Upcycled Patio Umbrella

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Patio umbrella
• Wavy edge template
• Disappearing ink marker
• Rit DyeMore for synthetic fibers
• Large stainless steel pot (most likely 25 qt or larger)
• Stainless steel spoon
• Candy thermometer, optional
• Plastic gloves
• Dish detergent, 1 1/2 tsp.
• Outdoor fabric, 2 yards
• 1" Bias tape maker
• Basic sewing supplies

DIRECTIONS:

1. Remove the umbrella fabric from its frame. Most patio umbrellas are designed to be taken apart. Removing the fabric should involve unscrewing the top cap and pulling the poles out of their fabric pockets. Pre-wash the umbrella fabric in warm, soapy water.
2. To find the downloadable template click on the "GET PATTERNS" tab above.
3. Use the Wavy Edge template to trace waves onto the umbrella’s edge with a disappearing ink marker.
4. Cut waves into edge and set aside the extra fabric to use for testing the dye color later.
5. Lay down newspaper or flattened cardboard to protect surface areas from dye. Set spoon, thermometer, plastic gloves, dye bottles and measuring tools on a protected area. Ensure that a nearby sink is cleared for pouring out dye bath and rinsing fabric. Have paper towels nearby.
6. Fill pot with enough water to cover your fabric - 3 gallons per 1 lb of dry fabric. Most likely the fabric from your patio umbrella is about 1 1/2 lbs, so you’ll probably fill it up with 4 1/2 gallons. Add 1 1/2 tsp. dish detergent and heat to over 200 degrees. The dye bath must stay above 200 degrees for the duration of the dye time.
7. Add dye to achieve your desired color. The Color Formulas Page on the Rit website is a fantastic resource for color mixing information. Make sure you click on the formulas for Rit DyeMore for Synthetics.
8. Wet a test strip of umbrella fabric and place it in the dye bath for at least 30 minutes. Remove the test strip from the dye bath and rinse, warm first and then cold, until water runs off clear, and then assess the dye color and make any dye adjustments necessary. If the color is more saturated than you would prefer, dump about half of the dye bath out and refill with 2 1/4 gallons of water and bring back up to about 200 degrees.
9. Test again if necessary.
10. When the right dye color is achieved, wet umbrella fabric and place it in the dye bath. Stir continuously, especially for the first 10 minutes. Most likely your umbrella fabric is polyester and will need to stay in the dye bath for at least 30 minutes to ensure the color fully takes. Please refer to Rit DyeMore’s instructions for any other kind of fabric.
11. When your preferred color is achieved (remember that the color will dry lighter), remove the umbrella fabric from the dye bath. Squeeze out excess dye and rinse the fabric in the sink starting with warm water and transitioning to cool water. Rinse until the water runs clear.
12. Wash with warm water with a mild detergent, hang to dry.
13. Make the bias tape - Cut a 2" wide strip at a 45-degree angle across the surface of the outdoor fabric you’re using for the bias tape. You’ll probably need about 5 of these strips. Insert end of fabric strip into the bias tape maker and pull it through and press it with an iron as it folds the edges in. Once you’ve folded and pressed the entire strip of fabric, match the folded edges together and press all the way across again. Attach all strips of bias tape together to make one long strip of bias tape. If bias tape ends are angled, cut them so that they are 90 degrees. Then attach bias tape ends so they are perpendicular to each other and with the right sides together. Pin in place and sew at a 45 degree angle from the top left to the bottom right. Trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press with iron. Re-fold bias tape creases at the joins and press again.
14. Place the bias tape to cover the rippled edges of the umbrella fabric, use sewing clips or straight pins to keep in place. Begin sewing 2" in from the end of the fabric, about 1/8" from the bias tape folded edge, and continue all the way around the umbrella fabric’s wavy edges. Stop 2" before the end. Use your disappearing ink marker to mark the beginning of the bias tape on the umbrella fabric edge. Then join the two bias tape ends as before, and sew it in place along the umbrella edge.
15. Place umbrella fabric back onto umbrella frame.