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Rejuvenating a lampshade

ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
in The potting shed
I have a wire lampshade frame.  It was covered with a 20 m long, 1.9 cm wide strip of white plastic, wound vertically down the struts of the outside circle and then up the middle.  The plastic has degraded over time and become a bit discoloured, so I have taken it off and want to have a go at replacing it.  Would grosgrain ribbon do the job, do you think?  

Posts

  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Here's what it looked like.



    And now ...



    As you can see, because the plastic was very flexible and pulled very tight, it folded itself round the struts.  So, I need something that will do this and not be too stiff.  An experiment with bias binding shows this works fine. 
  • BluejaywayBluejayway Posts: 392
    Some kind of twine could also work, depending on your decor style
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I can't help re what to cover it with, but do bear in mind the flammability of whatever you choose.
    If you will use a LED bulb, then it's not an issue, but just in case you have an incandescent bulb, take care in choosing your material.

    Hope you find the answer - good luck!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited 26 February
    Grosgrain is quite stiff so it probably wouldn't fold itself around the struts very well, but you could get a short length to try before forking out for 20 metres. Bias binding or tape will naturally tend to fold around when pulled tight just because of being cut on the bias.
    Edit: you can get satin bias binding if you want something with a sheen to it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    That looks very much like the cage around one of my bird feeders @ViewAhead. Would only work for slim birds though! 😊
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    😂 I did wonder about repurposing as a squirrel guard, @Plantminded.

    The flexibility of Grosgrain was my concern, @JennyJ, as I have never actually felt it.  Just found it on ebay and wondered about its potential.  Satiny bias might work well. 👍

    I don't actually ever turn on ceiling lights, @Pete.8 , except the landing one, which still has the old frame, so these renovated ones would be more decorative than practical, though obviously being able to use the light if I ever needed to would be a bonus. 

    Maybe twine, yes, @Bluejayway!    I might get a few samples to try out. 🙂

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    If you have nimble fingers ( and plenty of time too ) have you considered using acrylic paint on the struts - colour to suit the decor.  A " low light " bulb shouldn't detract on the odd occasion you plan to use it. You may even find a coloured light bulb to enhance the effect - if they still make them ?
    I'm saying Acrylic paint but @Dovefromabove may have a better suggestion re that.
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    I've never used acrylic paint and seeing the light bulb might not look quite right.  Am more confident I could make a decent stab at it winding bias binding. 😁  
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