Knitted Lampshades and a Festival of Light

WARNING – this blog post contains a picture of a big black spider.

As the nights draw in, the clocks go back and lighting up time creeps in a bit earlier each afternoon I begin to get slightly anxious. I can sense the approaching storm so I batten down the hatches and prepare to ride it out.

This is not my favourite time of year. I enjoy watching the world change colour, but for me, Autumn is simply the wrong end of the seasonal spectrum. As I turn back the clock I long to re-wind it all the way back to the dawn of spring and the promise of long summer days again.

Yes, I know there is much to celebrate at this time of year and I manage to brave Halloween behind the mask of a comedy scream. A firework phobia, however, makes it impossible for me to appreciate the explosive celebrations of bonfire night. I can really only enjoy a large bonfire with a stiff drink in one hand and a hose pipe in the other; and my arachnophobia peeks as the supermarkets restock their shelves with spiders.

But I am  determined to confront my fears this year, and in this week of Diwali I’ve had a light bulb moment. It’s time to lighten up.

This autumn I shall take inspiration from a culture different to my own. Light will triumph over darkness and hope over despair. I’m going to fill my home with light.

I want the Blackpool illuminations in my living room and floodlights in my garden. I want a crown of twinkly fairy lights and a fibre optic nightie. I want to bathe in the light of a million candles every time I go to the bathroom – and I’m going to plant a bed of daylight bulbs to stop me feeling sad at night.

So I’ve been looking for a little lighting inspiration and this is what I found……Image 1 Ariel Design

Image 2 Ikea Hackers

Image 3 Les Petits Bohemes Image 1 Naomi Paul

Image 2 Freshome

Image 3 Naomi Paul

Yesterday, buzzing with excitement, I nipped down to my local DIY store  for a lamp to customise and set to work on a Knitted Halloween lampshade.

If you’d like to make a Halloween Lampshade too, this is what you will need –

• A small table lamp with a shade. (like this one I bought in Homebase)
• DK weight yarn (our black and sunshine yellow merino would be perfect)
• A length of black pom pom trim like this one from Beyond Fabrics.
• 4mm knitting needles.

We’ll give you the knitting pattern in Issue 17 of The Mercerie Post – so don’t forget to register!

I feel better already – Happy Halloween and/or Diwali!