How to Make a Slip Cover for a Lampshade

Lighting is an integral part of your home home decor. It can be an expensive proposition to update your mood lighting each time you update your interior. Making slip covers for your lamp shades is a cost efficient way to decorate your home.

Things You'll Need

• Lamp shade
• Scissors
• Sewing machine or needle
• Tape measure
• Thread
• 1 Yard fabric
• 1 Yard 1/2 inch elastic
• Steam iron

Instructions

1. Wash and dry your fabric in the temperature suggested for your fiber content. Snip the fabric one inch from each cut edge of your fabric and then tear the fabric across the grain. This gives you a straight cutting edge that will allow your fabric to hang properly on your shade.

2. Measure the circumference of the bottom or largest part of your shade. Add 4 inches to this measurement as this will be the width to cut your fabric.

   Measure your shade from top to bottom. Add 6 inches to this measurement. This will be the length to cut your fabric.

   With your measurements in mind, cut your fabric to the desired width and length.

3. Lay right sides together and stitch a seam 5/8 inches wide, joining your fabric ends, the length of your fabric. If using a machine, zigzag the edges of your fabric. If using a needle, whip stitch the edges of the finished seam. Your fabric will now be in the form of a tube.

   Press the seam flat using a heat setting appropriate for your fabric content.

4. Form your upper casing by folding under 1/4 inch of raw edge of the end of your tube of fabric. Press edge with iron using proper heat setting.

   Fold this edge of fabric down another 5/8 inch, and press. Hand or machine stitch along edge of your casing, leaving an one inch opening for running your elastic through.

   Repeat these steps for the bottom edge of your fabric.

5. Measure the circumference of the top of your shade - subtract 6 inches and cut a piece of elastic to this measurement. Using a large safety pin attached to your piece of elastic, thread the elastic through the upper casing for your slipcover.

   Pin the ends of elastic to temporarily secure finish the bottom edge of slipcover and repeat the steps for upper casing.

   Pin the ends of elastic and try your slip cover on your shade. To adjust the fit, tighten the elastic as needed and then overlap the ends of your elastic one inch and stitch the ends of the elastic together to secure. Evenly space your fabric around the elastic. Stitch the opening to the casing closed.