You can easily turn your beloved t-shirt into a custom lampshade, using our DIY Lampshade Making Supplies. It's an easy project that typically takes less than an hour to complete.
On this page, you'll find video tutorials that take you through the process step-by-step, as well as worksheets to help you plan out the sizing of your lampshade.
You can easily turn your beloved t-shirt into a custom lampshade, using our DIY Lampshade Making Supplies. It's an easy project that typically takes less than an hour to complete.
On this page, you'll find video tutorials that take you through the process step-by-step, as well as worksheets to help you plan out the sizing of your lampshade.
First you'll need to figure out what size of a lampshade you can make from your t-shirt. Remember back in high school math when you learned about the rule of Pi? Here's your chance to put it to practice! Don't worry . . . we've made the process really easy for you!
A drum lampshade is basically a cylinder, so the key measurements here are diameter and height. Diameter is the circumference of the circle divided by Pi, or 3.14. Height is top-to-bottom measurement.
To figure out the maximum diameter that your lampshade can be, first measure the width of the printed part of your t-shirt. Now multiply that number by 2, then divide it by 3.5. Dividing by pi, or 3.14 will give you the exact dimension, but 3.5 will give you enough of a fabric allowance so that you have some wiggle room.
The height of your lampshade is a lot easier to figure out. Simply measure our shirt from top to bottom and decide how much of your shirt's print you want on your finished shade.
Cotton t-shirt
Adhesive, pressure-sensitive styrene
Top & bottom spider lampshade rings
Tacky white glue
Lots of binder clips
A molding stick or other glue spreading tool
First you'll need to figure out what size of a lampshade you can make from your t-shirt. Remember back in high school math when you learned about the rule of Pi? Here's your chance to put it to practice! Don't worry . . . we've made the process really easy for you!
A drum lampshade is basically a cylinder, so the key measurements here are diameter and height. Diameter is the circumference of the circle divided by Pi, or 3.14. Height is top-to-bottom measurement.
If you have a t-shirt where the top of the print starts below the sleeves, or you’re happy with a portion of the print being trimmed - you can create a single strip of fabric from the t-shirt and apply it to the styrene.
Do this by trimming down the t-shirt and then making a vertical cut up the back of the t-shirt. This creates one long pieces of t-shirt fabric with the print right in the middle.
Apply the styrene to the fabric by peeling back a section and smoothing it onto the reverse side of the fabric. Continue applying the styrene to the fabric in sections. Then follow the same steps as in Method 1 to create your band t-shirt lampshade.
To figure out the maximum diameter that your lampshade can be, first measure the width of the printed part of your t-shirt. Now multiply that number by 2, then divide it by 3.5. Dividing by pi, or 3.14 will give you the exact dimension, but 3.5 will give you enough of a fabric allowance so that you have some wiggle room.
The height of your lampshade is a lot easier to figure out. Simply measure our shirt from top to bottom and decide how much of your shirt's print you want on your finished shade.
Once you have selected a t-shirt to upcycle, you'll need to figure out the best way to showcase the print on your t-shirt. The Assembly Method you choose depends where the print on the t-shirt is positioned - with the print starting above the bottom of the sleeves (where the armpit would be), or if the print starts below the bottom of the sleeves.
T-shirts like this one where the print starts well above the sleeves require you to create 3 pieces of fabric from the t-shirt and apply them to the styrene separately. This is the first Assembly Method, which is covered in the video tutorial above as well as in PDF Instructions.
If you have a t-shirt where the top of the print starts below the sleeves, or you’re happy with a portion of the print being trimmed - you can create a single strip of fabric from the t-shirt and apply it to the styrene.
Do this by trimming down the t-shirt and then making a vertical cut up the back of the t-shirt. This creates one long pieces of t-shirt fabric with the print right in the middle.
Apply the styrene to the fabric by peeling back a section and smoothing it onto the reverse side of the fabric. Continue applying the styrene to the fabric in sections. Then follow the same steps as in Method 1 to create your band t-shirt lampshade.
While the tacky glue does dry clear, it’s important to remove as much excess flue as possible before it dries. Otherwise it can stain the finished shade.
If using a long strip of t-shirt fabric, tape it down to your working surface before attempting to apply the styrene. Make sure you lay it down with the reverse side up.
Make sure you identify which ring goes on the top and which one goes on the bottom.
... And that’s how you turn an old shirt into a striking new lampshade!
Choose a t-shirt of your favorite sports team, band, or vacation spot
Turn t-shirts with quirky prints or funny sayings into cool dorm room decor
Make a super-personal gift for a friend by using a t-shirt of their favorite college sports team, band, or fictional character
Visit our shop for more information and to buy your own DIY lampshade making supplies.
While the tacky glue does dry clear, it’s important to remove as much excess flue as possible before it dries. Otherwise it can stain the finished shade.
If using a long strip of t-shirt fabric, tape it down to your working surface before attempting to apply the styrene. Make sure you lay it down with the reverse side up.
Make sure you identify which ring goes on the top and which one goes on the bottom.
The top ring has a spider or washer fitting, and you need to ensure that the top ring is placed with the spokes facing down into the shade.
...And that’s how you turn your old shirt into a striking new lampshade!
Choose a t-shirt of your favorite sports team, band, or vacation spot
Turn t-shirts with quirky prints or funny sayings into cool dorm room decor
Make a super-personal gift for a friend by using a t-shirt of their favorite college sports team, band, or fictional character
Visit our shop for more information and to buy your own DIY lampshade making supplies.
