This free fairy lights knitting pattern makes little lampshades for a string of LED lights. Welcome to the knitting pattern ‘Soilse Nollag’ (‘Christmas Lights’ in Irish). Using a simple string of LED lights, knit a lacy lampshade for each one. Ideal as Christmas decorations, but also useful as summer garden decorations. Use all one colour or as many colours as you like. The sample used 7 red, 7 white and 6 green.

Materials needed

Yarn required: any fingering or sock weight yarn.
Samples were made using Performance Cotton Dazzle, 60% cotton, 40% viscose. For a similar appearance in your fairy lampshades, look for a cotton viscose or cotton bamboo mix yarn, but you can use any fibres. The thickness of the right yarn will be described as ‘sock’, ‘fingering’, ‘4 ply’ or ‘yarn group A’. The recommended needle size for the yarn will be 2 – 3 mm needles.

Each individual lampshade uses 11 metres / 12 yards of yarn.

A string of 20 lights will use approximately 220 metres / 240 yards of yarn.

Needle size: 3 mm needles, or as required to match gauge.

Needle type: the body of the lampshades are knitted flat, and the tops in the round. I knit all samples on circular needles, working back and forth in rows for the body, and working with magic loop for the top. You could use straight needles for the body and dpns for tops if desired.

Notions:

A string of LED lights (sample made using a string of 20 lights)

Darning needle for weaving in ends

Optional: 20 tiny buttons, beads, or hook and eye fasteners to attach lampshades to lights

Optional: 3mm crochet hook (or similar size to knitting needles used)

Tension/Gauge

Stitch gauge: 10 stitches of Victorian lace pattern = 4cm / 1 ½ inches
Row gauge: 10 repeats of Victorian lace stitch pattern = 10cm / 4 inches

Gauge is not critical to this pattern.

Skill level
This pattern uses a shetland lace repeat. The body of the lampshades is worked flat, using knit stitches, yarn overs and knit 2 together stitches.
The top of the lampshades are knit in the round

Accessibility
The PDF download version of pattern comes in 2 formats, choose between ‘standard’, ‘large print’,.
Both versions of this pattern are in black text, using Canva Sans - a clear, sans serif font.
They use an easy to read layout which includes bold for all emphasis, and avoid italics or block capitals.
Text is left justified throughout, and no columns are used.

All instructions are fully written out. Some illustrative pictures are included, but all required information is in the text.

The standard version of this pattern is presented in 15 point font.
The Large Print version is in 22 point font, with additional descriptive text describing images.

Both versions present the pattern in traditional format for confident knitters first, followed by an accessible version in plain English. All text is written out as full words, and no abbreviations are used. This may be helpful for dyslexic and neurodiverse people who struggle to read patterns. Please note at this point (October, 2025) this pattern has not been tested on a screen reader, as I can not do that myself. Previous patterns with similar layout have been tested and approved by staff from ‘Inclusion London’.

The free blog version of the pattern is also formatted for accessability.

Copyright
This pattern is written by Ciara Doyle of the Fairythorn, all rights reserved. Not for commercial purposes.
Selling of makes is allowed, only when made by you, in your own home.

GPSR
This is a safe, virus free PDF, created by Ciara Doyle, Address C15, Y5F9, Ireland. Ciara@TheFairythorn.ie
The finished lampshades are ornamental, and not designed for use by small children. They also should be used only with LED lights, and not with light bulbs that generate heat.