Laminated

Laminated, or hardback shades, are made by attaching fabric or paper onto a plastic sheet called styrene. A laminated shade has a top ring and a bottom ring, and is supported by the styrene and fabric.

Traditional Hand Sewn Shades

Traditional style shades are made by sewing fabric onto a wire frame. . In addition to simple stretched shades, we offer a variety of pleated, and shirred style options.

Both stretched and sewn shades require an inner lining that can be specified when ordering. These types of shades also require a flat welt binding of 1/2" in order to cover the appearance of hand sewing on the top and bottom rings.

Paper

Paper shades can be made using most heavy weight paper or parchment as well as some light weight wall covering. Paper shades require a flat welt finish of standard paper tape or selected fabric.

Spider (washer)

The washer, or spider, hardware is only found at the top of a shade that has horizontal rods connecting the top ring to a center washer that sits on top of the lamp harp.

Euro Fitter

The Euro fitter is a European fitter that is round and flat with 3 standard sizes 1 1/8", 1 3/8", and 1 5/8". The flat ring is typically 3/5” - 1/2” wide. To get the accurate size of euro fitter measure the inner space from widest point to widest point.

Threaded Uno Fitter

The uno fitter is hardware found on antique lamps that have a wide center and a threaded washer. The shades screw into the lamp fixture.

Clips

There are two types of clips available. There is the edison clip and the torpedo clip. The edison clip is used for standard light bulbs and comes as a single clip. The torpedo clip is used for torpedo bulbs and comes as a single or double clip.

Shade Shop SF carries a small selection of silk and linen fabrics for our clients' convenience. All Shade Shop SF fabrics are guaranteed to work for both sewn and laminated shades.

While we strive to work with and accommodate all COMs, there are rare instances when a fabric does not work with the laminating or stretching process and another fabric will have to be found. Shade Shop SF is not responsible for these instances, but will work closely with the client to ameliorate the issue. Please see COM terms and conditions.

Rolled Edge or Flat Welt (Bias Finishing)

A flat welt or a bias finish is a  strip of fabric that is used for a clean finish on the top and bottom edge of a shade. All sewn shades require welt finishing of 1/2" or larger at the top and bottom edges to cover the appearance of hand sewing. Laminated shades may have a finishing as small as 1/4".

This finish is also used, but is not necessary, on the vertical side seams and on any vertical rods that frame the shade. Bias can be as small as 1/4” or as big as 2”.

For most fabrics, laminated shades do not require bias binding . Some lightweight  fabrics may require a bias finishing depending on how sheer the fabric is. For all others, rolled edges are an option for finishing in addition to self or contrasting bias.

Rolled edge shades are made without an edge finish. This look is only possible on laminated shades.

Shade Shop SF carries a small selection of antique and modern trim for our clients' convenience. Clients may also provide their own trim. While most customer trims work fine with the shades, they should be approved before moving forward with a project.