Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle broken umbrellas?

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:44:41 +0000

I cut the fabric into different size circles, then gently/carefully melt the fabric round the edges of the circles. This stops any fraying and shapes the circles. Then sew them together in the centre and you have a flower- great for brooches , corsages or hair accessories

By: Esther

Esther — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:21:20 +0000

I took the fabric off of an old broken black umbrella and used it as a cage cover for my son’s extremely noisy parakeet.
I’ve been using the fabric of an old Coca-Cola patio umbrella as a patio tablecloth. It’s just the right size for round patio tables, and the steel ring in the center is great for popping a “good” umbrella pole through it, for shade.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:09:54 +0000

I recently turned my broken umbrella into a waterproof drawstring purse.

http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/2010/02/15/how-to-reuse-an-umbrella-to-make-a-purse/

By: Taryn Zychal

Taryn Zychal — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:46:39 +0000

Hello! My name is Taryn Zychal and I am a designer working exclusively with broken umbrellas and their material. My company is called Recycling Zychal we are based out of Philly and our current line includes custom made to order broken umbrella dog rain coats and winter coats, modern day babushkas that I call the HOOD and Organic Cat Nip Filled Kitty Toys, but am launching the next phase of my line next month that will include products for mom, baby and more pet products!
Be sure to check it out and if you would like to donate a broken umbrella to me, please message me. http://www.recyclingzychal.etsy.com
Thank you! Hope this helps!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:23:07 +0000

Hi Make a circle skirt for your kids to wear to school over their uniform!! Elasticise the waist and it looks fantastic. All the kids want them and they learn to recycle.

By: Bad Monkey

Bad Monkey — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:11:17 +0000

If its large enough (golf umbrella) then the fabric can be used once cut down to make ideal frost cover for your car, and the handle and main stem can be used to make walking/hiking pole if sturdy enough once you remove the spokes and frame.

By: Bridget

Bridget — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:47:54 +0000

The bag idea is a good one, but the trick is to cut the opening at the centre top, and then sew the outside edges together. A small umbrella will need about 30 cm of tape sewn to the ends to make a strap long enough to go over the shoulder. A big umbrella only needs the ends sewn together. The bag is light, rolls down to nothing, is easy to carry and holds a h*ll of a lot.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:20:12 +0000

Make a kite!
http://www.homeofthesampler.com/howtos/rosetravale_umbrella.html
Its easy, breezy, and…,well, beautiful! The tutorial is simple to follow… all you need are string, an umbrella, and a sewing machine! (and scissors and other basics) Hope i helped!!

By: pamela

pamela — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:38:57 +0000

I have a really big umbrella, that was used on my deck table/chairs, but got ratty and then some of the spokes broke. I bound it to a tree over my dog kennel, and made a nice rain/shade cover for my dog. I was able to bind the spokes to the fencing of the kennel, too, so i know it will not fail, and come down on her. It is small enough to give her kennel only partial shade, so she can choose sun/shade. It is not terribly sightly, but the kennel is in the back yard, anyway. Has lasted for years now.

By: pamela

pamela — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:36:28 +0000

I saw broken umbrella frames used by a theatre troope, they knotted streamers to the frame, and they blew in the wind, they held it like a rain umbrella, but it was fanciful and lovely and attracted attention. This was a walking troope, on the street, attracting people to their performance.

By: Barney McWhiskers

Barney McWhiskers — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:08:41 +0000

just buy new!

its sooooooo cheap nowadays! pop in to primark! just £3 a go!

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:06:45 +0000

The fabric and bright colours are ideal for making bunting for charity fund raising events

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 04:24:21 +0000

It would make a very nice kite with just a wooden dowel a kite string and some sewing

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 04:20:46 +0000

It looks like good fabric to make a kite with. All you’d need is your sewing kit, some wooden dowel rod and some kite string.

By: Barb

Barb — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 20:18:30 +0000

I’ve got a cover waiting to be reused. I’ve thought of having it made (I don’t sew) into a “ditty bag” for wet cloth diapers. I think there’s even stuff I could spray on it to make it completely waterproof, but for a quick carry home, I think it would work pretty good. :D

By: GirlGenius

GirlGenius — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:09:44 +0000

Here is a very cute dress made from recycled umbrella fabric

http://fiftyrx3.blogspot.com/2005/12/finally-finished-umbrella-dress.html

By: flamingo

flamingo — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:18:34 +0000

I once turned the fabric off an umbrella into a superhero cape for a little boy-
Remove from the metal structure and fold in half inside-out to make a semi circle, then sew along the bottom- turn right side out and attach a simple “collar” and use either a button or press-stud to fasten at neck

hours of fun!

By: trish

trish — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:42:10 +0000

sew it into a drawstring bag, use it to carry things in a water resistant bag.

put foam inside it and make pool toy floaties

By: Shila

Shila — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:15:09 +0000

I would say that what you use it for would largely depend on your personality… I know that if it were me, I would use colorful umbrella fabric either to make a pillow (Most likely a circular pillow, using something in the middle to hide where the hole was, as well as a backing made out of fabric from the fabric store.)

Also, if it’s a particularly large umbrella, you might try making it into a skirt! I don’t know if that’s your taste, but if it were me I would probably just look up a circle skirt pattern online (they’re everywhere!) and use the directions to measure and sew the waist line. Then if you want, buy lace or a cute, complimentary fabric to add extra length, if needed.

Also, if you have children, this could be a fun play toy! I remember playing with a HUGE parachute in elementary, so kids might have fun playing with it by itself, or with strings attached for their dolls.

Hope this helped!