Sew New Lampshade covers

'Sew New' is a series of one day creative days.  Running from 10am until 4pm it is a full day spent in the Barn in the company of likeminded individuals and friends, working on a project from start to finish.  Sometimes it can be frustrating to have to put something to one side because of the interruptions of children, spouse or dog, appointments or ringing phones.  So these are days where you can totally immerse yourself in fabric, fibre and fun!  We always start the day with coffee, cake and chat.  Getting to know each other a bit, talking about the day, discussing methods and fabrics.  Then we get down to work.  Choosing fabric (or fibre), taking measurements, cutting patterns, starting to piece the process together.  Then in no time at all it's lunchtime.  We down tools for homemade soup & bread, cheeses and fruit. Then it's back to work until we've finished when it's time for afternoon tea and cake and the opportunity to bask in the pride of your finished item.

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Just after the Felt making class I ran the first Lampshade cover workshop.  Alka & Liz brought along two unloved and unlovely shades that needed a bit of a make-over.  The lampshade slip-cover making process I designed to 'upcycle' existing lampshades.  It might be that you have a shade that is the right size and shape for the base but the cover has seen better days.  Or perhaps you have changed the interior decor and the shade no longer ‘goes’.  Maybe you like to swap cushions and curtains depending on the time of the year, now you can swap your lampshade covers too. 

Alka’s shade belongs to her mother-in-law and she was redoing it as a surprise present.  It sits on top of a beautiful silver candlestick lamp base that was presented to Jan many years ago.  The square purple pleated taffeta style shade of Liz’s was one of a matching pair from her beside tables. She was delighted to have been able to make two covers so that they continued to match.

I think the finished lamps look fabulous, don’t you?

If you fancy learning to make slipcovers for your lampshades, either drum shades or a coolie hat style, then I’m running this day again in November.