How to Make a Recycled Umbrella
It may be old, torn or just plain ugly, but everyone's got at least one unusable or unloved umbrella lurking somewhere in the house. While umbrellas were used solely as protection from the sun in ancient China and Egypt, they eventually gained significance in royal and religious circles as status symbols. Throughout their evolution to today's utilitarian use as a protection against rain, the basic design has changed little and a structurally sound umbrella is ideal for recycling purposes. With a little imagination, some colorful printed fabric and a sewing machine, a tired, dull umbrella can be recovered and revived.
Things You'll Need
- Metal spoked umbrella
- Pliers
- Seam ripper
- Iron
- Thin hand towel
- Large newspaper pages
- Tape
- Tailor's chalk
- Straight ruler
- Sharp scissors or rotary fabric cutter
- Fabric, 2 yards
- Fabric interfacing, 6-in scrap
- Sewing machine
- Snap closure
- Sewing needle
- Thread
- Waterproofing spray if not using waterproof fabric
Instructions
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1
Remove the cap or ferrule at the top of the umbrella using pliers, taking care not to bend or destroy the metal. Remove the umbrella cover from the frame using a seam ripper and separate one intact fabric section from the main, opening all hems and seams.
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2
Iron the section on low to medium heat, covering it with a thin hand towel to keep the fabric from melting, then do the same to one or more large newspaper pages to remove creases. Tape two pages together on both sides if necessary.
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3
Lay the newspaper page on a flat work surface and lay the ironed umbrella section on it. Mark the fabric edges plus 1/2 inch onto the newspaper using tailor's chalk and a straight ruler as a guide. Cut out the pattern with sharp scissors or a rotary fabric cutter.
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4
Fold 2 yards of fabric in half lengthwise, right sides facing, on the floor or an even work surface and arrange the newspaper pattern on the bias of the fabric. Mark and cut out as many panels as needed using tailor's chalk and scissors or a rotary cutter.
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5
Measure the length of the old umbrella strap/tie and cut a rectangle 2 inches wide by that length plus 1 inch. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, right sides facing, and press, then stitch along three sides close to the raw edges. Turn the tie right side out, press, then stitch around the entire perimeter close to the edges, turning in the raw end before finishing.
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6
Pin and stitch the panels together, right sides facing and edges matching, to within 1/4 inch of the top end of each panel and stitching seams twice for strength. Insert the tie/strap in between two of the panels before stitching, backstitching several times for strength.
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7
Press all the finished seams to one side, adjusting the iron's heat for fabric type. Stitch each seam selvage to a corresponding panel next to the main seam, then carefully trim the allowance close to the stitching.
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8
Fasten the female side of a snap closure to the uppermost side of the umbrella strap about 1 inch from where the strap is attached to the cover, then fasten the male side of the snap to the strap about 1 inch in from the end on the same side.
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9
Fold the bottom hem under about 1/4 inch, then again. Stitch around the circumference of the umbrella cover and press. Cut a 2-inch circle of fabric interfacing, center it at the top opening and stitch it to the wrong side of the fabric around the outer edge.
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10
Cut out and hem a 3 1/4-inch circle of leftover cover fabric and stitch it to the outside top center of the cover, right side up. Poke a hole through the centers of the interfacing and fabric circle using sharp scissors.
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11
Fit the new cover over the umbrella frame and reattach the cap or ferrule firmly to the top of the umbrella. Match the cover's seams with the ribs of the umbrella skeleton and hand stitch each seam end to a corresponding rib end. Treat the new cover with a waterproofing spray according to package directions.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase new umbrella caps or ferrules at a hardware store if the original is damaged during removal.
Use contrasting printed fabric lengths to create a more visually interesting umbrella cover.
Add lengths of ribbon and lace to a recovered umbrella to create a parasol.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
