Okay, before you see the lampshade tutorial, I want to tell you what I'll do. I was going to suprise you with this at the end of the post, but it turned out so dang long, I'm not sure you'll make it to the end. LOL!
If you blog about the tutorial on your blog and leave me a comment about it, I will throw your name in a hat for a chance to win this little Watermelon Basket with 8 Watermelon coasters. I made them a couple of weeks ago with a giveaway in mind. It just came to me a little while ago to give them away now.
Also, I'd better mention now (in case you don't make it to the end) I am linking up with
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for
You can click on her name or the button on my sidebar to
visit her and all the other clever bloggers that have made a change to something in their life.
NOW, finally we can get down to business.
I started with a shade I had that I love the shape of . If you don't have one, I have bought similar ones for 2or 3 dollars at Good Will.
To figure how much fabric you need, measure from top to bottom. That is the length you need. Mine was 15 inches, so I have 1/2 yard. Then measure around the bottom and that is the width. Mine was 42 and I had decorator fabric that was 52" wide, So one length was enough.
You will also need 1/2 yd. for the bias strips.
You will also need:
Spray Adhesive
Aileens Super Thick Tacky Glue
Olfa cutter
Ruler
Cutting Board
Pencil
Small ruler
Scissors
Pi n
A small piece of tissue paper or pattern paper
The inside of my shade was in good shape and clean, so I kept it. It wraps around slightly to the front at the top and bottom.
When I started pulling off the bias strips it was tearing the lining that was glued around to the front, So I held it down with the little ruler. That worked and I was able to pull off the bias strips without harming the shade.
You will need to make a pattern of this area between the wire frame.
Since I didn't remember to bring pattern paper or tissue with me (I always forget something), I used a paper towel. It worked just fine. They don't call me the "Queen" of make do for nothing.
I taped it to the top and drew along the wires and top and bottom. It doesn't have to be perfect as the edges of the fabric will all be covered with bias strips.
I rolled pieces of scotch tape and put on the back of the pattern.
Now I can put it on the lamp shade and make any adjustments.
The tape works well to hold it to the fabric while cutting. I needed 8 pieces for my shade and cut them side by side so the pattern of the fabric would seem continual. There is no way of matching seams because of the shape of the pieces, but even if you had a plaid, it would be continual on the horizontal line.
I stacked them as I was cutting them to keep in order.
I, know...I am making do again. I used an old camping tablecloth to spray my pieces on. You don't want to get that stuff on anything as it stays tacky. Read the instructions on your can, as they many all be different. To achieve a permanent adhesion, my can said to adhere within 15 seconds, so I did one at a time.
Spray the wrong side.
This is so easy. Just press down getting all the bubbles and wrinkles out, just like wallpaper.
I knew after the first piece, I was going to love this lampshade.
Same method with the second piece.
All the way around until the last one
Now to the bias strips. Maybe a little harder, but I hope to make it as painless as possible.
Start by laying fabric flat.
Bring the left upper corner down until you form a 45 degree angle.
Press the fold with your iron.
Double the fold over and you will have 4 layers of fabric with two folds.
This just gives you a shorter area to cut.
Line the folds up just a little over one of the lines on your cutting board. Line up the ruler on the line.
Cut off the folds.
Cut 1 1/ 2 inch strips by moving your ruler over.
Cut several strips. You may have to go back and cut more.
The strips will all be long enough for all the vertical pieces and for the top horizontal one, but the bottom of the lamp will need a longer piece. Piecing bias strips can be a little tricky, but hopefully the picture below will help.
Lay two ends together at a right angle, right sides together. My plaid was easily matched, but this will show so little, it probably wouldn't matter if it was off.
Place your ruler from where the fabric meets at the top to where the fabric meets at the bottom and draw a line
Pin the fabrics and sew on the line (you can't see the line) from where the fabrics meet at the top to where the fabric meets at the bottom.
If you don't sew at all, you could easily glue these ends together.
Now trim the seam and press open.
Measure and cut one strip for the top, one for the bottom (the one you pieced) and one of each of the divisions of your shade to cover the raw edges. The one for the top and bottom will need to be an inch longer. The vertical ones can be just a tiny bit shorter than the measurement.
For each piece you will do the following.
Press 1/2 inch to the wrong side.
Now press 1/2" over again, so you have a finished bias of 1/2"
Open up the last 1/2 inch you pressed over and run a little bead of glue.
Finger press and let dry. Notice that he raw edge does not quite reach the edge and that is just the way you want it so it won't show when glued to shade.
Now hold up the strip and cut to fit. It should be slightly shorter at both ends of shade.
Cut 8 of your strips to this length. Then cut one to fit around the top and one around the bottom.
Glue all as above turning one end under 1/4" on the short end of the two long strips.
There isn't a picture of this, but hope you understand with out one.
When I held up the bias strip, I knew I did not want to break up the pattern on the shade this way, so I cut out all new vertical strips and just used the plaid on the top and bottom.
Sometimes a girl changes her mind...right?
You will need a really wet cloth for the next step. You are going to lay a bead of glue along each strip (one at a time) and smear it with your finger. This is where the wet cloth comes in. It is really messy and sticky.
Now put one at a time on each of the divisions and finger press really good. That Thick Tacky glue will hold right away.
Do all the vertical ones and already you will be getting excited to finish. It will look so professional
When you do the long strips, you have to over lap. Start with the raw edge and over lap with the folded edge that I explained above.
This is what the bottom edge will look like.
TA DA you are finished!!
I tried to be as precise as I could, but pleeeeease, if you feel I missed something or you need some extra help, feel free to e-mail me. I would love to hea any of your suggestions or criticisms. It seems like a lot of steps, but believe me, it is easy and no sew (almost).
Even if your shade isn't shaped like this and doesn't have all the wires, you can do this method.
E-mail me with question about that too. There are all kinds of ways to cover a shade. If you feel inspired to cover a shade, please share it with me, I would love to see what yours looks like.
Now please go blog about this tutorial and come back and tell me so you have a chance to win those watermelon coasters, and visit Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch by clicking on the Metamorphosis Monday button on my side bar.
God is Good!!
Life is Good!!
