apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hmmm. Am checking back here to see what everyone has to say about this. As a knitter and someone who remembers the '70's, I sometimes wonder whether my craft, in jeopardy of being the macrame of the future, isn't best limited to traditional knitwear (sweaters, blankets and the like). On the other hand, knitting inherently has all those little holes and light does shine through it beautifully. So it might be a great idea, depending on the material knitted with. And great call about the wall patterns!

It is ghastly.

i bet someone could knit a lampshade i'd like for all the reasons you and jennifers mention.

this is not it.

I knitted a lampshade with intention to felt. Didn't come out that great in size, even after I unwound it once because it was going to be too large, redid it and there's no margin for the shrinking, so I didn't bother with trying to felt it ever. I could still and find some other use for it.

It was also time-consuming, even with just knitting round and round to get it to a length enough to bother. I also don't know how to felt and I don't own a washing machine to follow the directions of several websites.

These details can eventually repair themselves and make a pretty lampshade. But as it was, people asked me what I was making and looked at me like I was an alien when I told them it was a lampshade, even when I went and explained the part where it would be felted, you know? Like a fedora or Western hat. Follow? No?

I think it would look lovely with thinner yarn and a more complicated-looking lace pattern. If I still had the metal frame for my mostly-broken paper IKEA lamp, I'd try it.

KTG - in theory you should be able to agitate it in a tub of hot water & soap, but I could never manage to conjure up enough friction without a washing machine.

ick