Is this your project? Can you share instructions or a pattern with the Craftsy community?
Difficulty:
Category: Sewing
Type of item: Home Decor
For: Home
Style: Retro / Vintage, Traditional, Victorian / Steampunk, Romantic, Classic
Materials
Double layer drapery fabric, vintage lamp shade frame, polyester knit strips to wrap metal frame, Braided decorator trim.
What was your inspiration?
I found a bolt of silky 100% polyester double layered fabric at Hancock Fabrics to build drapes for Master Bedroom and cover a couple of lamp shades for our 1890s Victorian. Begin by removing old fabric from vintage shade. Sand frame with 0000 steel wool to remove any possibility of rust. Wipe clean and spray with a clear coat of Rustoleum and allow to dry overnight. Wrap frame with 1" strips of ivory polyester knit--hand stitching as you go to keep wind relatively tight. Cut finish fabric big enough to cover section of frame, and hand stitch to the ivory polyester wrapped frame. Trim excess fabric. Complete all sections, then hot glue matching braided trim to cover hand-stitches.
What are you most proud of?
I included a photograph of the drapes constructed from the same fabric. My sister Pam, a theater costumer on the East Coast sewed the drapes for me during her visit. She literally stepped out of the car upon arrival and I greeted her--handing her the bolt of fabric to make the drapes. She and I are both seamstresses, but she is by far--the master of sewing!! Tip: Pam has a fabulous tip for making drapes fall into a perfect puddle. She makes the hem length 4-6" longer and adds covered piping to finish the hem. To get the perfect puddle, lift and pull the drape towards you--like you are arranging a train on a wedding dress on a bride. As you let go of the drape--it falls back into position and puddles perfectly. The fabric covered cotton piping adds "just enough" weight to the hem to make it happen.
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
There are two distinct ways to cover lamp shades. My previous toile lamp shade project I posted and this project illustrate how to prepare a frame, sew fabric onto frame sections, and hide the hand stitches with hot gluing braided trim. This technique is used to cover "odd" shaped lamp shade frames, covering one section at a time. For simple round lamp shade frames you'll want to make a slip cover--I'll add another lamp shade project to show you how to do that called "Kathy's Blue and White Lampshade"
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