Lampshade making with Tatie Lou

After going on a great lampshade making workshop at Homemade London, I decided to have a go at it myself using some fabric that I had printed earlier this year. 

With a bit of practice I think I will hopefully get better...it's a bit tricky in some parts but soooo rewarding when its all finished..see what you think..

a lino block I made inspired by a flower head...

trying a few print samples before I print the real thang...

a basic block repeat...

linen is quite tricky to use as it frays..so you have to be careful when working with it...

ooo...all ready to go (nice board game I found in Amsterdam in the background)

you can buy all the bits and bobs at Need Craft ...a bit pricey but they sell some great kits of you just want to have a wee try...

the mother of all double sided tape...you have to stick this on the top and bottom half of the frames before you roll the fabric onto them.
There are really easy instructions to follow if you buy one of the kits...

fire retardant sticky back plastic which you need to carefully roll onto the wrong side of your fabric..watch out for creases...patience is a must

stuck on you...

give it a bit of a trim...

then attach double sided tape to both ends...the will ensure a professional finish..(patience not included in the kit)

and now for the rrrreeeallly tricky bit....you need to roll both the top and the bottom frames along the edges of your fabric at the same time....if you have an extra pair of hands then great!

keep rollin... rollin... rollin....

once you get to the end the double sided tape you attached earlier should then join the ends nicely together ...

and now for the boring bit....

you need to roll the excess fabric underneath the frames...both top and bottom 

as I said before..linen frays really easily so be really careful when you are tucking this under if you are using a fabric that has a tendency to fray easily...

clip the fabric when you get to the joins to make it easier to tuck under...

almost there...

aaaa the Tesco clubcard...always comes in handing when lampshade making...what would I do without it..

and there you go...Bobs your uncle...

fanny's your aunt...

well I have become addicted now and in the process of printing some lovely new fabrics for the spring which will I make into lampshades and will showcase very soon.
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