How to make lamp shades

Not all fabrics are suitable for lampshade making; here we look at which fabrics to avoid. Light to medium-weight cottons are a good choice to start with. Your fabric needs to be at least 6cm wider than your PVC panel on every side.

Looking at things to consider when deciding what size lampshade to make; including minimum heights on ceiling pendants, suitable diameters for different sized rooms, keeping in mind your ceiling heights, getting a good balance between your base and your lampshade, and making the best of your fabric design.

Ringsets provide the skeleton structure of each lampshade. Same-circumference ringsets are used to make drum-shaped lampshades. Each ringset has two parts; one plain ring, and one ring with spokes plus light fitting. Ringsets are available in different diameters.

UK ringsets: have a uno threaded light fitting. This type of ringset is included in lampshade making packs for UK customers.

US ringsets: have a 1/2inch inner diameter washer/spider fitting with a 1/2inch drop. This type of ringset is included in lampshade making packs for US customers.

A panel of self adhesive PVC is the basis of your lampshade; smooth on one side, the fabric is stuck to the other (sticky/adhesive) side. It's important to cut a panel which is the exact length needed for the diameter lampshade you have chosen to make (see the downloadable file available in this section). The width of the panel is the height you've chosen your lampshade to be.

US makers: in the US, PVC is called styrene and is supplied in US lampshade making packs. Please note that styrene does not have a printed grid on the release paper.

Preparing your fabric goes a long way in getting that professional finish! That means ironing out all the creases and making sure your fabric is completely dry before applying the PVC panel.

Before sticking the PVC panel to your fabric, check over the reverse of your fabric and remove any loose cotton threads and bits and bobs. Place your panel so that the grid release paper is down and the white side is up. Make sure you leave a margin of 4-6cm of fabric around each side of the panel to allow for double sided tape. Get your panel aligned on the fabric before sticking it down: check that you have included all the motifs you want to feature, that the panel is straight and that your favourite part of the pattern is positioned under the middle third of the panel as this will be the front of the lampshade.

When you are happy with the position of your panel, prevent it from moving by putting your forearm and elbow on it. Then peel back 5-10cm of the gird release paper, tucking it away underneath the panel, and stick that first section down on to your fabric. Continue to peel back the remaining grid release paper and smooth over lightly. If you are not happy with the placement of the panel you can peel it off (re-apply the grid release paper) and start again. Once you're happy, turn it over and press the fabric side firmly with your hands to ensure that the fabric has adhered to the PVC.

Three widths of double sided tape is used to do different jobs: 9mm tape is used for the seam, 12mm tape is used for the rolled edges and 3mm tape is used to apply the ringsets. This section shows you how and where to apply each width tape and includes a special tip for getting a good professional finish.

Run your fingers firmly over the double sided tape to make sure it's completely adhered to the fabric and the PVC panel. Then cut away all the excess fabric by cutting the fabric along the edges of the tape and the short edge of the PVC panel.

If your panel has a definite top or bottom because the pattern design is one-directional, you need to apply the ringsets the right way round depending on whether you're making a shade for a base or a ceiling pendant.

UK makers using uno threaded ringsets: if you're making a shade for a base, the spoked ring will be placed at the bottom. If you're making a ceiling pendant, the spoked ring will be placed at the top. The spoked ring will always point into the body of the shade.

US makers using washer/spider fitting ringsets: if you're making a shade for a base, the spoked ring will be placed at the top. The spoked ring will always point into the body of the shade. Click here for more information.