I have made some fabric lampshades over the years, but you need to be careful to use light colored fabrics. Dark fabric cuts down on the light that the lamp gives off. If you are just using the lamp for more of a glow...or night light type of lamp you can use a darker fabric. There are some kits you can buy at Joann's that lets you you cut a pattern that has sticky sides to put against the existing shade and to hold the fabric flush against the shade.