Fran, >Why not baste after pinning? Baste if you feel you need to. It's not for me if it can be avoided. Pins are my basting.
>This shade has two layers of material, do you use two layers? I had to run upstairs and take a look. Yes, the two remaining shades that I own both have actually 3 layers. They are lined in silk--layer one--which is put on first. Some sections of the outside frame are patterned silk and other sections are plain silk with silk chiffon drawn and gathered over them. > Is that how you get the material evenly stretched over the lampshade sections The original frame was in tattered shape but enough remained that I could figure out how it was done. The lining goes on first bringing the seam to the front and whipstitching it to the tape covered wires. Not sure if I photographed the process--in those days, probably only the finished project although now I am curious and may go take a look through the maze. Next I worked in individual sections(I have done ones without sections), pinning each section, pulling and pinning until it was taught. Then these seams were overcast to the tape. Lastly I did the chiffon work over the underpiece of silk, working with multiple pins holding each gather until it was stitched. You trim the fabric close after stitching. On the part where the hem is at the bottom and the top, I overcast the edge once and then brought the fabric back over that stitching and overcasting for the second time to make it very secure and then cutting the fabric close to this stitching. You are then ready to add your trim. It is a personal choice to use glue(yuck) or stitch. If you ever need to change the t! rim or fabric, you will be grateful that you did not use glue. My fuschia pink shade has faded terribly and I have scraps from the original to prove that. In Victorian times they probably had them in rooms with heavy drapery and therefore did not fade as quickly. My fuschia shade was done at least 30 years ago. And would you believe that I have yet to clean and re-string the most beautiful glass fringe. Hopefully I get that done before I die . So to answer your question I get it evenly stretched over the frame sections by WORKING those pins until I am satisfied. Most sections are cut on the bias which helps. >The big sections of the frame curve in and out The bias cut should help with this. I am trying to visualize your shade. We could perhaps be talking about two entirely differently shaped shades. I love fancy shades and wish I had more rooms to use them in. I took apart the last one I purchased (anaother one with glass bead fringe which is what made me purchase it) and that is as far as I got with it. It remains in pieces waiting for me to have some free time. It is a labour of love as it takes a great deal of time. IF you go on line I am sure you could find people selling videos etc. on how to do it. At sewing shows years ago I saw such videos. But you should also be able to figure it out on your own. Charlene Roberts _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
