How two broken umbrellas become one practical shopping bag

Still rain-proof but with a new look

In this blog article you will get an idea of how two broken umbrellas becoming a practical shopping bag.

Upcycling an umbrella ‒ Materials

You will need one or two discarded umbrellas and a press button (Snaply). With umbrellas, the ribs are likely to be damaged, but only rarely the fabric. Repairs are often not possible, so you simply throw the umbrella away. But stop! The light fabric can still be reused in a wonderful way.

Depending on the size of the umbrella, a bag can also be sewn from just one umbrella. If you happen to have two umbrellas, you can set excellent accents.

Upcycling an umbrella ‒ Sewing instructions

The exact measurements for cutting to size cannot be given as it depends on the size and finish of the umbrella. Separate the fabric from the ribs and cut out the middle.

Upcycling an umbrella ‒ Form a semicircle

Place the fabric wrong side on wrong side together to form a semicircle; at the top edge, two straight lines must lie on top of each other (this gives the top edge of the pocket) and then pin seam on seam. Mark the centre of the “starting triangle” (the yellow line in the photo) and cut off the sides next to the top corners at right angles to the top edge.

Upcycling an umbrella ‒ Sewing pockets

Also straighten the lower edge. Finished pocket measurements here: 42 × 38 cm. Close the side seams and the bottom seam right side on right side.

Sewing the bottom of your new shopping bag

Sew off the corners of the bottom, pin the side seam to the bottom seam and sew a 4-cm-wide bottom.

NOTE:

You can cut the handles and the facings from a second umbrella in a matching colour. If the fabric is not enough in one piece, simply sew strips together.

Upcycling an umbrella ‒ Sewing the handles

Our handles are each 56 × 6 cm, finished width 3 cm. Close the long sides of the handle strips right side on right side together, turn them over and topstitch both sides with narrow- edged stitches. Sew the handles approx. 10 cm from the side seams, right side on right side on the seam allowance at the top edge.

For the two facing strips, measure the upper edge of the bag and cut this width × 4 cm for the height. Close the facing strips to the ring along the short sides. Sew the facing right side on right side to the upper edge and topstitch 3 cm wide.

Find out how big the storage of your shopping bag is

To find out roughly how big the storage bag for the bag should be, fold the bag and put it into the old umbrella cover. Mark the upper edge, shorten the cover and hem the seam. Final size of the bag here 8 × 12 cm. Cut off the closure strap of the old umbrella and cut off the Velcro parts. Sew/hem one end of the closure strap. Sew the other end on the back of the bag. Attach the top side of the press button to the loose strap end, mark the opposite side on the bag and fit the bottom part.