Project Day: Recovering Lamps

I have decided to recover some lamps for my new store. I have done this before on smaller lamps but this time I am working with quite large ones. But the procedure is still the same. I am using plain white shades in cylinder form, which I find are easier to cover.

• Grab some fabric [heavy patterned cotton is best I find].
• You will also need: braid or trim, spray adhesive, a glue gun, dressmakers chalk, sharp scissors & a ruler.
• Spread your fabric out on a long table. Place the lamp shade on the fabric. Starting at the seam inside the shade trace along the sides of it [ with dressmakers chalk] while rolling the shade along the fabric until you get back to the seam you started at.
• Repeat for the other side of the shade. You should now have 2 lines running along the fabric.
• Join the lines up with a ruler allowing a 2cm seam at one end [ iron it over to give you a neat finish when the ends match up]. Cut out the pattern. You should now have a piece of fabric that when wrapped around the shade fits fairly perfect!
  
• In a well ventilated area generously spray your shade with the spray adhesive. You will also need to spray the cut out fabric piece. Wait a few minutes for the glue to become tacky.
• Starting again at the seam on the shade, carefully attach the fabric and press out any air bubbles as you go. If you make a mistake you can peel it back off and start again. But work fairly quickly if you can.
• Trim off any excess fabric around the edges of the shade with sharp scissors [being careful not to cut into the shade]. Allow glue to dry.
• Using a hot glue gun attach your braiding or trim to the edges of your shade, again beginning at the seam and ending by folding a small seam at the end of the braid and gluing down securely.

As you can see I am getting carried away with all kinds of fabric and trim. Fun fun. Just like my upcoming weekend. Hope yours holds just as much adventure! Thanks for all your beautiful words this week. Simone xx