How to Make a Super Funky Circle Skirt Lamp Shade

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How to make a circle skirt lamp shade with theboldabode.com.  It's as easy as 1-2-3!

Remember this poor U.G.L.Y. guy? Yes. I know. It’s been a freakin’ long time since he made an appearance.

I’ve been distracted.  DADD: Decorating ADD…

You have it, too, right?

Ugly Brown Lamp Before

I know I’m not alone in my love of paint that sprays.

Spray Painting the Ugly Brown Lamps

Yard sale lamps, meet Funky Fabric. I do think yall might just hit it off.

Cool Fabric for the Circle Skirt Lamp Shades

Circle skirts are really easy to make.  Ugly lamp shades need some help. Ergo, it will be easy to make a skirt for this ugly lampshade.

How to make a Circle Skirt Lamp Shade

Step 1.  Find Instructions for a basic circle skirt over at MADE.  Use the circumference of your lamp as if it were the “waist”

Step 2.  Make your pattern.

Step 3. Lay out super funky fabric.

Lay out the Fabric

Step 4.  Cut out super funky cool fabric.

Place pattern template on the fabric

You’ll notice that the Scalloped Desk made it’s way into the Office/Sewing Room/School Room.

{WRONG}  Needless to say, it’s not there any mo’.   Now, back to the skirt.

Hugmo, I know.

Cut out big lamp skirt

Slice out some strips on the bias, sew them together to make on long facing strip and zig-zag one long end and then sew it, right sides together to the skirt.  whew.

Sew on biased trim and iron out flat

Then, if you’re a meticulous mathematician, your skirt will fit the circumference of your lamp shade perfectly.

Inside Perimenter of Circle Skirt Lamp Shade

But Bias Cut fabric is a notorious Gangsta and will stretch on even the most brilliant seamstresses… Yeah.  That’s why I had a two-inch excess…

Pleat in Circle Skirt Lamp Shade

Just fold it over and tack it down.  This is The Bold Abode, not the Perfect Palace, yo.

Outside Perimeter of Circle Skirt Lamp Shade

And here he is… ummm… she?  Looks like a she to me now…

circle skirt lamp shade-2

And that’s it!  Fun and easy, easy and fun.  Just how I like it.

circle skirt lamp shade-3

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40 Comments

    1. Thank you so much, Heather! The cool thing, is if I get sick of that fabric, it’s so easy to replace!

  1. What a cute take on lampshade recovering! Love the swingy finished product – very bold 🙂

    1. Thank you, Cassie! I was really surprised with how it turned out! Finally, something that I don’t have to redo!

  2. Love the after! That fabric is so groovy, girl, even if I know not of this word you speak – Bias? I thought bias was bad and here you are cutting on it!

    1. Thanks, Ali! I admit…the fabric is a risk… but what else is there to do?

  3. CUTE! and you know I’m in awe of you and anyone else who can sew!! (But in every pic I kept thinking how much I love that TABLE the lamp sits on.) Coveting your table YO!

    ~L

    1. I’m not sure if what I do you could call “sewing”! Hahahaha…

      Thank you! That table was an auction find. I keep wanting to paint it, but something stops me… Would you paint it?

  4. Great combo: fabric + painted lamp + teal wall color. Think the fabric reminds me of a retro martini olive print which always has a fun vibe and I love those colors. I would have never thought to skirt a lamp shade rather than the traditional tailored style but I think its groovey 🙂

    Robin @ happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com

    1. It does look like an olive print! You are so right.

      I’m all into groovy. Just need to express it a bit more, I think! Thanks so much! Off to check out your blog!

  5. I love it! Love the Bold Abode vs. Perfect Palace…so very funny my friend. Great job – would never feel like I could pull this off…and love that fabric!

  6. Bad bad doggies. Why the couch, why not a shoe or something simple to replace.

    ~Bliss~

    1. Seriously! I wish this one would give me a freakin’ break once in a while…

  7. What a radical difference from the before to after. Lovin’ the lamp skirt and how it sits on the shade. It’s all flowy and fun!

  8. You definitely saw potential in that thing that no one else did. It seriously looked like something out of my doctor’s office as a kid. The other decor was crocheted owls and stuff. HA HA! Good work.

    1. Thanks so much, Beja! Gots ta get rid of that 70’s vibe, for sure!

  9. I have never seen a circle skirt like that. Your lamp turned out lovely.

  10. Hey Gwen, What a great project. I love the fabric you chose! Thanks so much for linking up on Fabulous Friday at Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust. You helped make my par-tay a success!

    Warmly, Michelle

  11. Nice tutorial there! I agree, a fabric can make a really big difference to bring out the old piece into something new. A lamp shade transformation doens’t have to be expensive, just be creative. Some things can be found in your closet.

  12. Pingback: You Make This Fun. - The Bold Abode
  13. That lamp is awesome, and so BOLD and OUT THERE; it made me think instantly of Ginger Rogers, swirling around the dance floor with Fred Astaire (backwards in high heels because she was so BOLD and clever and WOMANLY). She has gone from a disproportioned shrinking violet to a well proportioned princess, confidently exhorting us to look at her because she can no longer be ignored. Great job (even though bias is as much a mystery to me as football).

  14. I have an ugly lamp that I tried to make a shade for and I sew all the time. The lamp is still ugly and I never thought about making a skirt for it. Thank you so much!!!!!

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