Thread ball lamp DIY

One of the things that was a MUST HAVE in the nursery is a large lamp. I just felt that it is supposed to be something really special and with that idea I started my research. 

Pinterest is full of the great ideas but the one I liked the most was this

The actual problem was...well I already have this lamp in my bedroom))))(by the way if you're interested this is an Ikea lamp and it costs around 50$ in the US) 

So I had to find some other idea as large and as eye catching as this one.

Yes the thread ball lamp.

Here you'll find an easy DIY with some tips that we came up with along the way.

We decided to make this lamp because it is easy, cheap (the whole thing will be around 20$) and FUN.

So to start with we will need:

• a ball (You can get one at Walmart or any local grocery store)
• Plastic Wrap
• Yarn (I'd recommend using cotton thread) you'll probably need around 300m
• Pendant Fitter (home decor stores or smth like Menards or Home depot)
• Glue. I tried using wallpaper glue at first...didn't work very well, so I ended up using a regular craft glue.
• Scissors, sharpie, and a wire.

1.The first step will be to wrap the ball with a plastic wrap. It will allow you to separate thread and a ball easier and will leave the ball nice and clean (Yes the ball is still alive at the end))

2.Then mark the circle around the top of the ball with sharpie so you could fit in the bulb later.

3.Read the directions and prepare a glue (if you use wallpaper glue) or simply dissolve some craft glue with water to make it more liquid.

Then you are ready to start the fun part:

(Just remember you will be working with glue and it is messy - not a good idea to do this in the middle of the living room on your antique hardwood =))

4. Soak all the thread in the glue and leave it there till it is completely wet. While yarn is still in the roll it will not become one huge knot so that's why I suggest soaking the whole roll at once.

5. Wrap the thread around the ball trying to leave the circle on the top free of any thread. It will take you about an hour to do, and it is much easier if someone could help you with the task.

 There is no exact amount of thread that should be used or number of layers. So it is just you and your fantasy.

6. When you think you're done place the ball somewhere to dry. (you can hang it somewhere if you can) we just placed it on a bucket.

7. Let it dry for 24 hours and then check if it feels firm. Don't push too hard, but you should feel that the thread became firm. If it is then you're ready to deflate your ball. We used a nipple from a bicycle plunger pump to deflate it. If you don't have a pump, you can use whatever works (like a tooth pike or a pencil)

Main tip: DO IT SLOWLY. It this case you can help the thread to separate from the plastic wrap where it sticks or what's more important you can see if you missed any spots that are still not firm. Then you want to inflate the ball again and add another layer of glue. (we had to do this 3 times )

Finally if everything went smooth, you can deflate the ball completely, take it out together with a plastic wrap, insert pendant fitter with a bulb inside fix it with a wire and you're done!

 

I love this lamp a lot because it is large, unusual, and is made with our hands!