Chapter 41 - Lampshades

Lampshades are made of paper or fabric stretched over a frame. Where it is hard to judge the size and shape of an uncovered frame, buy an inexpensive one of proper size and shape and recover it. Paper shades are made of wrapping paper, wallpaper, old maps, coated and treated papers. To make a pattern to fit the shade, paint the frame edge, or immerse in water if frame is rustproof, and roll over newspaper while wet. A perfect outline will be gotten with this method. Add seam allowance and cut out covering according to pattern. Join ends with paper fasteners or strong glue, like rubber cement, and overcast top and bottom with heavy thread to frame. Use a suitable decoration to cover stitches. To pleat paper shades, work with newspaper first until you get the proper size. Then cut out the covering, join under a pleat. Where lacquer or shellac is to be applied, crease pleats first.

To make an unlined gathered fabric shade, cut fabric length of frame plus two inches and l½ times largest circumference, usually the lower edge. Seam. Hem top edge and gather by machine. Hem bottom edge. Wind wire frame with binding, then put on shade and turn over top edge, catching to binding on wire frame. Cover stitches with braid or ribbon. To line, make lining the same way, sew on to frame, seams facing out, apply shade on top.

Stretched shades are cut on a bias. Stretch the fabric before cutting around shade, so that ends meet and lower edge is covered. Cut. Pin lower edge to frame, then pin around top, trying to get out all the wrinkles. Keep changing the pins, first on the bottom, then on the top, back and forth, until the shade is very smooth. Slip stitch the ends together. Overcast to the frame top and bottom with strong thread. Decorate as desired. This shade is lined first with a lining cut on a true bias.

To make a pleated shade, cut out a piece of desired depth plus two inches, make a one-inch hem at bottom. Pleat to fit and join ends under a pleat. Bind the top with narrow piping at bottom of binding if so desired. It is a good idea to work with a newspaper sample before working on the material.

For a petticoat boudoir shade, make a ruffle three times as long as bottom of frame and about five inches deeper than shade. Bind lower edge or turn up hem. Top edge is made with a three-inch heading. Join ends, pleat or gather shade and set on frame. Shade is usually finished with a bow or ribbon below the heading. Elastic thread used to make several rows of shirring is very pretty on a shade of this type.

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