Collecting Swatches
If you're thinking about going into the custom lampshade business, consider starting a collection of swatches of fabrics always available from mail-order sources. I believe all of these (new) fabric companies (and many of the new trim companies, too) offer swatches for a small fee (usually around $5.00 per collection), which can add up, but can be an excellent business investment (be sure to save your receipts, even if you aren't in business yet).
If you have a nice collection of fabric swatches for your customers to choose from, you won't need to keep a supply of (expensive) fabrics on hand, or explain to them what they need to get, or have to go shopping with them (even if, like me, you think that any excuse to go off to the fabric store is a good one, it can take up a lot of time better spent filling orders). If they aren't already, be sure your swatches are marked as to where they came from and what the style number is.
Researching Silks
If you're wondering which silks are stretchy enough to make a stretch shade, silk crepe, crepe de chine, and charmeuse (a.k.a. crepe-back satin) definitely do have enough give, and most of the other types don't, unless cut on the bias. To find out more about the various types of silks available see Other Sources for some links to silk and other kinds of fabric information. If you have no silk experience, I recommend you visit a fabric store that sells it and collect samples of the various types (label each sample with a fabric marker, or write what it is on a little card, and tape or staple the sample to the swatch). Small shops specializing in bridal and formal fabrics will have far more examples than chain stores.
If there aren't any fabric stores offering silk in your area, visit bridal/evening-wear shops (and departments) where you'll find different types of silk to compare (a little clever schmoozing will likely be required; tell them why you really want to know only if you're sure it won't cause them to clam up and/or get huffy). Seamstresses who make wedding and formal dresses are also a wealth of information, if you can get one to talk to you, and while you're at it, see if she has any remnants she wants to sell, and/or perhaps she'd be interested in offering your lampshades to her customers, possibly covered with the same fabric(s) as the dress the customer's having made. If none of the above is possible, see Collecting Swatches.
If It Ain't Got No Give
If you'd like to cover a stretch-shade frame with a cotton, or any fabric that doesn't have enough give to it, you can make the cover by the panel shade construction method, and then line the shade normally. If your cover is cotton, be sure to choose a lining fabric that looks appropriate with it, such as a (cottony) rayon or a stretch cotton.
The only differences between the two methods is that all the struts must be covered with trim, as many stretch shades on the market are. You can bind the frame with twill tape, since it won't show, but Hug Snug is thinner and smoother. The other option for a fabric without enough give is to use it on the bias, though not recommended for beginning sewers, as it could cause you to never take another stitch.
|
