Can some one give me advice re recovering a lampshade? What fabrics to use etc?

[JoyceDivision]

I have inherited a beautful old standard lamp with a large shade.

The shape and size of the shade is fine, but it covered in the traditional sateen sort of shiny stuff.

I'm wanting to get it recovered, and was looking at either a check cotton / felt fabric or a boucle (sp?) sort of fabric or tweed?

Are these fabrics too dense to let any glow of light through so it will force rthe light to just befrom the top and bottom of the shade rather than a glow of light from through the shade, iykwim? Also, are these fabrics safe??

AI can only find some one local who has ever covered one befre but she sayds I can look at her work to see if i'm happy before I want to proceed.

I'd really appreciate any advice!

[quiltmum]

Lamp shade covering is tricky. I have done a quite a few including standard lamps. The fringe on my first cost £32 and that was 20 years ago! I have covered shades in curtain fabrics, and that should give you loads of choice. I would be wary of woolen fabrics, they will be too soft and the shade will be baggy as you have to pull the fabric really tight on the bias to get it looking good.

Don't let me put you off. Hand covered shades can look fantastic and you will have something unique and far better than anything you can get in the shops.

Good luck.