"How To" Tutorials & Tips

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'How To' Tutorials & Tips

Jul 306 min read

Tips for Making Metallic Lampshades

Learn tips and tricks from our expert makers on how to make metallic lined lampshades

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Jul 164 min read

How to Clean your Handmade Lampshade

Explore various techniques for cleaning different types of lampshades.

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Jun 113 min read

DIY Tutorial - How to Make a Ribbon Candle Clip Lampshade

Learn how to make a ribbon wrapped candle clip lampshades, with our easy to use kit!

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Apr 235 min read

Tips for Pattern Matching Fabric on Large Lampshades

Making oversized DIY lampshades is a fantastic way of adding statement lighting to your home, or for professional lampshade makers, a way...

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Apr 184 min read

New Product – Scalloped Lampshade Ringset + Tutorial

Thinking of making an on trend DIY lampshade? Look no further than our newest addition to the DIY lampshade world: the Scalloped Ringset!...

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Mar 285 min read

New Product - How to make a Fabric Scalloped Edge Lampshade

Make stylish fabric lampshade with a bias bound scalloped edge, using our lampshade making supplies and easy DIY tutorial!

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Mar 214 min read

5 Easy Steps to Designing and Printing Lampshade Fabric

Design your own lampshade panels, for your lampshade making kit with our 5 easy steps!

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Mar 155 min read

DIY Tutorial - How to Make an Extreme Conical Lampshade

To celebrate the launch of our smallest duplex ring yet, we’ve a lampshade making treat in store for you on the blog today - a step by...

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Dec 21, 20232 min read

Looking Back at 2023: Dannell's Lampshade Making Blog

With 2023 fast drawing to a close, we’re taking a look back at another inspiration packed year on the Dannells blog! From new products...

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Dec 1, 20234 min read

Christmas Tutorial – DIY Pleated Paper Lampshade

Pleated paper lampshades are HUGE at the moment, and what better way to make your own version of this hot interior trend, than using a...

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Oct 26, 20234 min read

Bring out the Beautiful Bins - DIY Waste Bin Kit

When is a waste paper bin, not just a waste paper bin? When it’s been made using a fabric you love using a Needcraft Waste Paper Bin Kit!...

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Oct 18, 20234 min read

5 Secrets to Making DIY Lampshades with Thick Fabric

Needcraft Lampshade Making Kits work with many fabrics, but making a DIY Lampshade with thicker fabrics needs a little more consideration.

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Oct 4, 20233 min read

5 DIY Highstreet Lampshade Styles to Make on a Budget

Make your own DIY lampshades to replicate the autumn highstreet trends!

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Sep 26, 20233 min read

3 Ways To Make A DIY fabric lampshade

Learn to make DIY fabric lampshades three ways from scratch

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Sep 6, 20235 min read

DIY Tutorial – Cork Sewing Bin Kit #Hack

Our Needcraft Craft Kits already have plenty of creative potential, but we couldn’t resist this transformative Sewing Bin Kit hack,...

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Aug 15, 20233 min read

Dannells Library, Resources and Lampshade Courses

Whether you’re making your first or your fiftieth lampshade, our new Dannells Library is packed with learning resources to support your...

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Aug 10, 20235 min read

DIY Tutorial – Parchment Lampshade with Leather Thong Trim

To celebrate our the latest addition to our Lampshade Making Parchment Range - our Cumulus Laminated Parchment - we’ve brought back a...

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Jul 26, 20234 min read

3 Pleated Lampshade Styles to Make Yourself

Soft or rigid, pleated lampshades are the interior design order of the day! Rather than spending money on this must-have home accessory,...

1,646 views0 comments

Jul 21, 20234 min read

Make a Block Printed Lampshade with The Indian Block Print Co + WIN a Lampshade Printing Workshop

Designing and making your own bespoke lampshade just got even more creative! Today, we're happy to be partnering with the talented team...

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Jun 14, 20235 min read

DIY Tutorial - How to Make a Bespoke Freestanding Table Lamp

Supporting you to make bespoke lampshades is our business and today we want to shout loud about an often overlooked style of DIY lighting...

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May 30, 20233 min read

New Product – Black and Gold Lampshade Ringsets

Take note! Dannells NEW and EXCLUSIVE Black and Gold Drum Lampshade Ringsets have just landed! Specifically designed to elevate your...

288 views0 comments

May 23, 20232 min read

NEW Dannells Workshop Directory - Learn to Make Lampshades

Are you keen to learn how to make a bespoke lampshade? Look no further than our NEW Dannells Workshop Directory where you can find expert...

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Apr 26, 20234 min read

DIY Tutorial – How to Make a Professional Rattan Lampshade

Adding texture, natural tones and old school simplicity to interiors everywhere, rattan is the hot trend in homewares right now. And we...

2,917 views0 comments

Apr 12, 20234 min read

Seeing Double - Double-Sided Lampshade Making

Make your handmade lampshade work twice as hard by ensuring it's not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside too! Our Double...

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Mar 16, 20233 min read

Play with DIY Paper Lampshades

Making lampshades from paper is the equivalent of opening a Pandora’s box of creative opportunities! Paper's versatility and durability...

1,137 views0 comments

Jan 10, 20234 min read

How to Choose the Perfect Sized Lampshade

If you’ve discovered our Lampshade Making Kits but are struggling to work out what size of lampshade you need, this post has ALL the...

3,494 views0 comments

Dec 15, 20225 min read

DIY Lighting - 12 Makes of Christmas

A festive buffet of craft, lighting and lantern making ideas, any one of our 12 Makes of Christmas are guaranteed to bring a unique and...

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Dec 13, 20224 min read

Christmas Lampshade - Star Shaped Frames

We’ll be wishing on a star this Christmas, a star-shaped lampshade that is! Completely unique, our star-shaped frames, together with our...

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Nov 29, 20223 min read

Christmas DIY tutorial – JOY Metallic Washi Lantern

Today's DIY blog tutorial proves that using gold in your home at Christmas doesn't always have to be traditional. Our metallic washi...

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Nov 23, 20223 min read

DIY Tutorial – Hessian LED Christmas Star Light

With Christmas just around the corner, our minds turn to decorating the house, ready for the festive season. With a sprinkling of LED...

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Sep 27, 20225 min read

Tips and fixes to help prevent and resolve Lampshade Seam Issues

Once in a while, you may experience an issue with your lampshade seam. It could be due to the type or thickness of the fabric you’re...

2,494 views0 comments

Sep 23, 20223 min read

Lampshade Kit Hack #10 - Natural Table Lamp Kit

With natural materials and tones firmly rooted in today’s interior trends, we thought we’d give a natural make-over to one of our...

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Sep 6, 20225 min read

Back to Lampshade Making School - Tips & Techniques to Create Amazing Lampshades

Whether you need a quick refresher course or are completely new to lampshade making, today we’re taking you 'Back to Lampshade School'...

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Aug 11, 20224 min read

New Lampshade Shape - How to make a Y-Frame Lampshade

New, novel and completely unique, our Y-Frame Lampshade ring set will certainly add a point of difference to your room! A shade like no...

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May 12, 20223 min read

How to Use a Rolled Edge Creasing Knife to Cut Lampshade Panels

If you’re wanting to explore bespoke sizes or shapes of shade, or simply enjoy cutting your own lampshade panels, then you need to know...

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Apr 26, 20227 min read

Tips and tricks to achieve a professionally tucked in lampshade edge

Tucking in your fabric seam allowance is the final stage of making your Lampshade Making Kit, which gives your shade a wonderful and...

1,870 views0 comments

Mar 2, 20224 min read

DIY Tutorial - Parchment Fluted Lampshade

Making your own lampshades means the sky is your limit in terms of the materials, design and shape you opt for and today's Parchment...

6,842 views3 comments

Jan 27, 20223 min read

DIY Tutorial - Macrame Lampshade Fringe

As we're now stocking a fabulous range of Macrame cords we couldn't resist, combining this on-trend craft with our Lampshade Making Kits,...

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Dec 17, 20213 min read

Christmas DIY - Mini Chinese Lanterns

Our Mini Chinese Lanterns are a great alternative to bring festive red and yellow into your home and are brought to life using electronic...

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Dec 10, 20212 min read

Christmas DIY – How To Make A Rustic Rope Light Wreath

An easy alternative to a more traditional wreath, we’ve enjoyed putting together this more rustic version, made with glittery hessian, a...

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Dec 2, 20213 min read

Christmas DIY - Scandi Trees Embroidery Hoop Light Cover

Hunkering down for a little hygge is just what's needed as the winter sets in, so we've taken the popular influence of Scandi interiors...

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Nov 18, 20213 min read

Christmas DIY - Festive Mini Cracker Light Garland

Sprucing up your Christmas displays with a handmade decoration or two is a fun way to spend an evening in the run-up to Christmas. Our...

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Nov 12, 20212 min read

Christmas DIY tutorial - Luxurious Art Deco Lantern

A touch of gold never goes a miss at Christmas, so we’ve jumped on the gilded bandwagon and have put together this Luxurious Art Deco...

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Oct 18, 20212 min read

DIY Tutorial - Upcycled Halloween Lanterns

Halloween is annual celebration where anything goes! Costumes, pumpkin carving, huge piles of sweets…there’s plenty of excitement and fun...

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Sep 9, 20215 min read

Back to school skills - How to print fabric

The ‘back to school’ feeling is in the air and as children head off to school to learn something new, September naturally becomes a time...

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Aug 18, 20212 min read

DIY tutorial – Bottle Lamp Adaptor + Lamp Base Upcycle

Our bottle lamp adaptors are a great way of enjoying your favourite spirit and making a table lamp, surely a winning combination? For...

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Aug 3, 20212 min read

DIY Tutorial – Summer Stick It PVC coasters

Bring bright bold colours to your summer dining with our fun and easy to make Stick It PVC cork coasters. As with all our Needcraft kits...

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Jul 6, 20212 min read

DIY Tutorial - Make and Paint Kit Scribble Sharpie shade

Our Make and Paint Lampshade Making Kits are for exactly what it says on the box, making and painting, but in our quest to try new,...

217 views0 comments

Jun 15, 20212 min read

Father's Day Make - Bottle Lamps with The Haines Collection

With Father’s day on the horizon, it’s time to get your thinking cap on to make a gift that shows how much they mean to you! Whether it’s...

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May 24, 20213 min read

DIY Tutorial - Vintage Doily Dreamcatcher

Garden parties, BBQ's, camping trips or alfresco cocktail parties, however you're seeing friends over the bank holiday weekend, bring a...

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