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shabby pleated lampshade-a tutorial

April 23, 2010 By
Oh hello there, gorgeous pleated lampshade….
shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial

Isn’t she just divine? I made one of these a few weeks ago and just love it. Added bonus? It was super cheap and so easy. Let me take you through it!

Materials Needed:
lampshade (mine was a Goodwill find)
fabric
sewing machine

Step 1: Cut strips of fabric, about 2 inches wide and about twice as long as the circumference of your lampshade. I used 11 for my lampshade above, make a few extra just in case. The twice as long part is approximate as well…the length really depends on how many pleats you decide to sew into your strips. You can always and easily cut off extra length, though, so err on the side of too long.

shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial

Step 2: At your ironing board, take each strip, fold both raw edges in towards each other, and press. Did that make sense? Maybe a picture will help…

shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial
shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial

Step 3: Now it’s time to sew in the pleats. With the folded ends facing down, start at one end of a strip and sew a straight line down the middle. Every once in a while throw in a single, double or triple pleat by folding the fabric as it reaches the needle. Again, a picture may help…

shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial
There is no need to backstitch at either end…more than likely, you will be cutting some of the length off anyway when you start glueing the strips to the lampshade (yes, I did say glue…me and my hot glue gun are thisclose…my motto? When in doubt, hot glue it).
shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial
Notice the double, single and triple pleats in the strip above. Don’t be afraid to mix them up and vary the spacing!
Step 4: Almost done! Heat up your hot glue gun and start gluing down those strips. When beginning a strip, I glued down the raw edge as is, as you will be covering that edge up as you come back around. When you finish a strip, though, fold under the raw edge before gluing it down so no raw edges are visible.

shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial shabby pleated lampshade a tutorial

Easy Peasy? Thought so. Let me know if you end up making one–would love to see it!
Don’t forget to enter my giveaway–click here.
Linking up to I Made It! at Everything Etsy,  MM Monday at Between Naps on the Porch, Making the World Cuter, The Girl Creative, and Kimba’s DIY Day.

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Comments

  1. she dreams big! says:
    April 23, 2010 at 1:28 am

    Are you kidding me? This is the cutest lampshade ever! I'm gonna do it! Tomorrow! Well, maybe not tomorrow but soon! Thanks for the tute!

  2. Nancy says:
    April 23, 2010 at 1:45 am

    WOW! That lamp shade is ………. Words escape me! It is that lovely!
    Thank you for showing me how it's done!

  3. crush. blog says:
    April 24, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    SO lovely!

  4. Ann On and On... says:
    April 25, 2010 at 4:04 am

    Such a good tutorial. I was so excite the other day when I found shapes for 6.99. I think it would be fun to purchase one to make one of these shades. Thanks for sharing your craftiness! I love your blog!

  5. Ann says:
    April 26, 2010 at 2:55 am

    What a cute and clever idea! Thanks for sharing and giving such a wonderful tutorial…I need all the directions and pictures anyone can give. You have done a great job. :) Have a wonderful week!

  6. Patti says:
    April 26, 2010 at 11:51 am

    Very cute…I like how you pleated it randomly to add texture to it – nice job. I will be posting a lampshade I covered (tomorrow) – stop by to see it.

  7. Creations from my heart says:
    April 26, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    Love the lampshade. They sell a bias tape maker at the fabric store. It's inexpensive and makes the pressing so much faster and you won't burn your fingers! I have used it many times. Next week I'll post what it looks like and how to use it. Stop on by.
    Blessings…sherry

  8. One Cheap B*tch says:
    April 26, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    I'm in love! Thanks for sharing the DIY!

    Jeanine

  9. Barb Smith says:
    April 26, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    What a great idea! And it looks good too. I would never have thought that it would turn out so well. Great job!

    Barb from Toronto, Canada

  10. Meg says:
    April 26, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    This is SO CUTE! I need to re-vamp some current lampshades or something! This is a wonderful project.

  11. the momma says:
    April 26, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    Really cute! I'm on the hunt for some ideas for a lampshade I'll be re-doing this week (thrift shop purchase) This may be the winner!

  12. Jenni R. says:
    April 26, 2010 at 9:06 pm

    LOVE what you've done! Not sure if I want to be patient for the pleating, but it's a great idea to put in idea file!

  13. Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says:
    April 26, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    That is CA-UTE!!!

  14. Allison Shops says:
    April 26, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    Cute and easy! Dropping by from BNOTP, #7.

    Allison

  15. The Hip Hostess says:
    April 27, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    You must have been reading my mind. I've been trying to think of a clever way to shabby up a dull lampshade and this is it. Love. Thanks a bunch of daffodils!

  16. Julie says:
    April 28, 2010 at 1:44 am

    This is super cute! Love it!

  17. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  18. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  19. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  20. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  21. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  22. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  23. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  24. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  25. kirstin & jordan says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    LOVE this… the pleats are just fabulous!
    We have a friday fun finds party… we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

  26. michelle@somedaycrafts says:
    April 30, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    This is a great look! Love the crisp straight lines of the pleats! I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Grab my "featured" button.

  27. ..SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.. says:
    April 30, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    what a lovely Idea! i from Someday crafts.. and Im so happy I found your blog!

  28. Amy @ Positively Splendid says:
    May 1, 2010 at 1:03 am

    Really, really lovely! Visiting from Someday Crafts, and so happy to have ventured over, I am becoming a follower. :)

  29. Heidi says:
    February 1, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    I googled shabby lamp shades and found you. Love the look check out mine http://www.chickhardware.blogspot.com