I love fairy lights as there is something about lots of small lights that make me think of magic. I’ve been collecting ideas on how I might use them in the house and it is great there are so many more options due to LED fairy lights as they don’t produce heat; although if you read my Christmas decoration post from last year you’ll learn I’m very fussy. My daughter has been asking for a nightlight for a few months so when LEDHut* asked if I’d like to test some of their lights I thought it would be nice to make her nightlight for her birthday.
In my opinion, the thing that makes this nightlight work, is the type of lights called bunch lights. Instead of one long string of lights there are several wires with LED fairy lights. It came with the wires together so it can be wrapped around something, although I separated and bent the wires to give individual lights where I wanted.
How to make a floaty wall nightlight using LED fairy lights
To make this light you will need some floaty material, net curtain cable, bunch LED lights, thread and pins.
- Cut two A-shaped pieces from floaty material -my pieces were precut but slightly different shapes at the top, I cut one down so it was slightly taller than the other so I could fold it over the shorter piece and still retain as much length as possible.
- Put the right sides together, and sew them together leaving the top open and a small gap on one side for the power cable. Fold and press the edges of the gap so they hold the shape
- Turn the pocket the correct way round
- Fold the longer side over the shorter piece or if they are the same size fold both over to the back.
- Fold the top over again and sew to make a casing for the cable
- Put the lights through the gap
- Carefully handstitch around the light cable to hold it to the top and middle of the pocket. I did several stitches in the middle and near the side by the cable gap.
- Cut the net curtain cable to the correct length and pass is through the casing, you may want your cable slightly shorter than the width of the pocket so the material gathers and helps with the floaty impression
- Cut three A-shaped pieces of similar weight material, they can be different shapes, widths and lengths
- Hem the pieces on two sides and the bottom by folding the material over twice so there is a neat edge
- On the top edge fold the material over twice and use long stitches and don’t finish off the sewing so you pull the threads and gather the material
- Lie the pocket down with the back facing upwards. Place the three overlays pieces right side facing upwards in the opposite direction to the pocket so when they are folded over the top of the curtain wire they hang over the front of the pocket
- Arrange the pieces so they are not all in the same position; I put one starting on the left, one starting on the right and one going all they way across
- Handstitch the overlays to the back of the pocket to hold the gathers in place
- Separate the lights and move the wires so they fill the pocket
- Hang the cable on two screws in the wall
- Plug in the lights, ours is on a timer switch so it automatically switch on and off
Considering I made this pattern up as I went along I’m very pleased with how it has turned out, and especially B’s reaction to it; one night I found her asleep, curled up at the bottom of the light.
Night light ideas
My original plan was to wrap the lights around a star frame, but decided it wouldn’t work as the LED lights are too bright for a night light, so I wanted them covered by some fabric. My second idea was something like these long drapey lights, however my material pieces weren’t that long (they were from the skirt of an evening dress I started making years and years ago). Also, I didn’t want any lights easily accessible as I thought they maybe too tempting to little fingers which is why I sewed them into a pocket. However, the lights were still too bright so I experimented with left over skirt pieces which were all different shapes until I decided three overlays softened the brightness enough; I love the fluid look they give.
I think there is a lot of potential for this type of night light and I’m curious about how it would look using two different colours of material or even material with some sparkle in it. Please share if you create a similar light as I may be looking for more ideas in the future to make my son a nightlight.
Disclaimer: LEDhut* sent me the bunch LED fairy lights, however all opinions and ideas are my own. All links marked * are affiliate links meaning I will earn a percentage of what you spend after following the link but it will not cost you any more.
Love the colour of them, and would be great for halloween ghosts to make those instead. N would probably love this – he’s obsessed with Christmas lights at the moment.
(Have you gone blue for your blog!? Looks good. We must chat post Christmas and sort out hotel room for Britmums)
Have a great Christmas and new year.
Hi Emma,
It was lucky coincidence that the material I had matched the colour of the lights I was given. Both of mine love the light and got upset yesterday when it didn’t turn on (we’d had some power cuts so the timer was out of sync). I think the style could work in many different ways and I’d love to see a much longer version.
Has my blog turned blue? I haven’t changed anything on it (something I want to do this year)
Maybe it’s the hello bar (haven’t managed to get one to work on mine!) coming in blue and makes it feel more blue overall. It’s not looking so today, but I remember it did when I originally commented. Odd.
That is the only thing I’ve changed on my site for a while so it must be that. I’ve got it working, but to be honest I’m not sure what to do with it now.