If the shade accompanying a favorite lamp is showing its use with frays and tears, and combing flea markets, antique stores, and tag sales hasn't turned up the right replacement, you still haven't explored your best option. And once you've found a good source for supplies, such as The Lamp Shop in Concord, New Hampshire, it's easy to make your own perfect shade.

Tools and Materials
Top and bottom rings (optional)
Water-based glue, such as Quick Glue
Seam binding
Adhesive styrene
Natural fiber fabric
Molding wand
Bulldog clips

Making a Lamp Shade How-To
1. Wrap the new rings or the rings from an old lamp shade tightly with seam binding, dabbing the glue every few inches to hold the binding in place. To determine the length of the adhesive styrene you'll need, measure the ring's circumference, and add an extra inch for seam allowance. To determine the width, measure the distance between the two rings. Cut the styrene to size, peel the backing off, and lay it onto the fabric. You can use almost any kind of natural fiber fabric, but make sure it's easy to work with and allows light to show through.

2. Smooth the fabric out, making sure there are no wrinkles, and trim the fabric around the edges, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang on the two long sides and one of the short sides. Trim the fabric flush on the remaining short side. On the other short side, fold the overhang to the back side of the styrene, and glue it down.

3. Lay the fabric flat on your work surface. Pull the ends together with a 1/2-inch seam overlap, and attach a bulldog clip on each end to hold it closed. Stand the shade up on the table with the back seam away from you, and position the ring inside the shade, making it even with the edge of the styrene. Affix the bulldog clips all the way around the ring so that the fabric is taut, and apply the glue to the fabric overhang, wrapping it over the edge of the wire. Tuck the excess fabric under the ring using the molding wand. Repeat this step for the other ring. After both rings are in place, glue the side seam, and allow the shade to dry.