Fall Necessities: How to Fix an Umbrella

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a broken umbrella on a rainy day, especially if you’re headed to work or school. Additionally, many people use their umbrellas for protection on particularly sunny days as well, and a broken umbrella can mean excessive sun exposure.

Instead of buying an expensive new umbrella, why not turn a tough situation into a fun crafting opportunity to fix up the one you already have? With a sewing machine and a few other materials, your umbrella will be as good as new before you know it.

Understand How Your Umbrella Works

Before you get started, it’s important to understand the anatomy of your umbrella. The canopy, or the part that covers you, is made up of multiple ribs that will each have its own seam when you sew your new canopy cover.

You can sew the canopy cover directly to the ribs or sew tips on your canopy cover to attach to the ends of the ribs and remove them when desired. The latter makes it easy to wash your canopy cover when needed.

Select a Durable Fabric

Your umbrella’s canopy cover should be just as durable and reliable as it is stylish. Materials with nylon in their blend are often a good choice for rain resistance. Keep in mind that the more synthetics your fabric has, the less stretch it will have. You’ll have to take this into account when cutting the fabric for your sewing machine.

Base Your New Pattern on the Old Canopy Cover

Even if it’s damaged or unusable, your umbrella’s old canopy cover can work great as inspiration for the new one you’re about to make. Take the old cover apart, lay out the pieces on your new fabric with straight edges, and trace the pattern to get the right sizes in place.

Make Sure Your Stitches are Solid

As you’re stitching the pieces of fabric together to create your canopy cover, make sure to go over each rib stitch more than once with your sewing machine. This will help to ensure that your seams won’t be leaking water or coming apart anytime soon.

Test your stitches on a scrap piece of fabric first to guarantee that your stitch length is holding sturdy.

Sewing Machine DIY Ideas for All Levels at GoldStar Tool

From sewing machine beginners to advanced crafters, we’ve got all the DIY ideas you need at GoldStar Tool.