DIY Anthropologie Inspired Tasseled Lamp Shade

9 Materials
$32
12 Hours
Medium

The Anthropologie textured lamp shades have really caught my eye lately. Have you seen them? The tassels, fringe, macrame, tufts, and embellishments are just gorgeous! But expensive. I really loved their half moon tasseled lamp shade, but it costs $128. Here's my version for much less!


I started with a plain white lamp shade and an idea!

Since I wanted my lamp shade to be more colorful than the neutral inspiration shade, this is the color palette I chose:

Here are the materials I used:











  • 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 2"

So I wouldn't call this process hard, it just takes some time. I really enjoyed it! Here is how I embellished this lamp shade:

Wrap the Thread

I tested a bunch of different lengths and numbers of strands of thread, as well as methods for how to make tassels and attach them. 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.


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.

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.



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 have links in my blog post on this project to ways to shorten this whole process by buying them premade.

Then I flipped it back right side up, and tightened the ring a little more.

Here are all five tassels attached to the center circle and clamped with a jump ring. 


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.

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 kind of a modified 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.

Do the blanket stitch again and pull it tight to lock the ring in place in a loop of thread. Then continue on with the next stitch while holding the ring against the shade. Pull all of these stitches tight so the ring stays in place.

If you run out of thread, tie in another piece of thread and pull the knot against the inside of the lamp shade.


Stick with me here, y'all. I'm sorry, I'm running out of the allowed number of photos for a post. The entire process is in my blog post with all the photos.


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.

Finish the last stitch by looping the blanket stitch through the 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.

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! 


I had to leave out so many photos to explain the process here, so if you want to see every detail and tip please go read my blog post.


I wanted something colorful and unique for this lampshade, but I think it would be so pretty in a neutral color palette too! It was a fun little project to work on!


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  1 question
  • Lisa Mcwhorter Lisa Mcwhorter on Jan 25, 2022

    I'm impressed with your work, and all the figuring out of kinks...that takes time and trial and error, and creative brains. Good job Lady!!

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  • Gbe69776730 Gbe69776730 on Nov 03, 2022

    Cute. Very clever. My cats would love playing with the shade. LOL

  • Jewels Jewels on Dec 16, 2022

    Beautiful idea! If someone isn't into maybe so much work you could always put fewer tassels on and even get the tasseled earrings from the dollar store and deconstruct and use those!


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