So, you want to create decorative lamp shades. Chances are that you have always admired antique lamps with full, fringed shades in a soft colored parlor and would like to have such a beautiful lamp in your home as well. First, you will need to learn about lampshade frames, the wire skeletons of lampshades covered with fabric, fringe, beading or silk. They are usually made of wire and give the shade its shape. If you want to create your own Victorian-style lamp shades, you will have to start with lampshade frames. They can be used to restore old lamp shades or to create new ones.
At LampShadeLady, we cater to both hobbyists and professional restorers alike. They come from all across the country in search of authentic Victorian-style lampshade frames for sale made with high-quality materials and care to adorn their homes with old-world style lighting. Our guide covers an in-depth examination of what the terms lampshade frames and lampshade frames for sale actually mean, how to pick out the right lampshade frames, the materials that are typically used to cover Victorian-style lampshade frames and, lastly, where you can find the supplies needed to complete your project of making decorative lamp shades.
What Are Lampshade Frames and Why They Matter
Lampshade frames are typically made of welded wire which is then coated with a rust-resistant material. The wire structure provides the framework of the shade, typically in the form of a bell, tulip, drum, half-moon or even a scalloped Gone With the Wind style. All of the other layers are then stitched, glued or wired onto the frame of the lampshade. The frame is the backbone of the completed lampshade and without a sturdy one, even the most beautiful fabric will droop, crease or even collapse within a short space of time.
It is easy to see that a very cheap and very thin wire frame will bend under the weight of the beaded fringe or the multiple layers of fabric of a shade. Therefore serious shade makers invest in good quality custom-made Victorian lampshade frames rather than cheap mass produced ones. For example a good quality lampshade frame should feel rigid at the rings and have evenly spaced struts to form the sides of the shade. The frame should also retain its shape when pressed from the outside. A shade made with a poor quality frame will probably only last the summer, whereas a good one could last for fifty years or more.
Choosing the Right Lampshade Frames for Your Decorative Lamp Shades Project
The types of lampshade frames that you can choose will depend on your design choices for your decorative lamp shades project. Consider the following points before selecting the frames for your lamp shades project:
1. What era or style are you recreating?
Victorian parlors favored bell and scalloped shapes with heavy fringe; Art Deco lamps often used cleaner crescent or half-moon forms.
2. What is the shape of your lamp base?
Will a tall lamp shade be needed to stand above your antique table or console or will a smaller lamp shade fit better in the cramped space above a bridge lamp or two table lamps?
3. How much fabric and trim will the frame carry?
Multi-layer silk shades with bead fringe need heavier gauge wire and reinforced top and bottom rings.
4. What size opening does your harp or fitter require?
Frame fitters must match your lamp hardware exactly, or the finished shade will never sit level.
Because every completed shade is an expression of the frame it is to be built on, it is worthwhile spending time on this section to get the correct Victorian lampshade frames for sale. By purchasing custom made lampshade frames, made to your exact dimensions, most of the fit problems that can occur with off the shelf Victorian lampshade frames can be eradicated before you start to make the decorative lamp shades.
Traditional Materials Used with Victorian Lampshade Frames
A long history of lampshade making has employed natural fibers for their drape, their even dyeing, and above all their longevity. So when choosing Victorian lampshade frames, the various layers to be applied over the frame itself must be considered, starting with the innermost layer.
- Silk chiffon for rosettes, pleating, and the outer layer of the lampshade that is draped to produce a soft, diffused affect.
- Fabric lining: A thin smooth fabric (usually a polyester or silk blend) is stretched over the frame of the lampshade to form the base of the shade and to control the amount of light that will pass through the outer fabric of the lampshade.
- Lace overlays to build up additional texture & Victorian detailing to layer on top of the lining.
- French scroll braid: used to cover the join between different parts of the shade and also along edges of the silks.
- Fringe: made of rayon twist fringe (about 6 inches long) tied around the bottom ring of the frame in a loose, flowing bundle.
Using these traditional materials on a well-made frame is the craft of making authentic decorative lamp shades. Using inferior materials to make a quick lamp shade could result in a homemade lamp shade as opposed to a quality heirloom lamp shade.
Step-by-Step: Building Decorative Lamp Shades on Wire Frames
For a beginner making lamp shades this is a good order to follow to complete a Decorative Lamp Shade.
1. Bind the frame. Using your chosen seam binding tape, bind all the frame's struts so that the material can grip and hold in place against it.
2. Attach the lining. The lining is attached to the bound frame first. This layer determines how much light is allowed to escape from the shade. The material is stretched and then sewn into place.
3. Layer the outer fabric (silk chiffon or other shaped panels of fabric) on top of the lining fabric. This is pinned and then stitched section by section.
4. Add lace and trim. Use the same method of attaching lace as you would for attaching trim such as French scroll braid to the seams of your shade.
5. Add fringe. Use hand-stitching or hot-glue fringe to the bottom of the ring on your lamp shade frame. It is best to work in small sections to maintain an even line of fringe.
6. Steam and shape. The silk and lace can be steamed after completion to ensure that they fully settle into the frame’s curves and give the lamp shade a very smooth finish.
Every step after that depends on the steps before it, so if you start with a badly proportioned or wobbly frame you will have trouble at every subsequent stage.
Where to Find Quality Lampshade Frames and Supplies
If you can’t find suitable wire frames for your lampshades in your local craft stores, you can find a good selection of custom-made Victorian Lampshade Frames in our Victorian Lampshade Frame Catalog, including a variety of bell-shaped frames as well as frames with more unusual scalloped edges, reminiscent of the Gone With the Wind films.
Alternatively, if you are looking to get started making lampshades, the Flower Tulip Lampshade Kit is a fantastic introduction to shade making. The kit contains a medium tulip wire frame (9 inches tall x 13 inches wide) and plenty of materials including seam binding, lining, lace, silk chiffon, French scroll braid, and 6-inch fringe. All of the materials in the kit are matched so you can start making your lampshade straight away.
This fringe is ideal for shade restorers, or those who are making their own lamp shade frames. This 6" Long Thick Victorian Lampshade Fringe is made of 100% rayon twist fringe. This fringe can be custom dyed to match any fabric you choose.
Silk Chiffon 100% is the outer fabric layer for your rosettes or for your pleated panels. Silk is perfect because it can be dyed evenly and it drapes and looks great with a soft glowing quality that makes for a beautiful Victorian Lamp Shade.
Final Thoughts on Lampshade Frames
Building a beautiful decorative lamp shade starts with choosing the right frame, and we recommend selecting a well made, properly sized lampshade frame made from good quality materials. These can be purchased as individual custom made frames or as part of a kit with all the materials you need to make your decorative lamp shades. With authentic materials such as silk chiffon, lace and rayon fringe and by following a simple step by step process to layer up the materials of your choice your handmade decorative lamp shade will look far superior to one that has been made to look like an antique.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are lampshade frames made of?
Most lampshade frames are made of welded steel wire finished with a rust-resistant coating, shaped into rings and vertical struts that form the shade's silhouette.
2. Can I buy custom lampshade frames in a specific size?
Yes. Custom lampshade frames can be built to your exact height, width, and fitter measurements so the finished shade fits your lamp base and harp correctly.
3. What is the difference between a lampshade frame and a finished lampshade?
A lampshade frame is the bare wire structure, while a finished decorative lamp shade includes the lining, outer fabric, lace, trim, and fringe applied over that frame.
4. What materials do I need besides the frame to make a Victorian lampshade?
You'll typically need seam binding, a lining fabric, silk chiffon or another outer fabric, lace, decorative trim, and fringe to complete a traditional Victorian shade.
5. How do I choose the right lampshade frame shape?
Match the frame shape to your lamp's style and era — bell and scalloped frames suit Victorian bases, while half-moon or crescent frames work well with Art Deco lamps.
6. Are Victorian lampshade frames hard to work with for beginners?
Not with the right kit. A bundled lampshade kit that pairs a wire frame with pre-matched lining, fabric, and trim makes it much easier for beginners to get consistent results.
7. How much fringe do I need for a lampshade frame?
Fringe length depends on the circumference of your frame's bottom ring; most Victorian-style decorative lamp shades use six-inch fringe measured and purchased by the yard.
8. Can lampshade frames be reused for multiple projects?
Yes, as long as the frame is undamaged, you can strip off old fabric and trim and rebuild an entirely new decorative lamp shade on the same frame.
9. What size lampshade frame fits a standard table lamp?
Standard table lamps typically use frames in the 9 to 14 inch height range, but the correct size depends on your lamp base proportions and harp measurement.
10. Where can I buy quality lampshade frames online?
Specialty suppliers like LampShadeLady offer custom-built Victorian lampshade frames and matching kits, which are generally sturdier and more authentic than mass-produced craft store options.