Sunday, July 17, 2011

So Easy No Sew (almost) Lampshade Redo Tutorial and a Giveaway

Okay, before you see the lampshade tutorial, I want to tell you what I'll do. I was going to suprise you with this at the end of the post, but it turned out so dang long, I'm not sure you'll make it to the end. LOL!
If you blog about the tutorial on your blog and leave me a comment about it, I will throw your name in a hat for a chance to win this little Watermelon Basket with 8 Watermelon coasters. I made them a couple of weeks ago with a giveaway in mind. It just came to me a little while ago to give them away now.

Also, I'd better mention now (in case you don't make it to the end) I am linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for
You can click on her name or the button on my sidebar to
visit her and all the other clever bloggers that have made a change to something in their life.
NOW, finally we can get down to business.
I started with a shade I had that I love the shape of .  If you don't have one, I have bought similar ones for 2or 3 dollars at Good Will.
To figure how much fabric you need, measure from top to bottom. That is the length you need. Mine was 15 inches, so I have 1/2 yard.  Then measure around the bottom  and that is the width. Mine was 42 and I had decorator fabric that was 52" wide,  So one length was enough.
You will also need 1/2 yd. for the bias strips.

You will also need:
Spray Adhesive
 Aileens Super Thick Tacky Glue
Olfa cutter
Ruler
Cutting Board
Pencil
Small ruler
Scissors
Pi n
A small piece of tissue paper or pattern paper
The inside of my shade was in good shape and clean, so I kept it. It wraps around slightly to the front at the top and  bottom.

When I started pulling off the bias strips it was tearing the lining that was glued around to the front, So I held it down with the little ruler. That worked and I was able to pull off the bias strips without harming the shade.



You will need to make a pattern of this area between the wire frame.

Since I didn't remember to bring pattern paper or tissue with me (I always forget something), I used a paper towel. It worked just fine. They don't call me the "Queen" of make do for nothing.
I taped it to the top and  drew along the wires and top and bottom. It doesn't have to be perfect as the edges of the fabric will all be covered with bias strips.

I rolled pieces of scotch tape and put on the back of the pattern.
Now I can put it on the lamp shade and make any adjustments.
The tape works well to hold it to the fabric while cutting. I needed 8 pieces for my shade and cut them side by side so the pattern of the fabric would seem continual. There is no way of matching seams because of the shape of the pieces, but  even if you had a plaid, it would be continual  on the horizontal line.
I stacked them as I was cutting them to keep in order.
I, know...I am making do again. I used an old camping tablecloth to spray my pieces on. You don't want to get that stuff on anything as it stays tacky. Read the instructions on your can, as they many all be different. To achieve a permanent adhesion, my can said to adhere within 15 seconds, so I did one at a time.
Spray the wrong side.
This is so easy. Just press down getting all the bubbles and wrinkles out, just like wallpaper.
I knew after the first piece, I was going to love this lampshade.

Same method with the second piece.
All the way around until the last one


Now to the bias strips.  Maybe a little harder, but I hope to make it as painless as possible.
Start by laying fabric flat.
Bring the left upper corner down until you form a 45 degree angle.
Press the fold with your iron.
Double the fold over and you will have 4 layers of fabric with two folds.
This just gives you  a shorter area to cut.
Line the folds up just a little over one of the lines on your cutting board.  Line up the ruler on the line.
Cut off the folds.
Cut 1 1/ 2 inch strips by moving your ruler over.
Cut several strips.  You may have to go back and cut more.
The strips will all be long enough for all the vertical  pieces and for the top horizontal one, but the bottom of the lamp will need a longer piece.  Piecing bias strips can be a little tricky, but hopefully the picture below will help.
Lay two ends together at a right angle, right sides together.  My plaid was easily matched, but this will show so little, it probably wouldn't matter if it was off.
Place your ruler from where the fabric meets at the top to where the fabric meets at the bottom and draw a line
Pin the fabrics and sew on the line (you can't see the line) from where the fabrics meet at the top to where the fabric meets at the bottom.
If you don't sew at all, you could easily glue these ends together.
Now trim the seam and press open.
Measure and cut one strip for the top, one for the bottom (the one you pieced) and one of each of the divisions of your shade to cover the raw edges. The one for the top and bottom will need to be an inch longer.  The vertical ones can be just a tiny bit shorter than the measurement.
For each piece you will do the following.
Press 1/2 inch to the wrong side.
Now press 1/2"  over again, so you have a finished bias of 1/2"
Open up the last 1/2 inch you pressed over and run a little bead of glue.
Finger press and let dry. Notice that he raw edge does not quite reach the edge and that is just the way you want it so it won't show when glued to shade.
Now hold up the strip and cut to fit. It should be slightly shorter at both ends of shade.
Cut 8 of your strips to this length. Then cut one to fit around the top and one around the bottom.
Glue all as above turning one end under 1/4" on the short end of the two long strips.
There isn't a picture of this, but hope you understand with out one. 
When  I held up the bias strip, I knew I did not want to break up the pattern on the shade this way, so I cut out all new vertical strips and just used the plaid on the top and bottom.
Sometimes a girl changes her mind...right?
You will need a really wet cloth for the next step. You are going to lay a bead of glue along each strip (one at a time) and smear it with your finger.  This is where the wet cloth comes in. It is really messy and sticky.
Now put one at a time on each of the divisions and finger press really good. That Thick Tacky glue will hold right away.
Do all the vertical ones and already you will be getting excited to finish. It will look so professional
When you do the long strips, you have to over lap. Start with the raw edge and over lap with the folded edge that I explained above.
This is what the bottom edge will look like.
TA DA you are finished!!

I tried to be as precise as I could, but pleeeeease, if you feel I missed something or you need some extra help, feel free to e-mail me. I would love to hea any of your suggestions or criticisms.  It seems like a lot of steps, but believe me, it is easy and no sew (almost).

Even if your shade isn't shaped like this and doesn't have all the wires, you can do this method.
E-mail me with question about that too. There are all kinds of ways to  cover a shade.  If you feel inspired to cover a shade, please share it with me, I would love to see what yours looks like.

Now please go blog about this tutorial and come back and tell me so you have a chance to win those watermelon coasters, and visit Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch by clicking on the Metamorphosis Monday button on my side bar.



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, my goodness, Beverly, this is so beautiful! What a nice job you've done. The fabric is so pretty and I love your tutorial - very exact! I love the contrasting trim you've used too.
You're sew good! :)
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)

Suzanne said...

What a great tutorial. Even I think I could make one using your photos. Thank you for the time it took to do this for us. You're the best!

luvtoquilt said...

I LOVE the way that turned out -- it's beautiful -- much nicer than anything you could buy. Thanks for the detailed tutorial!

Paula@SweetPea said...

Thanks for this wonderful tutorial. I've got a lampshade in my basement that looks a lot like yours that could use a makeover. I love how yours turned out and your step-by-step instructions make this look easy.

I'm visiting from Metamorphosis Monday. Hope you'll stop by my blog sometimes!

Miss Char said...

This is a great transformation and your tutorial is excellent. I think I know just the lamp shade to give this a try on. Thank for sharing.

Allison Shops said...

You somehow made that look semi-easy! lol Still not sure I want to try, but enjoyed your tutorial.
Dropping by from Met Monday.

Allison
Atticmag

Barb B. said...

Hi Beverly, that is a wonderful tutorial...very easy to understand even for me! I will save this as I w ould love to recover the lampshades in my mbedroom.

I'm going to pass this tutorial along via my blog right now, I would LOVE to be entered in the giveaway!

hugs and love
Barb

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Beverly,
Just posted about your tutorial. A fun post today. I love it.
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

So wild that I found this tutorial today as I went at lunch and got fabric to cover 2 lampshades in my dining room! Soooo helpful! I will be referring back to this tonight.

LOVE your lampshade!

Thanks!!

Lou Cinda :)

Sandy said...

Fantastic! I love the fabric and trims and can't believe how beautiful your "new" lampshade turned out.

Barb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barb said...

This is so cute. You make it look so easy. Like Suzanne said- I think I could make it from the photos. The basket and coaster are adorable also. Where in the world did you find the pattern? I need one!

Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio said...

Barb, I hope you come back here to check for an answer to your question. I couldn't e-mail you.
The pattern was from the latest issue of Quilts and More magazine.

Linda said...

The lampshade came out darling...you are such a talent. I am still looking forward to our getting together...I have been really busy but I will make time for you whenever you have time for me!!

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

This is such a wonderful tutorial! Just this morning I was looking for custom made lamp shades...afraid to try this myself...and then came across another blog (think it was Home is Where the Heart Is) that featured this so I had to come over and see it! I'm so excited and think I will give this a try.

Again, thank you for sharing this!

Nancy

Susan Freeman said...

Fabulous! You are "sew" clever. I came over to visit you from Elizabeth's blog and am your newest follower. Stop by and see me sometime.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Annelies said...

Sweet Girl....such a GREAT tutorial. I am SEW impressed!!! I did cover my lampshades, but cheated with the sticky shades you buy. I WANT to be just like you, but lack the courage (G)!!!!
I hope you are having a great week. Me and the dear husband are off for a few days. Yep, back to the Apple Farm where I can sit and knit, and read and just do nothing. Then back to life as hectic as ever. Hugs XXX

Linda said...

I was at lowe's and they had 70 percent off all lamps. So there was these two lamps with the curved arm and shade that hangs down for $7.00 @. So I bought them. I got them home and the shades are an ugly plastic gold. To buy a replacement would be hard and expensive. They are high bridge and uno shades. My husband and I tried your method before I just discovered your web page. I was trying to glue rice paper on each section and it did not work. I think I will get out some old fabric and have my husband help me and we will try your method using fabric. Thank you for the lampshade tutorial.

Bobbi said...

Your lamp turned out beautiful!! Loved your tutorial, great job!!

Ineke Original said...

Fantastic!
Greetings from Holland,
Ineke

Kathy said...

I can't wait to do this. I have a set of 4 lamps with this style of shades. I agree with not taking away from the print and just doing the coordinate fabric on top and bottom.
Thanx for the tutorial.
Kathy

Unknown said...

I saw shades like this that were $250+ at a designer store. I can't wait to make a couple for my daughter's livingroom!

Donna said...

This looks fantastic! Your tutorial is wonderful and I feel I could follow and actually make this happen on my lamps. I purchased two great lampshades at a garage sale recently and when I got home I found why they were selling at a great price. Now I think I can salvage them!

Thank you for sharing!

Blessings, Donna
grandma4five

Anonymous said...

Great job. You're wonderfully nice to share.

spydermum76 said...

This is so sweet! I love the way you used the paper towel template! Genius! I am always forgetting stuff too! I love this step by step to see it like this is so helpful!! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

this is great i love it will follow your instructions

dettrey said...

This is great I think anyone would be able to make this lampshade!! Love it.

Cornelia said...

This was a great idea loved it! Always wanted to know how you do bias, now I know. Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea!

Anonymous said...

If you have already covered this, I apologize, I didn't read all the comments. If you have a lampshade that isn't in that good a shape, can you do this with just a frame?

Anonymous said...

Lovely lamp shade! It looks so professionally done too. Thanks for sharing all the photos and directions with us.

Anonymous said...

one word, gorgeous!

Jamie W. said...

Ohmagosh!!! I just found you through AllFreeSewing and I'm so thrilled to see this tutorial. It's exactly what I need! In fact, my lampshade is exactly that same style (just love that graceful shape). I'll take before and afters just to remember that I CAN DO IT! TYFS.

Pat said...

Now I won't have to throw out my lamp shades and replace them. This is a great way for me to save but make the livingrom look like new.

Thank you; hope it's as easy as you made it seem. Let you know when I'm done.

Pat