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No-Sew Lampshades

Create your own fabric-covered lampshades, customized with elaborate (or simple!) decorative trims–especially the very popular beaded fringes!

MATERIALS: For one shade

  1. Lampshade: any size or shape, but surface should be smooth paper or fabric.
  2. Fabric: 45", 54" or 60" wide, light to medium weight silk, linen, cotton or blends. Yardage will vary with size of project, usually 1/4 to 3/4 yard.
  3. Spray craft adhesive, such as 3-M Craft Spray Adhesive.
  4. Beacon FabriTac™ glue.
  5. Decorative trims: Tassel, chainette, or beaded fringe for lower edge of shade. Measure around shade plus 1".
  6. Decorative gimp: Scroll gimp, French gimp, or any other flat trim to cover top edge of shade and header of fringe at bottom edge of shade if necessary too. Measure around shade plus 1" for each trim at each location.
  7. Pencil or chalk marking pencil.
  8. Straight edge.
  9. Fabric scissors.
  10. Straight pins
  11. Pattern Ease™ or tissue paper for pattern. Same yardage as fabric.

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Make pattern: Place seam of paper shade, face down, near left edge of Pattern Ease™. Make slash marks at top and bottom of seam on the Pattern Ease™. Slowly roll the shade to the right and continue to mark dots at top and bottom of shade, at 1/2" intervals. Stop at the same shade seam as the beginning, and mark pattern again at the top and bottom of the seam.

    Use straight edge to draw a line to connect the top and bottom marks, making straight seams. Add 1/2" to one of the seam edges to allow for overlap. Cut out the pattern following your slash marks and dots. (Note: if your shade is a conical shape, your pattern will be an arc. If your shade is a drum or straight square or rectangle, your pattern will be a rectangle.)

  2. Cut fabric: Use pattern to trace and cut decorator fabric, right side up. Because an arc pattern is all bias, plan placement of your fabric’s design carefully. Straight rectangular patterns should be cut with the seam on the grainline of the fabric.

  3. In a well-ventilated area, spray adhesive lightly and evenly over the entire outside surface of the shade, protecting nearby surfaces.



  4. Beginning at the seam, match one straight edge of the fabric to the seam. Smooth the fabric evenly over the shade, ending at the seam.

  5. Trim any excess fabric at the top and bottom of the shade and at the seam. Overlap at seam should be about 1/4" to 3/8". Use FabriTac™ glue to secure overlap.



  6. Trims: Put shade on lamp base. Beginning at the seam, glue the fringe to bottom edge of shade, overlaying and attaching the full width of the fringe header-tape on the shade’s edge, leaving the fringe hanging free. Overlap and glue the ends of the trim at seam. (Note: Straight pins can be used to hold trim in place while glue dries.)

  7. If header-tape is not decorative, cover it with gimp. Overlap ends at the seam about 1/4"- 3/8". Glue gimp to cover fabric at top edge of shade. Overlap ends at the seam.

  8. After glue dries, remove pins and take a bow!