How to Cover a Lamp Shade With Fabric

David Basson

Covering your lampshades can give them a whole new look, or match them to a new décor. There several ways to cover the lampshades, and the variety of fabrics and textures available mean you can match anything in the room. This project is easy and inexpensive. You can find all the materials at a local craft or fabric store. It's a quick and simple way to update your room.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric Accent binding Brown wrapping paper Spray fabric glue Fabric glue Small paint brush Sewing machine Thread Thin elastic 2 small safety pins

Instructions

Covering an Old Lampshade

1. Lay brown wrapping paper on a table or hard surface. Place the old lampshade on the paper.

2. Hold the lampshade with one hand and use the other hand to trace the bottom and the top as you roll it across the paper. Start at the seam and end at the same seam.

3. Cut the tracing out of the paper adding a 1/2 inch to the end. Pin the paper pattern on your fabric and cut it out.

4. Spray the wrong side of the fabric with a spray fabric glue and lay the lampshade down on it at the seam. Press down to make sure it goes on the lampshade smoothly. Pull the fabric around or continue to roll the lampshade on it pressing down each time you move. When you get to the end, fold the fabric over 1/8 inch and put fabric glue on with a small paint brush. Press down until it adheres.

5. Spray glue on a piece of binding and fold it around the top of the lampshade with 1/2 on the outside and 1/2 on the inside. Overlap slightly at the end. Repeat around the bottom of the lampshade.

Making Bunched Covers

1. Measure around the top of the lampshade. Double that measurement and draw the circle on a piece of brown wrapping paper. (To make it more bunched you can even triple the measurement). Measure from the top to bottom and add 3 inches for the hems. From the top of the circle you drew measure down and draw a dot for the length measurement. Do this all the way around until you can form the larger circle all the way around the smaller circle.

2. Cut the paper pattern and pin to your fabric. Cut the fabric to the pattern starting with the large circle. Fold the circle in half to cut out the small center circle. Fold the small circle in and pin about 1/2 inch. Do the same for the bottom circle.

3. Sew the edge of the top circle over with a 1/2 inch hem all the way around except of the last inch. Repeat for the bottom. Measure the top circle on the lampshade and cut a piece of elastic 1/2 inch smaller than the circle. Attach a piece of elastic to a safety pin and pin it to the opening you left in the hem. Attach another safety pin to the other end of the elastic and work it through the hem until you come out the opening. Measure the bottom of the lampshade and cut a piece of elastic 1/2 inch smaller than that circle.

4. Sew the two ends of the elastic together by hand and tuck inside the opening. Repeat for the other end. Now the cover should fit over the lampshade and the elastic should keep the top and bottom tight. Bunch the fabric together evenly all the way around the lampshade.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the fabric glue you purchase is not flammable.