How to dye and print your own fabric for a lampshade!

Here I'll show you how to print your own lampshade with the patterned paint rollers and some Chalk Paint™

Apart from the paper and masking tape, everything you need for this project is available from us right here at 'The Little Welsh Dresser'

You will need

• Fabric
• Masking tape
• One of our patterned paint roller designs
• Chalk Paint™
• Paper
• Lampshade kit - we have these in 20cm, 30cm and 40cm diameters to suit 

Method

1. If using plain fabric, you can dye this first using Chalk Paint™. Simply soak in a watered down mixture for at least 30 minutes, then rinse, dry and iron to set the dye. I used Aubusson Blue Chalk Paint™ and used a ratio of approximately 1 paint to 20 water.
2. Use the masking tape to tape the fabric tightly to ideally a wall, or if you're careful this is possible on a table.
3. Pour a small amount of the Chalk Paint™ in to a paint tray or board and roll the patterned paint roller applicator foam back and forth until it has absorbed the paint. You can dilute the Chalk Paint™ and little to make this absorb more easily.
4. Insert your chosen patterned roller into the applicator and turn it to cover the pattern.
5. Have a little practice on some old wrapping paper or wallpaper first, just to get used to giving consistent pressure.
6. When your confident, start on the left had side of the fabric, working in vertical columns, and run the roller down the fabric. Hold the roller at a 45° to the wall or board throughout and keep an even pressure.
7. On the next 'column', slightly overlap the pattern and repeat this until all the fabric has been completed.
8. Leave to dry and then use the instructions in the lampshade kits we sell to complete your lampshade. You can view a video of the lampshade kits being made by clicking HERE.