Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Lamp Shade Tutorial


Here is the tutorial that some of you have been waiting for.
I was so excited to learn how to do this.
My dear friend Shirley custom covers lamp shades 
and she was gracious enough to not only show me how, 
but help me create this tutorial 
so that you can learn, too. 
This is my finished lamp shade:)


Maybe you will remember these that Shirley made for her Granddaughter.
I posted them earlier this year.
What you need to get started is a lamp shade
 with a wire frame and cloth or plastic lining.
About a yard of your choice of cotton fabric.
Enough trim to cover the top and bottom of your shade.
Freezer paper 
Hot glue
Quick grip glue
Lots of clips or clothes pins
and a sewing machine.
 I apologize because I thought that I had taken a picture 
of my lamp shade before we started.
Mine was a lamp shade that I bought at Goodwill for $1.99.
I carefully removed the trim that was on the top and bottom edge, 
so that I had a clean plain shade to start with.  
Mine was white plastic. 

First you place the freezer paper on the shade
so that it goes from one side seam to the other. 
Next, clamp it to the top to hold it while you make your pattern.
Turn the shade over and take a pencil and mark the bottom of the shade.
Next there should be two seams on your shade.
Made a mark down both seams.
Next mark the top of the shade.
See how the paper is loose over the shade.
This will be a loose pattern, don't worry.
What you will end up with is a pattern for half a shade.
When you cut out your pattern be sure 
and add 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch extra 
for seam allowance and turning a hem.

Now that you have your pattern,
you'll want to cut out two pieces.
So, fold the fabric so that you are cutting your pattern on the bias. 
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Sew both of the side seams together and then do a fitting.
It should be big.  
With extra at the top and bottom for the hem.

Put it on inside out and start fitting it tighter.
Always keeping extra at the top and bottom.
Here you can see by first seam.
I took mine in at least three times before I got a tight fit.

Keep doing this a little at a time until you have it nice and tight,
and with fabric at top and bottom.

When you have it fitting your shade 
be sure to trim your seams so the they are not bulky.

 Next fit it over your shade and clip the bottom . . .
and the top.
Look how good it is looking:)

Now start turning a small hem.
Clip it all around and then
use your Quick Grip glue to secure your hem.



Next do the same to the top.
IF YOU HAVE ANY PLACES ON THE SIDES 
THAT ARE NOT FITTING SMOOTHLY,
Just spray them with a mist of water.
As they dry they will tighten:)

Next use your hot glue gun and apply your trim.
That's it:)
There are a lot of steps, 
but it really isn't that hard to do.

Now tell me where are you going to find 
lamp shades to match your decor?
Now you can :)

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial.
Please leave a comment.
If you have a question, I'll do my best to answer it.

Have fun!
 Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

41 comments:

  1. Hi Connie, That lamp shade is so cute! Love it. Thanks for the tutorial but I don't know if I would ever do one but love yours! Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, You never know, someday you might decide to make a lampshade that would match a quilt or curtains in a bedroom. When you do, just remember this post, it will always be here waiting for your custom creation :) Then again it's not something that everyone would want to try . . . personally I know that I will be doing it again and again. Have a lovely week and thanks so much for stopping by:)

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  2. It's not enough that you have your hands full with scissors and fabric and glue, but to take photos along the way is absolutely praiseworthy. Thank you for this tutorial! I like the solidity of your pattern-making. That's the sweetest new lampshade, from $1.99(!) to priceless. If I ever have the need I shall surely recall your great instructions.

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    1. Hi Melanie, It is wonderful to see you here and I might say, always a pleasure. This was a fun project and I love the way it turned out. The fact that the possibilities are endless . . . compared to going into a department store and finding plain white shades:) With this you can go traditional or you can get wild and crazy with fabric and trims.

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  3. Simply stunning Connie. Love it. Clever you.
    Patricia x

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    1. Hi Patricia, I never would have thought of doing this, had I not seen my friend Shirley and some of the shades that she has covered. It's a wonderful way to bring charm into any room:)

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  4. Such a great tutorial, Connie. I've only recovered an existing shade before.

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    1. Hi Brandi, good to see you! This was all new to me, but something that I will absolutely be doing again and again. I love the fact that you can make a lampshade from any fabric and trim that is available and in today's fabric stores that gives us so many ways to let our imagination go wild:)

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  5. Replies
    1. Thank you! It was fun to do and opens up a lot of possibilities for recycling old shades and matching the decor of a room:)
      I have been wanting to learn this and was sure that a lot of my blogging sisters would want to know, too :)

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  6. Hi Connie, I'm so glad you visited me so that I could hop on over here to find your lampshade tutorial! I have never tried to cover a lampshade in this way, but I think I could follow your great directions and do it! Thanks so much for sharing the steps. By the way, your lampshade looks fabulous!

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    1. Good Morning Jane, thanks so much for stopping by. I was excited when my friend showed me this technique and I know that it is going to be very handy in the future. Lampshades are expensive . . . now I can cover them and make them as simple or as whimsical as I wish :) I've been thinking about how cute pink polka dots or red checks would look :) Thank you again for visiting, I love making new blogging friends.

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  7. How pretty. I used to watch my Aunt make lampshades when I was a child. Don't know the name off hand of the "Rhubarb" type plant but they are pretty common here in large gardens and country houses. I remembered first seeing them when staying with friends in Texas years ago. They had a group of them b y the pool.

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    1. Hi Barbara, Thanks for stopping by,I'm very happy that you like my lampshade.

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  8. Thank you for taking the time to write the tutorial... It's going to be very useful. I don't know if I'll be able to do as well as you did, though.

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    1. I know that you will do wonderful. When you cover one, I hope that you put it in a post, because I would love to see what you do with this idea:)
      P.S. I have really been enjoying your travel photos:)

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  9. Making a lampshade your own is such a fun craft. I've recovered one and it always makes me smile. Great tutorial. Thanks for visiting my blog and I'm so happy to be a new follower of yours.

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    1. Hi Carla, first of all thank you for following my blog. I get excited each time I make a new blogging friend. This lampshade project was so much fun. My friend Shirley has made many and they are so lovely and tie in so well with her decor. I'm looking forward to doing this again. I could not have figure this out without her help and instruction. Again, welcome to my blog:)

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  10. That looks really easy to do, so I might have to try it. I have been hopping around in here trying to catch up with you...my you are one busy crafter! Love all the things you have done and posted. Great photos, too!

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    1. Hello, it is great to see you. This project was so much fun and something that I will be doing more of. From now on when I'm tired of an old lamp and shade, I'll just run off to the store for a yard of fabric and a can of spray paint. As long as a lamp has good bones, there is no reason it cannot be changed into a new and exciting makeover :)

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  11. This is really cute and nice to see the tutorial because I'd have no clue how it was done otherwise! :)

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    1. Hi Deb, the same here. If it were not for my dear friend Shirley, I would still be sitting in the dark, LOL (get it?)

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  12. wow Connie, this was an awesome tutorial.. Thanks.

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    1. Thank you so much Becky . . .I am happy that you enjoyed it and hope that you will give it a try :)

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  13. What fun! I am not particularly crafty myself but I love love stopping in here. It always makes me smile. That's a wonderful tutorial and the lampshade turned out really cute :)

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    1. Good Morning Gloriade, I'm sitting here with my morning coffee, and some free time to blog hop. I'll be over to visit and see what you are up to, in your neck of the woods. I had so much fun learning this technique and truly appreciate my friend for teaching me. I love a good make-over and this is one that I know that I will be doing again:)

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  14. That looks sooooo good!!! I have some fabric that I've been wanting to use for a lampshade. Thank you so much for posting these instructions! You made it look so easy!

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    1. Hi Sherry, I am delighted that you find it helpful. Ever since learning to do this, I have been thinking about all the possibilities. If you try this, I would love to see what you make. Be sure and post it :)

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  15. That looks a lot easier than I thought it would be. I like your end result- cute!

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    1. Thank You, It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, too. The end results are amazing. I'm delighted to have learned this technique and also delighted to be able to share it with all of you. Have fun doing a lamp make-over . . . I hope you'll post before and after photos:)

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  16. Connie,Thank you so very much for your kind words and prayers on my blog. They mean a lot. And Thank you for joining my blog. I have friends who stop by and read it but you are my first official follower. yay!! You always make me smile. :)

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    1. Hi Gloriade, it is a pleasure to be your first follower and I'm looking forward to become great blogging friends:)

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  17. Love the way your lamp shade turned out, and great tutorial!
    Thank you so much for your lovely visit to my blog. I'm following you back.
    Mary Alice

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    1. Good Morning Mary Alice, it is wonderful seeing you here and thank you so very much for following my blog :)

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  18. That looks amazing Connie. I love the fabric you chose. Sweet of your friend to do a tutorial too although I'm still terrified to try. :)

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    1. Buy an old Goodwill shade like I did and what do you have to loose . . . you may just amaze yourself. I did . . . I love my shade:) My fried Shirley is the best and she is so talented, she needs to start a blog. Her home is amazing:)

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  19. Connie, I just popped up there to be one of your followers. Can't believe I haven't already done that because I love to read about your new cottage transformation. :)

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    1. Thank you so very much . . . I'm doing my happy dance. Not a pretty sight, LOL

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  20. This is super cute, Connie. Great job and nice tutorial. xxx ~ Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy and thank you so much. I'm hanging mine above a work table out in my Art Barn. I think it is going to be so pretty out there with my blue and white curtains. I just have to get the light fixture wired in:)

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  21. Beautiful!

    Nice to meet you, Connie. Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.

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