How to Make a Fabric Lampshade

Last Updated on March 20, 2012 by Babita

T (my daughter) suggested I up-cycle her existing lamp with a new lampshade. Since I was having a serious case of crafter’s block (similar to writer’s block :-)) and struggling to come up with ideas for the projects, I thought it was a good suggestion.

So I headed over the Bed Bath & Beyond and got a very basic lampshade.  As you can see, there is absolutely nothing great about it.

 

 

I then traced the top and the bottom part of the lampshade by rolling it over the paper to make a pattern. I cut it out and pinned this pattern over the blue and white polka dotted fabric and cut out the fabric with about 3/4″ of seam allowance.

 

 

Once the fabric had been cut, I removed all the pins and discarded the paper pattern.  Took the fabric outside and sprayed it with  Loctite  Spray Adhesive.  Slowly and very carefully I draped the fabric over the lampshade adjusting it accordingly. This process is a bit tricky as I had to keep removing the fabric and manipulating it so as to avoid any creases.

 

 

 

After I had covered the lampshade with the fabric I felt like the black lamp stand was looking a bit out of place. So I painted it with white acrylic paint. At that point I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture of the finished lamp stand.

 

 

Anyway here is the finished lamp with this beautiful lampshade. “T” was very pleased. She has grown out of the “Pink Phase” and was glad I chose a blue fabric for the lampshade. The minute I was done she took it up to her room and set it up next to her bedside.