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Friday, July 3, 2009

Creative Fiber Fabrications - lamp shade cover

Here's a quick idea to take your lampshades from boring to oh wow! Mix a slip of silk fabric, some french embroidered trim, beaded trim and a flower & fiber trim to create an easy slip cover for the lamp shade.

For lampshades that are wider at the bottom than top, measure the circumference of the bottom of the shade, add 1/2". Measure the height of the lampshade and add 3". These 3" will allow you to fold the top over 1 1/2" and give you a 1/2" hem on the bottom. If you have a serger, seam the height of the cover, finish off both the top and bottom edges of the slip cover.

Fold the top of the cover over 1 1/2" stitch in place to catch the hem in place. This seam will be covered by a decorative ribbon. Stitch the bottom hem in place.

Sew a beaded trim to the inside bottom hem if desired. This lamp shade cover has the beaded trim sewn on. Place the cover over the original lamp shade. Gather the top of the cover along the top of the shade with the decorative ribbon/trim. Just wrap the ribbon around the top of the cover, don't worry about the gathers at this time. Use a hot glue gun to secure the overlap of the ribbon/trim. Adjust the gathers as desired.

Cut the decorative rose/flower trim to the desired length so that it fits on the edge of the lower part of the shade cover.
Secure the ends of the rose/flower trim with a dab of hot glue.

Rescued this little lamp from my husband's aunt. I needed a little lamp for a little space and this one was so plain but the size was right. Now no one even notices the base of the lamp. :)

If you have a straight up and down lampshade, measure the circumference and add between 1/2 and 1 more times the circumference. This will give a loose flowing cover at the base of the original lampshade. You will need to secure the top of the shade cover in place with a bit of hot glue. Experiment to get the affect that pleases you.
Enjoy and Be Creative!

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