a side note, if you want to DIY some of those trendy tassel earrings, this method would work great! Just attach an earring finding like this and you have yourself some gorgeous trendy earrings!
5. Attach the Tassel Rings to the Lamp Shade
It's easiest to do this with the lamp shade on a lamp. That also protects the shade from getting dented as you work. To get started attaching the tassels to the lamp shade, thread your needle with about a two foot long piece of embroidery thread. Pick your first color and tie a double knot of thread around it at the non-needle end of your thread. Leave some thread as a tail on the left side.
Pick your starting spot on the lamp shade, stick the needle straight in, and pull the length of thread through.
Bring the needle side thread out right at the knot and make a stitch up at about a 45 degree angle. Then bring the thread around the bottom of the shade and stitch back up into the same hole.
After you pull the thread through that stitch, make a blanket stitch by putting the needle under that last stitch and pulling the thread through. This locks the stitch in place.
When it's time to add another set of tassels, start when you're thread is at this point, after the blanket stitch. Make sure the tassels are facing the correct way! I had to redo a couple I sewed in backwards. Stick the needle through the ring and pull the thread through.
If you run out of thread, tie in another piece of thread and pull the knot against the inside of the lamp shade.
When its time to do the top, tie a double knot of thread around the ring at the end of your thread. Leave some thread as a tail on the left side. Put the needle straight through the shade in the spot you want the ring and pull the thread all the way through. Continue with the stitching as at the bottom of the shade, only now the blanket stitch is at the top of the V instead of the bottom.
When it's time to add another ring of tassels, pull the needle and thread through the ring. Stitch straight through the shade at the bottom of the V to create a loop.
Bring the needle and thread up and over the top. Slide the needle behind the thread as shown. Then stitch straight through the same hole at the bottom of the two V's to create a knot. Pull gently to get everything snug.
If you run out of thread, tie in another piece of thread and pull the knot against the inside of the lamp shade.
This shows the importance of those looped blanket stitches. It keeps all of the stitches in place and keeps the inside of the shade looking neat.
I didn't get a picture of the last step here, but finish the last stitch by looping the blanket stitch through that last top of the V and then back through the hole where the ring is connected. Remove the needle from the thread and put it on the tail of thread on the front. Pull it through to the back of the shade and knot the two threads together against the inside of the shade.
6. Final Adjustments
Once everything is attached and stitched, give the lamp its final adjusting. Straighten any rings that need it. Comb all of the tassels out. Check for any loose threads that need trimming.
And then it's done!
So that was my project this week for the $100 Room Challenge! Let me know what you think in the comments. Would you take on this project? Would you prefer a more neutral version? If you have questions, please let me know!
The $100 Room Challenge Budget
Here's what I've spent so far:- Console table - $28
- Repurposed kitchen cabinet - free, already had
- Furniture legs - $28
- Console table paint - free, samples already had
- Artwork - $2.87
- Canvas - $1.87
- Paint - free, already had
- Frame - $1
- Mirror - free, already had
- Mirror paint and wax - free, already had
- Tasseled Lamp Shade - $32.45
- Lamp Shade - $15.97
- Embroidery thread - $12 (20 x $0.60)
- 23mm rings - $2.99 ( 2 @ 50% sale)
- Jump rings - $1.49 (50% sale)
Now look at all of the creative ideas this week from the other participants in the $100 Room Challenge! And thanks as always to Erin of Lemons, Lavender, and Laundry for hosting this fun challenge!