How To Make An Umbrella

Call it a parasol, a brolly, rain-shade, sunshade, gamp, canopy or a bumbershoot, an umbrella is a canopy designed to protect you against the rain and the harsh rays of the sun. Umbrellas have been used since time immemorial and are available in different shapes, colors and fancy designs to make them look very attractive. These designer umbrellas are, however, not cheap and can burn a big hole in your pocket if you decide to own one. Therefore, if you don’t want to spend lavishly on owning a designer umbrella, this article on umbrella making tips will help you design and make a colorful umbrella for yourself without having to spend a lot of cash. Following these steps will not only teach you how to make your own umbrella, but will also help you understand the functioning of an umbrella. Read the following sections to learn more about this.

Umbrella Making Tips

Plastic Umbrellas
You can make a plastic umbrella using an old plastic sheet lying down in your attic. All you have to do is to cut out a circular piece out of this plastic sheet. Next; you will have to attach sticks or thin and flexible metal rods on similar lines as that of a standard umbrella. Once you are done with this step, you will need to attach the canopy to a strong rod. This will complete the process. You can now go ahead and paint the canopy in bright colors of a rainbow. This umbrella of yours is bound to attract a lot of attention!

Cloth Umbrellas
Another way in which you can make an umbrella for yourself is by using a fabric of your choice. An umbrella made out of a cloth will not protect you from getting wet, but will certainly be useful in protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun on a sunny day. Select the material of your choice and follow the same steps that were mentioned in the “plastic umbrellas” making tips. You can go a step further and show your resourcefulness by decorating your umbrella with laces and frills.

Net Umbrellas
You can make an umbrella out of a net as well to create a fashion statement in the average heat of the spring season. You can purchase a net of any color and malleable wire. Cut the net to the required size and weave or stitch the wire to the outer boundary of the umbrella shaped net. The wire will help hold the net intact.

Revamp Your Umbrella
If making a new umbrella sounds tough to you, then you can restore your old umbrella. Make use of acrylic paints, badges, frills and laces to make your old umbrella look more attractive. Shortlist a few designs for your new umbrella and use the materials mentioned to provide your umbrella with a brand new look. Mentioned below are the different parts and functions of an umbrella to help you understand the operation of the umbrella better.

Parts Of An Umbrella

Shaft
The shaft of the umbrella is generally made out of wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass or other plastic materials. Wooden shafts are made with the help of wood-shaping machines, whereas metal and plastic shafts are extruded to provide them with the required shape.

Ribs And Stretchers
Ribs are the material that run under the canopy of the umbrella, holding it in shape and stretchers are the ones that join the ribs to the shaft of the umbrella. The ribs are the ones that provide the ‘U’ shape to the umbrella and are attached to the canopy by fitting them into a notch. The ribs and stretchers are interconnected with a joiner that helps in the opening and closing of the umbrella.

Canopy
The canopy is the main part of an umbrella and is usually hand sewn to the ribs. The canopy cannot be cut from a single piece of material, since each piece needs to be shaped according to the sections of the canopy. The panels are cut out separately from a material known as ‘gores’. A usual umbrella comprises of 8 panels. However, there can be smaller umbrellas with only six panels.