Square Cotton Vintage Doily Lamp Shade Cover

This was such an easy and inexpensive DIY project. The vintage doily was purchased for 50 cents and the lamp shade form I found for $3. Here's how I put the two together....

I used a small utility knife to literally shred the old worn silk lamp shade cover. Keep in mind this project requires a lamp shade form with both a top and bottom ring with adjoining ribs (spokes, if you will.) Then I used the knife to scrape away any remaining glue residue on the form. 

To prepare the lamp shade form to accept the spray paint, I first applied a coating of metal primer. This was followed with two light coatings of flat white spray paint.

 

I next treated the vintage doily by mixing a batch of fabric starch or you can purchase it already prepared in liquid form. (See the easy directions for preparing and starching doilies by following this recipe.) After the starching treatment, the crocheted doily was draped over the clean lamp shade form. I gently stretched the doily so all edges of the wire form were covered and secured these shorter sections with small pins until the doily was completely dry. (Because the doily is square shaped and the lamp shade form is circular, the doily ends up with four corners cascading over the rim.)

All I had left to do was secure the form to the bamboo floor lamp my husband made for me. (neat huh?) :) Basically, you can follow these same guidelines to make your own custom lamp shade cover with vintage doilies. Just make sure the size of the doily fits well over the form. Best of all, this lamp shade cover doesn't need dry cleaning. When it gets dirty, take it off, wash, starch and you're all set.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Linking to Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest and I'm also participating in New Friend Friday and Trendy Treehouse's Follow Me Friday. This is also my first time at partying with Follow Friday 40 and Over! Plus....joining in a Round Robin at Keeping up with the Schultz Family and an impromptu party at Handmade by Annabelle. On Saturday, I'm linking to Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special and ending up on Sunday with the Sunday Showcase Party hosted by Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming. Come join us!