There’s no scarcity of lamp shades on the thrift retailer they usually’re often tremendous inexpensive, which makes them the right DIY venture! I’ve been swooning over a pleated lamp shade for some time however they’ll price fairly a bit! I’m going to indicate you find out how to make your personal for a fraction of the worth.
I discovered this little lamp base on the thrift retailer for $10 and couldn’t move it up. It didn’t include a shade so I bought this tapered lamp shade on-line. For some motive after I purchased it, it was solely $25 and now it’s doubled in value…suspicious! However you might have a look at thrift shops for a less expensive one.
SUPPLIES FOR A PLEATED LAMP SHADE
There are a couple of alternative ways you can also make a pleated lamp shade and I adopted another tutorials first, utilizing the material in a single piece and folding as you go. In case your lamp shade is a drum form then this technique works nice. However when you’ve got a extra tapered shade like I do, you then’ll need to comply with my technique.
STEPS TO MAKE A PLEATED LAMP SHADE
STEP 1
Reduce your cloth into strips. You’ll need your strips to be about 2 inches longer than the shade on each ends. I made my strips about 2.5 inches extensive however you’ll be able to regulate this relying on how extensive you need your pleats to be. Take into account you’ll be folding the strips in half, in order that would be the measurement of your pleats.
STEP 2
Glue your first pleat down onto the lamp shade. I began on the again seam. You’ll need to begin with a line of glue vertically down the shade and place the proper aspect of your strip on the glue. You’ll then fold your strip in half and glue that down as effectively. It’s also possible to then glue beneath the pleat in order that it stays flat towards the shade.
You would positively fold your pleats in half and press them first earlier than glueing in case you needed them to put faltter in your shade.
STEP 3
Repeat this course of by glueing all of your strips down and partially overlapping them. I discovered that with a tapered shade, it’s essential angle your strips barely. So with every pleat, you will have the highest to overlap the earlier pleat greater than the underside.
That will help you do that, apply your glue at an angle on the earlier pleat. See beneath picture for reference!
When you get again to the place you began, you will have to regulate the scale of your pleats/spacing to suit all of them in.
STEP 4
Trim the surplus cloth off your pleats on the highest and backside however maintain about an inch.
STEP 5
Fold your pleats underneath the shade and glue them down on the within.
At this level you now have two decisions. You possibly can both go away it like this and clear up the within edges, or you’ll be able to add an outdoor seam along with your bias tape. I didn’t love the best way my seam turned out on my first try of this shade, so I made a decision to go away it as is.
I did need to clear up the highest inside edge although since you’ll be able to see it from above if you have a look at the lamp.
STEP 6
Utilizing your bias tape, lower a chunk of your cloth at a forty five diploma angle on the bias. This enables it to stretch extra because you’ll be inserting it on a spherical, tapered object.
STEP 7
Utilizing an iron, press the material all the way down to mimic the form of the tape.
STEP 8
Utilizing your sizzling glue gun, glue down the bias tape across the inside edge of material to cowl up the frayed edges.
You would additionally do the underside edge however I opted to not because it’s not seen. Look how cute it seems to be!! I like that the pleats aren’t totally glued down and it provides the shade some extra dimension.
I gave my base a fast paint replace utilizing an array of paint samples I had and mixing in some baking soda for some added texture.
That is how the highest seam seems to be from above – good and clear!
And viola! I’m obsessive about this cute little lamp with a pleated shade! Isn’t it lovely?
I bought some questions asking if the warmth from the sunshine bulb is secure with the material on the shade. My bulb is fairly low wattage and doesn’t appear to get too sizzling however you might additionally use an LED bulb which might be very secure!
From the beginning, I knew precisely the place I needed to place this little lamp. It seems to be so good in our new kitchen and in case you don’t have a lamp in your kitchen, I extremely suggest it. I hope you’re impressed to make your personal pleated lamp shade!
Associated
