Can I supply my own fabric?
If I supply my own fabric how much will I need and what type of fabric is good for a lampshade?
These are questions I get asked regularly and I love it when you supply me with fabric for a lampshade that's just right for your home.
Best fabric for a lampshade
Ideally the fabric needs to be cotton or linen (or a blend) and of medium weight. A quilting cotton is perfect, so too is an uncoated curtain fabric.
Fabric I avoid:
- Silk (glue on the seam shows through and creases around the rims)
- Thin manmade fabric (the ‘slippiness’ of this fabric creates creases around the rims)
- Velvet (most velvet is quite thick and creates thick seams and can sometimes create issues tucking it under the lampshade rims)
- Thick / heavy upholstery fabric (fabric that is very thick – heavy creates thick seams and issues tucking it under the lampshade rims)
How much fabric do I need for my lampshade?
In the table below you can see how much fabric you will need for the lampshade sizes I stock.
The fabric quantity is based on a horizontal pattern, running across the width of the fabric and includes an extra allowance for the seam and the top and bottom of the shade. Contact me with any queries 😊
|
Size |
Fabric quantity |
|
Small tapered (Tapered 15) |
55 cm (w) x 25 cm (L) |
|
Medium tapered (Tapered 24) |
80 cm (w) x 35 cm (L) |
|
Large tapered (Tapered 38) |
125 cm (w) x 50 cm (L) |
|
Small drum (Straight sided 15) |
65 cm (w) x 20 cm (L) |
|
Medium drum (Straight sided 28) |
90 cm (w) x 25 cm (L) |
|
Large drum (Straight sided 38) |
125 cm (w) x 35 cm (L) |
|
Medium barrel (Straight sided 33) |
109 cm (w)x 24 cm (L) |
|
Large barrel (Straight sided 40) |
130 cm (w) x 30 cm (L) |
The amount of fabric needed varies:
- Are you choosing a straight-sided drum light shade frame (drum or barrel), or a tapered light shade frame?
- How wide is the fabric (fabric comes in fixed widths, for example most quilting cottons are 1.12m wide)
- Does the fabric have a distinctive pattern?
Check whether the pattern runs horizontally or vertically and double check whether the pattern can only go up one way.
In the picture below the kiwiana bird fabric has a width of 1.12m (112cm) and the bird pattern runs across the width. Even if you buy 1.5 metres in length the ‘one-way only’ pattern means you can’t cut a single piece of fabric for a lampshade that is more than 1.12m (unless you don’t mind having tipsy looking birds, on their sides!)
However, the Blue Wonder patterned fabric below has a width of 1.45m (145cm) which means that it is suitable for larger lampshades.
For true flexibility, or very large lampshades choose a pattern that you like horizontally AND diagonally (and even ‘upside down’).
Fabric shops
These are the obnline fabric stores I surf most often :) Prices vary.
Miss Maude (for textured plain fabrics)
There are, of course, a huge range of overseas fabric stores. If choosing supplies from these please check their delivery fees and shipping times. Often the cost of the fabric is very reasonable but the shipping fee can more than double the total price.
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me (Sue) on 027 541 4696 or shadesatgrays@gmail.com