Absolutely! Reminder, some of the highest quality shades have been made from linens. BUT, reminder that the light shining thru will show seams and glues. I covered a shade in a child's room (with disney fabric to match the quilt) and I only glued the top and bottom to the frame and at the overlapped seam in the back. The fabric was 100% cotton and I used a 60 watt bulb and never had a problem. And, being a child's room, the light wasn't on for hours and hours, so I never had any thought about an overheating problem.