How to choose the correct fabric for your Lampshade
Fabric Choice Is Really Critical So We’ve Listed Some Of Our Top Tips Below Which We Hope Will Be Useful To You Whether You Are Coming Along To One Of Our In Real Life Courses Or Taking Our On-Line Course …….Read On!
Consider It’s Weight - When Choosing Imagine What It Will Be Like To Sew Through Multiple Layers. Even With A Gathered Lampshade You Do Not Want To Create Too Much Bulk Around The Frame. We Recommend A Cotton Lawn, Something Like An Indian Cotton, 80-150gsm
Linings - You Can Have A Classic Light White/Off White Plain Lining, Maybe A Contrasting Bright Plain Or Even A Patterned Lining - This Is Another Way Of Making Your Lampshade Completely Bespoke To You. If You Are Doing A Pleated Lining The Fabric Weight Should Be The Same As The External Fabric. If You Are Doing A Stretch Balloon We Recommend A 4-Way Stretch Lycra - We Buy Ours From DSI London (Interesting Fact: They Supply Lots Of Material For The Strictly Come Dancing Costumes!)
Illumination - The Purpose Of The Lining Is To Create An Even Glow And Disguise The Metal Frame Beneath. You Can Do This In A Variety Of Ways: Lighter Colours Like White & Natural Shades Will Give Maximum Light, Brighter Colours Will Create More Of A Soft Glow, And You Can Even Consider A Patterned Internal Fabric (This Probably Won’t Be Seen When The Light Is Illuminated But Adds An Additional Attractive Dimension When The Light Is Off.
Fire Retardant - You Can Buy Fire Retarder To Treat Your Fabric Before You Start, But Make Sure You Do A Test To Check It Doesn’t Stain/React With The Fabric. If You Do Not Wish To Treat Your Fabric First (You Don’t Need To Do This Unless You Are Making Commercially) We Always Recommend Using A Low Energy Light Bulb.
Don’t Spend Too Much - We Always Recommend Not Spending More Than £15-20 Per Metre When You Are First Starting Out. Save Your Heirloom Fabric Until You’ve Completed A Few Shades!
Where To Buy - Here Are A Few Places We Have Bought Fabric: Minerva Crafts (Nothing To Do With Us), Hot Pink Haberdashery, The Cloth House, Etsy & Ebay. There Are So Many Places To Buy Beautiful Fabrics - Just Remember Its The Weight Of The Fabric Which Is Still The Most Critical Element.
Inspiration - Here Are Some Of The Best Commercial Lampshade Makers For Inspiration - Melodi Horne, Oka, Pooky & Lastly Not Full-Blown Commercial But Making Beautiful Shades To Order Our Own Jane Warren At The Lampshade Loft.
If You'd Like Some Guidance On Your First Project, Or Are Keen To Improve Your Skills, We Run Live And On Demand Workshops At Our Lampshade School As Well As Offering 1:1 Coaching. Take A Look To Book One Of Our Upcoming Courses.