How to cover a drum lampshade

Take a look at Country Homes and Interiors simple instructions for covering a drum lampshade with fabric

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Use your favourite fabric to create a signature lampshade by following Country Homes & Interiors easy steps

living area with red sofa and drum lampshade

(Image credit: Future PLC/Tim Young)

You will need:

Step 1) To make a template for your fabric you will need to create a marker on your existing shade. To do this, wrap a length of wool around the shade from top to bottom and tie in place. Make sure the loop of wool is sitting squarely in position.

Step 2) Take a sheet of newspaper and place the shade on its side at one end of the paper so that the wool is touching the paper. Mark this starting point on the newspaper with a pen. Gradually roll the lampshade along the newspaper, tracing its path top and bottom with the pen as you go, stopping when the shade has made one complete revolution and the wool is again touching the paper. Mark this stopping point. You should end up with a rectangular shape.

Step 3) Add 1cm all around your marked shape and cut out. Lay out your fabric face up and place the template on top, shifting it around until you are happy with the position of the fabric pattern underneath. Cut out the fabric.

Step 4) With the fabric face down, turn up 1cm along both long edges and one short edge and press. Place the pressed fabric over your shade, aligning what will be the vertical ‘seam' of the fabric with the ‘seam' of the shade underneath.

Step 5) Using a fabric spray adhesive and following the manufacturer's instructions, carefully and lightly spray along the length of the unpressed vertical edge (you only need a tiny amount of adhesive). Smooth the pressed vertical edge into position over the sprayed edge for a neat and even finish.

Step 6) Repeat to spray the top and bottom edges of the fabric, fold them over the frame of the shade and press into position. Leave adhesive to dry completely.

Step 7) Take a scrap piece of fabric and spray lightly and evenly with a fire-retardant fabric spray, following the manufacturer's instructions. Leave to dry. If you're happy with the results, cover any adjacent surfaces and spray your newly covered shade. Leave to dry and fit the shade to your lamp base.

Liked this? Find more of our craft ideas on Country Homes & Interiors' website

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