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Sonya Hamilton Designs

Creating a Lamp Shade Slipcover with Six Different Fabrics

By Sonya

 

How to Recover a Lamp Shade

Meghan sent me this lampshade along with 6 different fabrics in shades of red, gold and black and asked it I’d recover it for her. Well, technically she asked before she shipped it.

As you can see, the before shade is very cute but Meghan wanted to spice things up a bit.

Warning: Lots of how-to pics ahead!

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (30)

I began by taking a look at how the shade was constructed and decided to follow the same lines with the exception of the vertical bias tape trim. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (29)

I carefully cut the black & white check fabric away from the shade with a seam ripper in order to keep the lining intact.

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (28)

Old shade cover removed and metal shade form exposed with lining still in place.

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I laid out each fabric to determine in which order I’d place them around the shade. I drew out a pattern an roughly cut out each “panel” for the new shade.

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (27)

I pinned and trimmed them in place.

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And then sewed them together creating my slipcover.

At this point I tried the slipcover on the form and took additional seams in order to “fit” the new cover snugly to the shade then trimmed the seam allowances to about 1/4″ to 3/8″.How to Recover A Lamp Shade (24)

Important Step: When recovering a shade you always want to try out the fabrics over your light source. Especially when working with several different fabrics.

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (23)

As you can see, these 6 fabrics look completely different when lit from beneath. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (22)

The solution to this dilemma is blackout lining. Even though it blocks the light coming through the fabrics it’s a much cleaner and neater look for the slipcover.

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (21)

Using the same technique to fit the fabrics to the shade, I made a blackout lining to give the 6 different fabrics the same appearance when the lamp is lit.
How to Recover A Lamp Shade (20)

Option: You can also line each of the fabric panels with a piece of blackout lining before sewing them together instead of creating an entirely separate lining. I chose not to do this because I hate working with blackout lining and thought this option might be easier.

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (19)

I placed the two layers – the blackout lining and new slipcover – together on the shade. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (18)

I pinned them in place occasionally using left over glittery wedding clothespins to hold things in place. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (17)

Keeping the layers pinned together and marked…How to Recover A Lamp Shade (16)

I sewed the layers together and trimmed the edges to the length of the shade plus 1″ – (1/2″ for both upper and lower edges) for seam allowances.
*I cut mine about 1-1/4″ longer to allow the trim to be about 1/8″ longer than the shade.
See below.How to Recover A Lamp Shade (15) How to Recover A Lamp Shade (14)

Using the black and white check fabric I cut 2″ strips on the bias to create my own trim. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (13)

I sewed the 2″ bias strips to the lower edge of the slipcover – Right side of bias strip to wrong side of slipcover using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

WHY DO IT THIS WAY?

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (12)

Here is a photo of the bias tape from the original shade pinned in place as an example. If I had only glued a trim to the shade the raw edges of the new pieced cover as well as the blackout lining would possibly have been visible.

By sewing my bias tape in place, folding and wrapping it around to the front of the slipcover I was able to hide the raw edges. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (11)

Here you can see the lower edge of the slipcover has the bias tape sewn on, folded and pinned in place waiting for top stitching. I’m repeating the same procedure for the upper edge of the slipcover.

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (9)

In this photo you can see where the bias trim was sewn in place on the back side of the slipcover. I folded the trim once to meet the raw edge and then folded it again to cover the raw edge. (If cut and sewn correctly a 2″ strip of bias cut fabric will create a 1/2″ folded bias tape trim. I’m positive I had to trim away excess here and there. It’s never as precise as you expect it to be.) 

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Waiting for top stitching.

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I top stitched each band of bias trim along the upper and lower edge of the slipcover.
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My finished Lamp Shade Slipcover ready to be secured in place. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (6)

At this point I fitted the slipcover to the shade making sure the seams lined up with the metal shade form and secured it in place with clothespins.

How to Recover A Lamp Shade (5)

I used hot glue to secure the slipcover to the shade. You can also use fabric glue. The clothespins kept the slipcover secure while the glue dried. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (4)

I secured the slipcover where the trim was below the shade approximately 1/8″ *as mentioned above. How to Recover A Lamp Shade (3)

Now we have a brand new, multi-fabric, lamp shade slipcover ready for it’s new home.
How to Recover A Lamp Shade (2)

I can honestly say not all of my lampshade re-dos have turned out this well. This one took a few additional steps but well worth it.
How to Recover A Lamp Shade

Visit THE GALLERY for more Creative Projects.

 

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Comments

  1. Sherry Martin says

    October 6, 2014 at 10:26 am

    ❤Love it !!! Such a beautiful job!!! Looks like it was purchased this way 😉 , and much better !!!! It fits so snug and perfect.. Love the different panels used ! I am pretty certain mine would have accidental gathers and pleated look !! Oh and glue all over the fabrics !!!! I can’t wait to see. more projects and tutorials !! Thank you for sharing your tips, and how to dos . Your awesome. Sonya !! Hope you have a great week !
    Sherry

    • Sonya says

      October 8, 2014 at 12:56 pm

      Awww! Thank you, Sherry! You are very, very welcome! I’ve seen your creations and don’t think you’d have a bit of trouble make this lampshade! 🙂

  2. Judy says

    October 6, 2014 at 10:58 am

    Way too complicated for me but the shade is really a work of art and gives such a new and different look. I remember that my mother made a new shade cover for a lamp that I inherited….the shade was unusual shape and I could not find one in a store. She said it was the hardest thing she ever did and it took her several days to complete. It had to be a labor of love!

    • Sonya says

      October 8, 2014 at 12:55 pm

      LOL! I know what you mean! There have been a few shades that I realized I never should have tackled after I was half way into it. Way too much trouble! 🙂

  3. Pat says

    October 6, 2014 at 11:38 am

    I love it! You always have such a professional, finished look on everything. I would never have the patience for this ~ 🙂 Thanks for sharing…always love to see your latest creation!

    xo
    Pat

    • Sonya says

      October 8, 2014 at 12:54 pm

      Awww! Thank you, Pat!

  4. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says

    October 6, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    It looks amazing, love the combination of fabrics. You have far more patience than I! 🙂

    • Sonya says

      October 8, 2014 at 12:53 pm

      Thank you, Sheila!

  5. Stacey says

    October 7, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Um, can I have one of those? Seriously…I really mean it. I want one in my kitchen. Not kidding.

    I need to send you fabric pieces that I have there that obviously will never be used by my hands. They would be perfect for little projects like that.

    • Sonya says

      October 8, 2014 at 12:53 pm

      Of, course! Anytime!!! I’d be happy to make one for you. Just email me with the details.

  6. cathy@My1929Charmer says

    October 7, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    I always like details so you don’t have to worry about that! I love the shade and the different patters/textures. Wouldn’t have thought of it but I really do love it. Then of course you always do such beautiful work.

    • Sonya says

      October 8, 2014 at 12:52 pm

      Thank you, Cathy! So glad you like the combination of fabrics!

  7. Deborah Wilkins says

    October 7, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    Ooh la la, Sonya! So country French…….

    Hope you are doing well!

    Deborah

    • Sonya says

      October 8, 2014 at 12:51 pm

      Merci, Deborah! 🙂

  8. Katie says

    November 30, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    You are SO talented! after just sewing my first basic valance, this just FLOORS me! I have decided to just hire you from now on.

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