Crafting with FABRIC
MATERIALS & TOOLS
• Lampshade rings (recycled)
• Fabric for shade cover
• Pressure-sensitive polystyrene
• Pencil
• Fabric glue
• Narrow craft brush
• Tape measure
• Binder clips
• Scissors
• Bamboo skewer
• Ribbon trim (optional)
NOTE: Fabric glue is usually water soluble, so you should wash your brush immediately after use if you wish to use it again.
Not long ago, we turned some open space in the Capper’s Farmer offices into a lounge area, complete with an area rug, a couple of chairs and end tables, a sofa and throw pillows, and a floor lamp from the 1950s. The lamp had character, but the shade was torn and yellowed, and the pillows were just boring.
Not wanting to purchase a new lamp or pillows, we decided to re-cover both of them, and we made them office redecoration projects. They were both easy projects, and they were easy to tailor to our rural lifestyle décor.
Re-Covering a Lampshade
Our lamp had a drum shade — a smooth, circular shape that flares slightly from top to bottom. We assumed there was a one-piece frame underneath the fabric and liner, but soon discovered there were two separate rings instead. That meant we had to use a polystyrene sheet for our shade liner, because the stiff polystyrene provides the structure to support the rings. Polystyrene is sold in sheets by online retailers. You’ll want to purchase the pressure-sensitive type so you’ll be able to peel off the cover sheet and press the new fabric against the adhesive. Be sure to measure the circumference and height of your existing shade before buying the polystyrene, because it’s sold
