The making of a handprinted lampshade

It all begins with the block. Jess sketches out her design onto lino, before carefully carving out the areas where she doesn’t want the ink to go. Once the block is finished, she test prints the pattern to check if further carving is needed. The ink is mixed to the desired colour and it’s then time to handprint the fabric. This is a slow, meditative process which produces unique results every time. No two pieces will be the same, giving each product its own individual character. It’s then a waiting game for the ink to dry. Jess then headsets the fabric, washes and presses it, ensuring the ink is fixed. Now comes the construction phase. The shade backing is carefully attached to the fabric, before the rings are stuck to the top and bottom. Accuracy is key, especially at this stage, to make sure the shade is uniform in shape. Jess then makes the final touches by tucking in the overlapping fabric to give a neat finish. And there you have it - your handprinted lampshade. Nothing to it!