I had been dreaming for ages of a boho-style lampshade, something that would fit into my handmade world. Lacy, soft and distinctive, made with my own hands so that even Maimu would approve. Now the moment finally came, and with it a cable cover was born too, because apparently even the ceiling needs beauty and rhythm.

✨ My macramé lampshade

I found my inspiration on YouTube: 👉 Boho macramé lampshade tutorial . The tutorial was lovely, but I did everything my own way, adding my own colours, layers and rhythm of knots.

• Three colours of cord: burgundy, caramel and white.
• Each repeat of the pattern began with a new colour, so the light could play through the different shades.
• Two layers of fringe: the inner layer shorter (about 30 cm), the outer one longer and fuller.
• The inner layer is white and combed out, while the outer layer was left twisted to help it hold its shape.

That lets the light diffuse softly and creates a layered, lively effect. The video makes a very large lampshade; I made mine more compact, with three pattern repeats along the bottom row after the starting row. There simply wasn’t any more pre-cut cord to work with, so improvisation it was. I didn’t trim the fringe perfectly straight. I wanted it to keep a slightly untamed, natural look. To stop it becoming too wild, I dampened the inner fringe, combed it soft and gave it a light spray of hairspray to finish. That way it stays beautiful even if Maimu decides to have a nap underneath the shade. 🧶

🔧 The cable cover – why and how?

Once I hung the lampshade from the ceiling, an ugly plastic cup and a black cable were still visible, ruining the whole effect. I decided to hide them under macramé. If you’re going to make something beautiful, you may as well finish the job properly.

• I took a sturdy piece of wire and bent it into a ring of the right size.
• I attached 2 m cords with Lark’s Head knots.
• I made 3 rows of Square Knots in a straight line.
• I combed out the fringe and left it long so that it would fall over the cable and partly over the lampshade.

The whole woven piece was fixed to the ceiling with tape (yes, without a ladder, a full acrobatics performance). The result? Soft and flowing, and nobody would ever guess there used to be an ordinary cable fitting underneath.

🧵 Why did I leave the inner fringe shorter?

If all the fringe were the same length, it would look too hairy from underneath. The shorter inner row creates layers, lets the pattern breathe and gives the light a soft, diffused glow. It suits my world: wild and delicate at the same time.

‘Every knot counts, especially the ones nobody sees.’ – Maimu, my crocheted granny

Maimu watched the whole process and nodded approvingly when she said that a lampshade has to be beautiful and practical at the same time. And once again, she is right.

🎨 Which would suit your home better?

On the left: bold, contrasting and red, with strong lines of knots.

On the right: lighter, lacier and airier, Maimu’s favourite.

Macramé lampshade and cable cover – where light meets the soul of handmade work.