The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-01
Lamp Shades and How to Make
Them.


Although there is tendency to run
rather too much TO millinery" in the
present fashion Of adjoining lamps, there
is no question but colored shades add
greatly TO The effect Of room. Now
that tissue paper is used SO much in their
construction they are within the means
Of almost every one. For a large ban
quet-shade thirty-six sheets Of French
tissue paper are required if the shade has
three skirts, and twenty-four if only two
are used. The sheets should be pasted
together in threes, and when thoroughly
dry should be drawn through the hands
and tightly pressed to give the creped
appearance, in which 50 much Of their
beauty consists. This is rather a slow
process, but many hands makes light
wo=k in this as in other things.
When finished paste four cFinkIed
pieces together, making a round skirt of
twelve sheets Of paper. After three skirts
have been joined in this way, arrange
them one over the other, the deepest on
the outside and the palest next the Light,
and secure them to a wire frame (which
comes for the purposel with a stout rub
Der band. Leave i've or six inches at
the top for a ruche, and distribute the
fulness as evenly as possible. Then, after
tying securely with a string or ribbon,
remove the band. The entire depth Of
this shade, including the ruche at the
top, should beabOut twenty-three inches,
and it will be found necessary 10 cut off
some Of the paper before duting the
edges. All this should be done with
the wire frame placed in position on the
lamp, as it would be impossible TO man
age anything SO unwieldy in any other
way.
Now comes the artistic part, and deit
fingers can add many touches here and
there which conduee greatly to the effect.
Each skirt should be run through the
fingers at its lower edge and the erinkles
pulled out to give a ruflled appearance.
The top should be treated in the same
way, and pulled down to hide the string
with which it is tied This forms a
thick ruche, and the whole, if properly I
made, has much the appearance Of an
immense flower.
The prettiest combination is formed by I
using three tones of yellow il real Jon /
quill colors, and as the fluting at the low
er edge has much the look Of the cup of !
q jonquil, it is not difficult TO imagine |
this yellow shade a gigantic imitation Of |
that lovely blossom
Another good combination consists Of |
two skirts of rose-pink, with a pale |
yellow-green fer lining. and this shade Is
fully as beautiful in the daytime as when /
the lamp is lighted at night
For very costly and richly decorated
lamp a silk and lace trimmed shade may
be used. In making these the lining
should be cut in sections and put on ike
the cover Of an umbrella, except that the
seams are on top. After tnls IS i2stened
to the wire frame the outside cover is
put on. This is made by sewing several
straight breadths of silk together, allow
ing depth enough to have double ruche
of five or SIX inches at the top. Shirr
several times before fastening to the
frame, and arrange the fullness at the
bottom either in plaits or gathers. Fast
en- frayed or pinked rufiie Of the silk
about six inches deep 10 the lower edge,
and over this place fall Of lace Of equal /
depth. This silk ruflle is inn 9rtant, as
the glare Of the light through the white
lace IS very unpleasant. A frame made
of asbestos paper, which was patented in
1919, may be bought for a trife at almost
any lamp-store and is a certain Protec- /
ton against the heat.-Hq-psT's BH-qr.