Advanced Pleated Lampshade Course: A Four Day Workshop

Description

Fan pleats, swathed pleats, box pleats, sunray pleats…. these wonderful pleating styles are all coming right back into fashion… which is an absolute joy for anyone who loves exploring the creative possibilities of lampshade making. Join lampshade maker, author of best-selling book Sewing Lampshades and teacher Joanna Heptinstall for a creative four day workshop concentrating on mastering pleating skills. We will begin by making a set of samples, on which students can explore and practice the various techniques. These can be taken home as a resource for future shade-making. Once we have thoroughly explored and learned swathed, box, sunray and fan pleating techniques students will move onto design a lampshade featuring one of the techniques, taking it to fruition as a finished shade. As we will be working at an intermediate level, some lampshade making experience is required. Ideally students will have already attended our one day pleated lampshade workshop, or completed the pleated Lesson in a Box. The Lampshade School is a dedicated, airy well-equipped studio and is part of Joanna’s Traditional Upholstery School. It is based in rural Wiltshire, close to a good network of roads, and has its own parking and kitchen. About the tutor Joanna Heptinstall is a versatile and experienced upholsterer, teacher and maker, with a particular interest in lampshade making. Following the completion of a Fine Arts degree at Sheffield Hallam University and subsequent post-graduate studies in journalism, Joanna worked for several years in magazine publishing before re-training as an upholsterer 26 years ago. She soon developed a love for lampshade restoration, reviving almost-lost skills and writing her best-selling book Sewing Lampshades to share those skills with other makers. Joanna lives in Wiltshire, teaching professional upholstery and lampshade skills in her own school, enjoying making, and walking with her spaniel Nellie. Please bring For your final piece students should bring their own choice of top and lining fabric, and a matching gimp braid. We recommend: 1m cotton lawn, or similar, as the lining fabric. 1 or 2m silk chiffon as your top fabric. Note that you will need plenty as the pleating techniques require a lot of fabric. 3m, or enough, gimp braid to trim your shade. Students will be provided with simple frame shapes and suitable plain fabrics for making their samples. While we have all the equipment you need, we find that students like to bring their own scissors, haberdashery kit and even their sewing machine. Your packed lunch. For those travelling and staying over, there is a great café locally for those wanting to buy a healthy lunch on the day. Further details Please select 'Chat with the maker' if you would like to contact Joanna in advance of booking with any queries about fabrics and trimmings, or would like recommendations for places to stay.

What's included in the price?

Tuition, binding tape and specialist threads. Four small shade frames for working samples on, plus suitable plain fabric. Refreshments throughout the day. Additional shade frames in a huge range of styles are available to buy, priced from £8 each.

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

The Lampshade School

with Craft Courses since 2023

Message the tutor

The Lampshade School is based in lovely, roomy workrooms near Bradford on Avon in rural Wiltshire. It offers a range of professional lampshade making skills workshops. It was founded by Joanna Heptinstall, author of 'Sewing Lampshades'. The Lampshade School is also home of Traditional Upholstery School, one of Britain's few training centres delivering AMUSF accredited training.