Fiat lux!

..and then let that light have a crochet lampshade. This weekend, I finished a most satisfying project. It was one of those projects that lurk in the back of your mind for weeks, months, years, even. Every so often I'd return to it, give a mental poke, a prod, finesse it a little and then pick up something else. I don't know what took me so long, but in the end, I'm glad I waited. When I finally picked up the hook and yarn for this project, I knew exactly what I was going to do. That said, the maths were still to be worked out - how many stitches round the frame, how many rows for the perfect tension, and the perfect tension is essential to show off the pattern properly - too loose, and it will be all saggy; too tight and the pattern will look uneven.

I'm pleased to say, this one tripped off the hook perfectly first time. No unravelling, no restarting, no problem. You may even have seen it in progress, as I keep finding it lurking in the back of shots on my camera and phone...

Here, have a closer look at the finished piece...

The pattern is the same one that I used for the mutant blanket, if you've been around long enough to remember that. The blanket was made in mega-chunky cotton and required a 10mm hook. This little beauty is made in 10 count cotton and used a 1.75mm hook.

I've yet to get a good shot of it on a lamp. but here's a couple of hasty shots taken this morning in the sewing room...

I love the halo it makes on the ceiling. Over the weekend, I happened across it in the late afternoon when the sun was streaming through it (I'd left it on a windowsill) - it decorated the whole living room in spots of light.

However, fabulous as this project has been, it has not been without casualty.

When I'm working in crochet cotton, I often find a needle stretches the fabric when I come to sew in the ends, so I use a crochet hook in a smaller size to pull the yarn through. As you can see, the hook in the middle didn't make it.  Also, I don't know what it is about 10 count cotton, but whenever I use it in a project, it's always a project that requires the crochet to be stretched over a frame of some sort. There comes a point when 10 count cotton can be a bit like cheese wire.

This photo was taken about an hour after I'd finished crocheting! Will it dissuade me from doing it all again though? No. I've got another empty lampshade frame sitting in the sewing room and a white version of the above would be lovely!

Providing a suitable photo opportunity presents itself, the shade above will be in the shop this week.