How to Make a Parasol

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Things You'll Need

  • Large umbrella with wooden handle

  • Measuring tape

  • Large Victorian stencil

  • Painter’s tape

  • Fabric paint, any color

  • Styrofoam plate

  • Stiff round brush

  • Flat hem lace

  • Fabric glue

  • Needle

  • Thread

  • 4-inch wide fringe trim

  • Sewing pins

  • Self-adhesive spray

  • 18-inch lace doily

Give new life to your favorite umbrella.
Image Credit: giant_rabbit/iStock/Getty Images

Beautify a standard umbrella into a Victorian-inspired parasol. Choose an umbrella of any color and decorate it with contrasting paint, lace and trim. Create an elegant parasol with a white umbrella and ivory or tea-colored decorations, or make an anime-inspired parasol using a purple umbrella and black decorations. This parasol is an easy project for crafters of all experience levels.

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Victorian-Inspired Parasol

Step 1

Open your umbrella and lock it in place.

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Step 2

Center a large Victorian stencil onto one of the umbrella's fabric panels. Tape it in place with painter's tape.

Step 3

Put a dab of fabric paint onto a Styrofoam plate. Dab the stiff round brush into the paint.

Step 4

Fill in the stencil area with the paint. Use a stippling motion to dab the paint onto the umbrella. Let the paint dry and then apply a second coat. Repeat this step on all of the umbrella panels.

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Step 5

Measure one of the umbrella seams. Multiply this length times the amount of seams on your umbrella. Use this measurement to determine how much hem tape you need.

Step 6

Cut several lengths of lace hem tape slightly longer than the length of the seams.

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Step 7

Fold one end of the lace hem tape over the edge of the umbrella. Glue the remaining tape to the outside seam with fabric glue. It should slightly fold over the edge and end at the top of the umbrella. Repeat this step on each seam. Let the glue dry before proceeding.

Step 8

Measure the complete edge of the umbrella. Use this measurement to determine how much fringe trim you need. Cut a length of trim slightly larger than that measurement.

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Step 9

Glue the fringe trim to the edge of the umbrella. Pin it in place with sewing pins. Allow the glue to slightly set before removing the sewing pins. Allow the glue to dry completely.

Step 10

Add a few blind stitches to help secure the fringe trim to the umbrella.

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Step 11

Cut a small circle in the center of a lace doily. Make the hole large enough to fit over the top portion of the umbrella pole.

Step 12

Spray the top of the umbrella with self-adhesive fabric spray.

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Step 13

Lay the lace doily over the top of the umbrella with the center knob sticking through the center of the doily. Smooth the doily on the top of the umbrella. If necessary, add more self-adhesive fabric spray.

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