Making Lampshades

For my birthday this year my friend Teresa gave me a lampshade making kit. It’s not something I’ve ever done before but I remember my mother making lampshades when I was a child. But, as you probably know by now, I love to try making all sorts of different things so this was a perfect opportunity to try something new.

This kit was for a 20cm diameter lampshade that is 18cm tall from Made Marion Craft in Wellington and came with everything you need to get creating. It had a self-adhesive PVC panel, 2 metal rings, a plastic spatula, double sided tape, and some cotton fabric patterned with NZ native flowers.

First step was to iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles. Then place the fabric on a firm, flat surface with the wrong side up and position the self-adhesive PVC panel on top.

When you are happy with the placement, peel back the release paper and stick the PVC panel onto the fabric, smoothing out the fabric and pressing down firmly.

Check the panel for creases and then cut the fabric flush around the panel using fabric scissors.

There is a creased edge about 1cm in from both long sides, that you snap back to release and then remove carefully leaving a fabric edge.

Apply double sided tape to one short end of the PVC panel – this will be used to stick the seam.

To prepare the metal rings, run a length of double-sided tape around the outside of the rings. Peel off the backing and then gently wrap the sticky bit around the ring (touching as little as possible). Start with the one that has an inner ring and stand it on the inner ring so that it doesn’t stick to the table while you do the other one.

Place your PVC panel on the table, fabric side down, and line up the two sticky rings on the opposite end to the strip of double-sided tape*. The inner ring should be facing into the middle. Slowly roll the rings along so that they stay just on the edge of the PVC and the lampshade starts forming a circle. Remove the double-sided tape as you get towards the end and, when the shade is all rolled up, smooth the join to make sure it is stuck together.

Tuck the fabric edges up with your fingers. On the edge that has the inner ring, snip half way into the fabric where the wires run to the middle so that the fabric can fold down. Using the finishing tool/plastic spatula, gently push the raw edges up in behind the ring to give a neat finish – this can take a few passes around the ring to get right.

* if the lampshade is for a lampstand, the inner drop ring goes on the bottom. If it is for a ceiling fitting, it goes on the top. This really only matters if you have a directional printed fabric (mine had words on as well as the flowers) so that you don’t get it upside down!

I was really pleased with how simple it was to make and how good the final product looked. I now have it gracing my spare room and am very pleased with the result of my first attempt at making lampshades.