Can I use fabric on a lamp shade
 

I got a beautiful older lamp with a picture of a male and female mallard ducks. The shade however, has shown its years. I has some quilt fabric with some mallard ducks on it which I think would go great for covering the lamp shade. I am thinking about using some kind of quilt block design to make for the fabric shade cover.

I have a lamp shade that is fabric covered. I didn't make it though so I can't offer any advice as to how to go about doing it. One thing is it is kind of a pain to clean. Dust and cat hair stick to it like crazy but if I brush it down with a damp wash cloth that takes care of it fairly quickly. The fabric definitely appears to be adhered to the entire surface of the shade. I am thinking something like a spray adhesive would work quite well to get good adhesive coverage without any streaks of adhesive showing when the lamp is turned on.

I think the only issue would be the heat that the bulb gives off. with our new, modern bulbs, they are much cooler. so using one of those, i say go for it.

I'm wondering if fabric would make them too dark when you turn it on? That would be my only reservation.
I have 2 lamps I've had for years and the shades needed to be replaced. The new shades threw so much more light. I was pleased.

there should be videos on this. i've seen them cut out the shape wanted and then add the fabric. maybe fused...

There are many youtube videos showing how to do this.

I have an antique lamp that my mother had. She covered the frame for the shade with cotton fabric and it's been there for years. Many older lamps had silk shades. If the shade is large enough that the bulb isn't close to it, there should be no problem.

I'd try to find a rectangle shade and then wrap the fabric around that and secure with velcro. Easy to take off to shake off or wash.

I just cut to size and put elastic on the top on bottom and put it on. Easy to take off and wash.

I recovered two with fabric. Do check the weave of the fabric to make sure you do get light through it and make sure you give yourself enough "play" room with the fabric. I used glue to hem the top and bottom and secured it with clothes pins while it was drying. It was fiddly, but well worth it. Have fun!

it works fine but much easier to do if the shade is rectangular, square or the top circle and bottom are the same diameter--otherwise it's more difficult to get smooth.

That's what I did. I even lined it with lightweight fabric. I used it for years.

The lamp I have had for years Has the fabric in about 5-6" strips and wrapped up and down and over lapped a bit. The top is smaller than the bottom.

Yes, you can!

There is a book that gives details and how-to for a makeover. She has some great ideas using fabrics and trims. You can even use vintage linens. She has resources available for the different sizes and options.

Here is also the link to the blog.

http://lakeslampshades.com/

Rhonda K thanks for the link, I have been wanting to do one and this is a great help.

I remember an Aunt who covered her lampshades with fabric but can’t offer any details other than she did a professional job on it.

i saw this on t.v. long ago where they took a large "template" of paper, or fabric and laid the shade down and rolled it and marked as it rolled until you had the full circle marked. then cut leaving seam allowance or how ever you are going to apply it.
long ago i made a cover for a silk stained shade and put elastic around the top. fit easily and covered the ugly shade.

I think gathering fabric into a tube with elastic at each end will work great but not if you want the fabric picture to be a feature.

I have covered lamp shades also. I just measured around the shade and added another 1/2 measure of the circumference and gather at the top to fit the lampshade. I cover the topraw edges with gimp or something that highlights the fabric. I use something decorative on the bottom hem. I have used lace, on a western one I used leather fringe. Clear as mud??

I’ve done this before. I sprayed adhesive on it first then glued the trim on top and bottom and used clothes pins to secure it. I had spray painted a small ginger jar lamp that turned out really cute. The covered lamp shade finished it off. I had an ironing board hanging on the door so I made a new cover with coordinating fabric. Loved that sewing/guest room.

What a nice website! Her etsy shop shows a lot of shades but all of them are angular, not circular. I have the feeling circular is more tricky. But one thing I found useful is that some of her lampshades use linen or homespun. These might be a good choice of fabric as they would allow light to flow.

What about using fusible web to applique your mallards onto a lighter fabric before covering the shade? That might allow light to flow through also.

Lamp Shade redo
 

I've covered an existing plain lamp shade with fabric (pictured). Even with the original shade being a plain beige tone, as someone else posted, it will tend to lower the lighting affect. The lamp I used, had a sixty watt light bulb. Other than lighting affect, I've had no issues.

Hope this helps.

I have seen adhesive shapes that you fit/cut your fabric to fit and it glues the fabric in the correct size/shape. May have been at Joann's. I did make my own years ago and they lasted a long time. I used the old shade and just glued the fabric to the old shade.

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.

What about covering the fabric with Heat and Bond Vinyl? That would be easy to dust off.

Many, many lampshades are fabric covered. They hold up better than the paper shades and can be quite beautiful. If you have pets, or a lot of dust ( we live off a dirt road- tons of dust) you can scotch guard the shade, that really helps keeping it clean.

Good to see that it has worked out so well for some of you. It is something that i was meaning to try.
The website has some really nice ideas, thanks for sharing it.

My DIL made a shade from satiny brocade for my antique floor lamp. It turned out great and I've had no problems with it.