How you can Make a Pleated Lamp Shade

There’s no scarcity of lamp shades on the thrift retailer they usually’re normally tremendous inexpensive, which makes them the proper DIY challenge! I’ve been swooning over a pleated lamp shade for some time however they will value fairly a bit! I’m going to point out you tips on 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 cross it up. It didn’t include a shade so I bought this tapered lamp shade on-line. For some purpose after I purchased it, it was solely $25 and now it’s doubled in worth…suspicious! However you possibly can take a look at thrift shops for a less expensive one.

SUPPLIES FOR A PLEATED LAMP SHADE

There are just a few alternative ways you may 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 methodology works nice. However you probably have a extra tapered shade like I do, then you definitely’ll wish to observe my methodology.

STEPS TO MAKE A PLEATED LAMP SHADE

STEP 1

Minimize your material 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 large however you possibly can modify this relying on how large you need your pleats to be. Be mindful 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 wish to begin with a line of glue vertically down the shade and place the appropriate aspect of your strip on the glue. You’ll then fold your strip in half and glue that down as nicely. You may as well then glue beneath the pleat in order that it stays flat towards the shade.

You may undoubtedly fold your pleats in half and press them first earlier than glueing in the event 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, you want to angle your strips barely. So with every pleat, you will have the highest to overlap the earlier pleat greater than the underside.

That can assist 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 dimensions of your pleats/spacing to suit all of them in.

STEP 4

Trim the surplus material off your pleats on the highest and backside however preserve 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 possibly can add an outdoor seam together 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 wish to clear up the highest inside edge although since you possibly can see it from above once you take a look at the lamp.

STEP 6

Utilizing your bias tape, minimize a bit of your material at a forty five diploma angle on the bias. This enables it to stretch extra because you’ll be putting 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 scorching glue gun, glue down the bias tape across the inside edge of cloth to cowl up the frayed edges.

You may additionally do the underside edge however I opted to not because it’s not seen. Look how cute it appears to be like!! I like that the pleats aren’t totally glued down and it offers 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 appears to be like from above – good and clear!

And viola! I’m obsessive about this cute little lamp with a pleated shade! Isn’t it lovely?

I obtained some questions asking if the warmth from the sunshine bulb is protected with the material on the shade. My bulb is fairly low wattage and doesn’t appear to get too scorching however you possibly can additionally use an LED bulb which might be very protected!

From the beginning, I knew precisely the place I needed to place this little lamp. It appears to be like so excellent in our new kitchen and in the event you don’t have a lamp in your kitchen, I extremely advocate it. I hope you’re impressed to make your personal pleated lamp shade!

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