The Ultimate Lampshade Maker's Glossary

Lampshade making is a satisfying craft that anyone can master, but understanding the terminology is key to creating the perfect lampshade. Whether it’s light fittings or laminates, having a clear knowledge of essential materials, components and tools will help you achieve professional results every time.

In this Lampshade Maker’s Glossary, we break down the most commonly used terminology and phrases, to give you the confidence to develop your lampshade making your skills and knowledge, and buy right first time!

Types of Lampshade

Lampshades can be divided into two fundamental types; hard and soft lampshades. Hard lampshade making is a beginner entry level craft, that anyone can make by using a Lampshade Making Kit or a combination of hard lampshade making materials, whereas Soft Lampshades are mostly hand sewn and require an increased level of skill and know-how.

• Hard/rigid lampshade – a lampshade made with rigid lampshade rings or frames and a hard backing, such as PVC, or styrene (US) which creates a structured shape.

• Soft lampshade – a lampshade that is made with fabric, that is usually stretched and sewn to a frame.

Hard Lampshade Making Materials

Get to know the essential structural components of making hard / rigid lampshade making below:

Ring Sets and Frames

• Utility Ring/Frame - Ring or frame which has a utility section in the centre, that connects to the light fitting and is paired with a plain ring to make a hard lampshade. Our utility ring sets /frames fit to a European (UNO) light fitting and when fitted with its supplied reducer ring, fits a UK fitting. These can also be converted to fit US Harp and Finial fittings using our adapter system.

  
  

• Lampshade / plain ring or frame - Part of a pair, with a utility ring/ frame used to create hard lampshades.

  
  

• Rigid lampshade frames – Plain and utility rings shaped in a wide variety of shapes and sizes for making unique lampshade shapes, such as square, rectangle, scalloped and hexagon.

  
  

• Duplex Ring – A double ring hence the name duplex, with the wider ring of the two sitting at the top of the lampshade, leaving the small ring sitting below and free for use with a shade carrier system or spider. The top ring represents the diameter of the top of the lampshade you will make.

  
  

• Candle Clip Ring/ Ring Set - A small, wire-based clip which fits directly onto a narrow ‘candle’ light bulb with a ring to attach your panel, that is mostly used on wall lights, chandeliers, or small table lamps.

  
  

• Diameter – the measurement across the lampshade utility or plain ring or frame, which determines it’s advertised size i.e. 30cm Drum Lampshade Making Kit 

• Lampshade styles – determined by the shape and the size of rings that are used, lampshade styles can be categorised as Empire, Conical, Candle Clip etc.

Hard Lampshade Panels

• Lampshade Panel – A pre-cut, self-adhesive plastic panel, made from Stick It® Self Adhesive Lampshade PVC that is covered with fabric or paper and forms the base, of a handmade lampshade. 

  
  

• Stick It® Self Adhesive Lampshade PVC – A Dannells brand, Stick It® Self Adhesive Lampshade PVC forms the base of a handmade lampshade. A professional grade product, equivalent to that you'd find in high street lampshade, it’s available in a range of finishes including white, clear, neon, metallic and double sided, and a variety of weights; less rigid, standard and extra rigid. Our Stick It® is anti-yellowing, anti-static, UV-stabilised, fire-resistant and Glow Wire tested ensuring durability and safety.

  
  

• Kisscut - A pre-scored line, located at the top and bottom edges of a lampshade PVC panel, which when removed creates a seam allowance of fabric to create a professional Rolled Edge.

  
  

• Rolled Edge – Technique that creates a professional, clean finish at the top and bottom of a lampshade, in which the fabric is rolled underneath the lampshade rings.

• Rolled Edge Tool - A triangular plastic tool with one serrated and two smooth edges that is used for pushing surplus fabric under the lampshade ring, in the final stages of assembly, for a professional Rolled Edge finish.

  
  

Other Hard Lampshade Panels

Ready made for your lampshade making needs we pre-laminate a variety of materials to our Stick It® Self Adhesive Lampshade PVC.

• Laminate - Wood, Parchment, Cork, Textile and decorative plastics which are all laminated to Stick It® Self Adhesive Lampshade PVC, ready for use for making lampshades.

  
  

• Parchment – Traditional and decorative light weight papers that laminated to clear Stick It® Self Adhesive Lampshade PVC, offering a range of finishes in neutral colours, ideal for using in plain or painted lampshades.

  
  

Light Types

The lampshade you make will depend on the type of light you are making for.

• Pendant lamp/light – A lighting fitting that is attached to a ceiling light fitting.

  
  

• Table lamps/light – A lampshade that sits on a table lamp fitting

  
  

• Standard lamp/light – A tall lamp base that stand on the floor CHECK

  
  

• Wall lights - A light fitting that is secure to the wall

Light Fittings and Lamp Holders

• Uno Light fittings - A 40mm or 1 37/64 inches wide light fitting can be found on pendant lights or table lamps, also know as E27 Edison Screw and E26 Edison Screw Lampholders.

• UK & EU Light Fitting - Measuring 22mm in diameter, also known as a B22 Bayonet Cap and E14 Edison Screw.

• Harp and Finial Lamp Holder - A lampshade attachment for table lamps comprising of a U-shaped metal piece called a 'harp' which holds the lampshade above the bulb, and a decorative cap called a 'finial' screws onto the top of the harp, to securely fasten the lampshade in place.

  
  

Rigid Frames Carriers and Convertors

To convert our Utility Rings and Duplex Rings for other light fitting use the convertors below:

• Shade Carrier – Allowing control of the height between the bottom edge of your shade and the lamp base, when the lampshade has a Duplex Ring, due the variety of heights available. A shade carrier sit over the light fitting on the lamp base.

• Spider fitting – Used with a lampshade made with a Duplex Ring, to adapt this for use with a pendant light.

• Harp and Finial Convertor / Adapter System - Converts a standard lampshade utility ring or frame (Uno Lamp Fitter or E27 Edison Screw Utility Fitting) to work with a Harp & Finial System, that is common in the US.

Soft Lampshades

Make beautiful soft or traditional lampshades using the following materials and techniques.

• Soft and Pleated Lampshade Frames – Traditional handmade decorative frame with struts for soft or pleated lampshade making.

  
  

• Soft lampshade lining – A fabric that sits inside a soft lampshade, diffusing the light and often used to hide stitching and binding.

  
  

• Binding – Cotton tape bound around a soft lampshade making frame, to create a foundation which can be sewn into, to attach your chosen outer fabric and lining to the frame.

  
  

• Streetly Stitch – a traditional sewing stitch used in soft lampshade making to secure fabrics to the binding

  
  

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