Fabric Lamp Shade

1 patisserie honey bun
lamp shade
big sheets of paper
quilt basting spray
perle cotton thread size 8 in ecru

decorative trims, rick rack &/or buttons

remove lamp shade from lamp stand.

tape a few big pieces of paper together.

{i used three 18×34 pieces of drawing paper and taped them together.}

you’ll want to make sure that you have a nice, big work area of paper.

place the lamp shade on it’s side, lining up the seam with the paper.

trace the bottom & top edge of the shade with your pencil,

slowly rolling the shade as you go, until you get back at the seam.

{as shown by my hubby.}

hint: this part is MUCH easier with 2 people.

your paper will look something like this.

{click the pic to enlarge.}

extend the lines by an inch, as shown.

draw a straight line between the outside lines.

cut out the pattern you’ve drawn.

just for good measure, fit your pattern around your lamp.
yours will overlap like mine, it’s supposed to.

pick out you fav honey bun strips.

i used 16.

cut those honey bun strips in half.

it’s audition time!!!

lay your strips out in a manor that’s pleasing to you.

fold your pattern in half.

take the middle strip from your layout audition,

spray a thin layer of quilt basting spray on it.

place that strip directly on the fold line of your pattern.
this will make a paper foundation for your strips.

lay your first strip right side down onto your foundation strip.

turn your stitch length down to about 1.5
{just trust me!!!}
and sew your first strip on.

after each strip, press with a dry iron.

it makes a difference to press after each strip, so don’t skip it.

keep adding strips until you cover the right side of the pattern.

now flip your pattern over.

go again until you cover this side of the pattern.

your covered pattern should look something like this.

trim off the stragglers using the pattern as your guide.

now here’s the fun part.

remember how i told yall to shorten your stitch length???

that was so the needle would perforate the paper for you.

just tear off the paper gently, like you would a check out of your checkbook.

you’ll be doing this in sections.

this is what the pattern will look it.

cute huh???

now this is important: spray this block with a lightweight starch.

{i prefer to use magic sizing.}

you wanna do this so that your seams lay flat.

{hint: make sure to change your needle before going back to fabric.
i use a completely separate needle for paper foundations.}

spray your lamp shade seam with your quilt basting spray.

start by placing the short side of the fabric on the lamp shade’s seam.

secure it with pins.

spray the inside of fabric generously with quilt basting spray.

slowly roll the fabric over the lamp shade, a little bit at a time, smoothing the fabric out towards the edges as you go.

i have found that it helps to pin as you go.

{just to make sure that it holds in place until your fabric dries.}

allow the end of your fabric to overlap the beginning seam at least 1/4″ in case the fabric shrinks as it dries.

feel free to spray it with extra quilt basting spray.

i wanted to secure my fabric in a cutesy way, like so.

all you have to do is thread a needle with your perle cotton thread {doubled} and stitch around the top, bottom & seam of your fabric.

when you are done with your cutesy stitching, trim the underneath fabric to about 1/4″ or so.

it doesn’t have to be exact, no one it going to see it.

when the adhesive has dried, return you lamp shade to the base, and let your light shine.

one SUPER awesome new lamp shade!!!

so the next time you pass up that ugly lamp at the flea market…envision it in your fav fabrics!!!

{mine coordinates with the quilt on our bed, and i am completely in LOVE with it.}

rachel of p.s. i quilt