Tropical Leopard - How to make a lampshade

Lampshades are a fun way of updating any space in your home, adding a pop of colour and personality! With no sewing required, this unique, rounded rectangular lampshade is easy to make and looks shop bought. Add a fringe trim or pompoms for extra detail. This lampshade can be for both ceiling lights and table lamps depending on how you construct it and can be made in a variety of sizes.

Lampshade kit - https://www.dannells.com/rectangle-lampshade-kits-641-c.asp

This lampshade kit comes with everything you need to make your own and there is a video tutorial on YouTube too!

What you’ll need:

-My lampshade is 30cm x 15cm so I’ll need a strip of fabric measuring a few inches bigger than this. It is recommended that you use a non-stretch cotton fabric for best results.

-Lampshade making kit

-Textile glue

https://www.debbieshoresewing.com/product-page/gutermann-ht2-wet-textile-glue

-Trim (optional)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yalulu-Colorful-Tassel-Apparel-Accessory/dp/B07CQZ9LVB/ref=sr_1_37?dchild=1&keywords=pom+pom+trim&qid=1600616660&sr=8-37

-Lamp stand (if making a table lamp)

1. Place the self-adhesive panel on the back of your fabric. Making sure your pattern is straight, peel back the paper and stick the panel in place.

2. Cut your fabric to the size of the panel. (use weights to help keep the panel flat as it tends to curl!)

3. Snap back the top and bottom edges until they break. Use something such as the handles of your scissors to crease the edges if they don’t snap straight away.

4. Carefully peel back the edges, try to avoid the fabric fraying.

5. Trim off any frayed strands.

6. Stick a strip of double-sided self-adhesive tape along one short edge of the lampshade, only sticking to the panel. Peel back the top of the tape.

7. Using the double-sided tape again, stick it around the circumference of the two frame pieces. Fold the tape around the frame and remove the top side of the tape.

8. Lay the lampshade panel out flat wrong side up (using weights to keep it flat) and place the 2 frames on either side of the middle panel. You’ll see 2 grooves in the frames, use these as the starting point.

TIP – make sure the ‘bulb’ frame is in the correct place depending on how you’re hanging your lampshade.

9. Roll the frames along the edges of middle panel until you reach the end. Stick the frame to the fabric as you go.

10. Use the finishing tool to tuck in the fabric underneath the frame to neaten the edges. Snip a line where the lightbulb support part of the frame is to wrap the fabric around that area.

11. Use a textile glue to adhere your trim to the lampshade.

And that’s your lampshade finished!