Budget decorating expert Susan Wells shows how to use fabric leftovers from curtains, draperies or upholstery to create a fabric lampshade or chair rail. Fabric Lampshade Materials:
Lampshade
Newspaper or kraft paper
Marking pen
Fabric
Scissors
Spray adhesive
Optional: decorative trim and glue gun
- Make a pattern of the lampshade by rolling the shade on a piece of newspaper or kraft paper (figure A). Mark the shape on the paper, and add about 1" overlap where the pattern meets and another 1" to 2" at the top and bottom.
- Using the paper as a pattern, cut out the fabric (figure B).
- Apply spray adhesive to the lampshade, and smooth the fabric in place on the shade (figure C). Cut slits in the fabric allowance at top and bottom to ease the fit and permit the fabric to fit around the metal prongs on the inside of the shade. Spray adhesive on the inside edge of the shade, and fold the fabric to the inside (figure D).
- If desired, add trim to the bottom edge of the shade with a glue gun.
Fabric Chair Rail Instead of a customary wood or wallpaper border, use leftover fabric to make a gathered-fabric chair rail. A wide strip of wood fitted with a fabric sleeve may be mounted on the wall as is; a narrow fabric-covered strip may be added to the middle of an existing wooden chair rail. Sew a fabric sleeve to fit the wooden strip that you'll mount on the wall. Make the sleeve wider than the wooden strip to allow the wood to be inserted easily. When measuring the fabric, double the length for the wider wood strips and triple it for the narrow strips to provide the necessary fullness. Sew the fabric sleeve on the right side (figure E), and hide the seam and raw edge against the wall when mounting. Slip the fabric sleeve onto the wood strip, gather the fabric, and attach the chair rail to the wall with finishing nails. Gather the fabric over the nails to hide them from view.
RESOURCES :
Susan Wells, wallpaper expert
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