can you hot glue fabric to plastic

The simple answer is yes, you can usually hot glue fabric to plastic. As it isn't going to get a lot of wear and tear as a lampshade, you're probably safe if that's the glue you're most comfortable with. However, long-term, hot glue tends to peel off smooth surfaces easily.

I have always found hot glue to have a sort of shelf life, and whatever I've made with it eventually comes apart. Plus, it will always go on in spurts which will be visible lumps under the fabric, and if you try to spread it, it will cool off too quickly.

If you do decide to use hot glue, I recommend not gluing in the middle of the lampshade, but only around the edges. If lumps are visible, you can cover them with trim. Don't use ribbon, as this won't conceal that problem. Gimp trims will conceal, can be hot glued on, and they come in a wide variety of colors. They'll often be part of a series of trims that include matching fringes and dangling beads, so you can put a small gimp trim at the top and a larger trim at the bottom. They do unravel, so be sure to use the glue to prevent this. Because of the nature of hot glue to peel, you may have to re-tack the edges at some future date, but it'll likely last you pretty good.

One of my favorite glues to use instead of hot glue is Aleene's "Original Tacky Glue." It's in a gold bottle with white lettering, and you can probably find it at any craft or sewing supply store. It seems excessively thick, but that is how it's supposed to be; it's not dried out. It's white but it dries clear, and you can tell it's completely dry when it turns invisible.

If you're not careful, it will also give you glue lumps in the middle of your fabric, so be sure to spread it evenly. Because you're not working against cooling, as with hot glue, or against fast drying, as with super glue, you've got some time to spread the glue and then carefully place the fabric. You can often even re-place the fabric, almost like working with post-it notes. If it's a part that especially needs support, you'll probably have to add to the glue if you have to re-place it. However, as with all glue, you need to check it before smearing it all over the middle of a fabric. I have almost never found Aleene's Tacky Glue to leave dark spots on fabrics, and I've used it extensively in my sewing, but, depending on the fabric, it does happen.

They're making it now in brush-on and glue stick and other varieties I haven't tried personally. I wouldn't recommend glue stick, because I've found that form of glue to always be weak and only useful for paper projects that aren't going to get much wear. The brush-on looks promising, and will probably work great for spreading evenly across your lamp shade.

Another plus this glue has over hot glue is that you can stock up on glue sticks all you want, and they always go faster than you expect. Tacky Glue will probably last you the rest of your life if you're not a big crafter. And pretty close to the rest of your life even if you are, because its extreme density makes it hard for anyone short of Schwartzanegger to accidentally squeeze too much out and waste it. It also almost never dries out, and can even survive leaving the cap off for quite a while. It might solidify at the top, but if you have the patience, you can peel out the dried glue and find gooey goodness still inside.