Amy Butler’s Blog Tour: 10 Stylish Projects that Celebrate Patchwork - Illuminated Lamp Shade + Giveaway!

We’re the final stop on Amy Butler’s blog tour sharing inspiring quilting projects in support of her latest book ‘Piece Keeping‘.

The tour has visited some of the coolest quilting and creative blogs across the world and we’re so excited to be able to have hopped on board to share the patchwork love with you too!

So far the tour has stopped at:

July 11 – Chronicle Books

July 12 – The Root Connection (Charming Garland)

July 13 – Suzy Quilts (Pyramid Pillows)

July 14 – Rock Paper Scissors (Dreamweaver Wall Art)

July 15 – 100 Billion Stars (Statement Necklaces)

July 16 – Carrie Bloomston (Talisman Necklace)

July 17 – Late Night Quilter (Tribal Cuffs)

July 18 – Crimson Tate (Stash Pouches)

July 19 – A Gathering of Stitches (Embellished Infinity Scarf)

July 20 – Heather Jones Studio (Improv Pillows)

July 21 – Today, we are thrilled to share Amy’s ‘Illuminated Lamp Shades‘ project.

Illuminated Lamp Shade Project

Modern chic meets patchwork with these customisable shade covers, making it easy to light up your spaces with the warmth of handmade!

Finished sizes: Large – 23″ (58.4 cm) diameter x 14″ (35.6 cm) tall; Small – 15″ (38.1 cm) diameter x 12″ (30.5 cm) tall.

PROJECT NOTES

All seams are 1/4″ (0.6 cm) unless otherwise stated. The seam allowance is included in all measurements.

DESIGN INFLUENCE

Wonky Log Cabin

TECHNIQUE USED

Patchwork

MATERIALS LIST

Note: Fabric and notion requirements are for the shade sizes used; adjust as necessary to fit the lampshade you have. The instructions are written for any size barrel-shaped lampshade.

For the Large or Small size:

FABRICS

From 44″ (112 cm) wide light- to mid-weight fabric
1/8 yard (0.11 m) each of 14 different prints for the patchwork blocks
1/2 yard (0.46 m) of chambray for the spacing blocks

OTHER SUPPLIES

2 packages of 1/2″ (1.3 cm) wide photo-safe double-sided adhesive tape (iCraft SuperTape)
3 packages of 1/2″ (1.3 cm) wide white twill tape (Wrights)
Barrel-shaped plain lampshade (Nymö shades from IKEA have the dimensions given above)
1 package of freezer paper
1 bottle of Aleene’s Stop-Fraying, 4 oz. (118.3 ml) or other fabric sealant
1 spool of all-purpose thread in a neutral color (Coats)
10 spring clothespins (Clover Wonder Clips)

ADDITIONAL TOOLS NEEDED

Photocopier
Pencil
24″ (61 cm) long rotary cutting ruler

How to…

Make the Patchwork Block Templates*

Measure and record the height and circumference of your lampshade.
Add a total of 1/2″ (1.3 cm) to the height measurement for top/bottom overlap. This value will be used as the height of the lampshade in the rest of the instructions.
Cut out the Illumined Lampshade Patchwork Block from the pattern sheet included with this book. Use a photocopier to enlarge or reduce the template so the height matches the value above.
Measure and record the width of the Patchwork Block.
Using a pencil and ruler, trace and label each piece of the pattern onto the dull side of the freezer paper, leaving space between them to add seam allowance.
Add a 1/4″ (0.6 cm) seam allowance to the outside of all pieces. Then cut out each template on the seam allowance line.

Cut Out the Fabric Pieces

Calculate the number of Patchwork Blocks on the lampshade: Divide the lampshade circumference in half, and then by the width of the Patchwork Block. Round this value up to the next whole number. For example: If the lampshade circumference is 731/2″ (186.7 cm) and the Patchwork Block width is 101/2″ (26.7 cm), the equation looks like this: 31/2 (186.7) ÷ 2 = 363/4 (93.4) ÷ 101/2 (26.7) = 31/2 (3.5) Rounded up, the next whole number is 4. So, in this example, the lampshade will have four Patchwork Blocks. Whatever number of blocks you calculate for your lampshade, we’ll call that number x for the cutting below.
Cut the appropriate pieces from your print fabrics as follows:
1. From Print 1, cut x of each of the following templates:
  - Template B
  - Template E
  - Template G
  - Template H
2. From Print 2, cut x of each of the following templates:
  - Template A
  - Template C
  - Template D
  - Template F
3. From Print 3, cut x of Template I
4. From Print 4, cut x of Template J
5. From Print 5, cut x of Template K
6. From Print 6, cut x of Template L
7. From Print 7, cut x of Template M
8. From Print 8, cut x of Template N
9. From Print 9, cut x of Template O
10. From Print 10, cut x of Template P
11. From Print 11, cut x of Template Q
12. From Print 12, cut x of Template R
13. From Print 13, cut x of Template S
14. From Print 14, cut x of Template T
Calculate the finished size of the Spacing Blocks: Divide the circumference of the lampshade by x, then subtract the Patchwork Block width. This is the finished width of the Spacing Blocks. For example: If the lampshade circumference is 731/2″ (186.7 cm) and the Patchwork Block width is 101/2″ (26.7 cm) and x is 4, then the finished width is found as shown: 731/2 (186.7) ÷ 4 = 183/8 (46.7) – 101/2 (26.7) = 77/8 (20). (731/2 ÷ 4) – 101/2 = 77/8.
Add seam allowances and cut Spacing Blocks as follows: Take the width of the Spacing Block from Step 2C and add 1/2″ (1.3 cm). Take the height of the lampshade and add 1/2″ (1.3 cm). This is the cutting measurement for your Spacing Blocks. Cut x of them from the Spacing Block fabric.

Make the Patchwork Block

On a flat surface lay out one of each Template piece as shown in Figure 1.
Sew the following pieces together and place back into the layout. Press the seam allowances to one side: A – B – C | D – E – F | H – I | J – K | L – M | N – O | Q – R
Continue sewing the block together in the following order: ABC – HIDEF – GABCHI – DEFG | JK – ABCDEFGHI – LM | ABCDEFGHIJKLM – NO | P – ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO – QR | S – ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR – T
Repeat these steps on each of the remaining blocks needed for your lampshade.

Complete the Lampshade Fabric Panel

Sew one Patchwork Block and one Spacing Block together along the right edge of the Patchwork Block. Press the seam allowance toward the Spacing Block. Repeat with the remaining Patchwork Blocks and Spacing Blocks.
Next sew all the block pairs together to form one long panel. Press the seam allowances toward the Spacing Blocks.
Fold and press the top and bottom raw edges of the fabric panel under 1/2″ (1.3 cm) to the wrong side. Then fold and press the left edge of the fabric panel under 1/4″ (0.6 cm) to the wrong side.

Attach the Fabric Panel to the Lampshade

Apply the double-stick adhesive tape to the inside top and bottom edges of the lampshade, lining up the edge of the shade with the edge of the tape. If your lampshade has spokes attaching it to the center of the lamp, apply the tape to the shade between the spokes.
Apply a length of tape on the outside of the lampshade along the right-hand side of the lengthwise seam. Repeat and apply tape along the left-hand side of the seam. (These two tape lines should butt up to each other.) All tape pieces should still have the backing paper attached.
Remove the backing paper from the tape on the right-hand side of the lengthwise seam. Place the folded left edge of the Fabric Panel along the left-hand edge of the exposed tape, lifting the folded top and bottom edges over the top and bottom of the lampshade. Finger press* to stick the fabric to the tape.
Continue to attach the Fabric Panel around the circumference of the lampshade, connecting the folded top and bottom edges to the inside of the lampshade. The raw edge of the Fabric Panel should overlap the fixed folded edge by at least 1/4″ (0.6 cm). Temporarily hold the Fabric Panel in place along the top and bottom of the lampshade with the Wonder Clips.
Make any adjustments to the fit of the panel on the shade. Pull the top and bottom folds toward the inside of the shade to remove any excess fabric.
Once the Fabric Panel is lying correctly, starting from the left edge of the Fabric Panel and stopping 2″ (5.1 cm) from the right edge, work in sections to remove the clips and backing paper from the tape and press the fabric into place around the top and bottom of the inside of the shade. If the lampshade has spokes at the edge, as you approach the spoke, gradually fold under the raw edge so that a folded edge lies across the top of the spoke and the seam allowance adjusts back to 1/2″ (1.3 cm) on either side.
Fold under and finger press the right raw edge of the Fabric Panel so that it meets the left folded edge. Remove the backing paper from the tape on the left side of the seam and adhere the right folded edge along the right edge of the tape. Finish fastening the fabric into place around the top and bottom edges of the shade.
To cover the raw fabric edges inside the lampshade, apply double-stick adhesive tape around the top and bottom inside edges so that it is mostly on the fabric but overlaps the raw edge by approximately 1/8″ (0.3 cm). If there are spokes, cut and place the tape between the spokes.
Remove the backing paper from the tape and adhere the twill tape to the double-stick tape. Apply Stop-Fraying to the cut edges of the twill tape to prevent raveling.

COMPETITION

SORRY, THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED

WIN A COPY OF AMY BUTLER’S NEW BOOK: PIECE KEEPING

In Amy Butler’s latest book, Piece Keeping, the sewing, crafting and fabric designer extraordinaire combines effortless style with one of her biggest loves: patchwork. In it, she shares her favorite design influences and techniques in a rich variety of lifestyle projects, such as eclectic wares for modern interiors, small gift projects, and a beautiful collection of bohemian inspired fashions.

HOW TO ENTER

One lucky winner can get their hands on a copy of Amy’s new book ‘Piece Keeping‘, a fat quarter bundle of her latest fabric from FreeSpirit and a selection of her ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons by leaving a comment below telling us which project from all those posted on the blog tour inspires you most and why.

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