Recycle Umbrellas
2:11 PM Posted In UMBRELLA Edit This 0 Comments »
(CLICK ON PICTURE)Recycle dead UMBRELLAS into great SHOPPING BAGS
Reusable grocery bags are all the rage now. There are so many pretty ones out there but I refuse to spend money to buy them when I can make them myself. Here’s one I made out of a busted umbrella I found in the trash!
1. Remove the umbrella fabric from the frame. Cut out each of the seams and you should have 8 triangle pieces.
2. Iron the pieces on a low setting. Use a rotary cutter to neaten up the edges.
3. Cut 2 of the triangles in half lengthwise.
4. Take 2 triangles and 2 of the half triangles you just cut and piece them into a rectangle. The right angles of the half triangles should be on opposite corners of each other.
5. Sew the pieces together and press. Make another one. These are the 2 sides of the bag. Sew the 2 sides together (right sides facing each other) on 3 sides. You should now only have 2 triangles left.
6. Cut 2 strips (about 11″x3″) out of 1 of the remaining triangles. Fold each strip in half and sew lengthwise. Turn them inside out and press flat - these will be the handles.
7. Fold the top edge of the bag down about an inch and a half on the wrong side of the bag and press (this will give the top of the bag a little more strength for the handles). Center and attach the handles. I squared out the bottom of the bag but you can leave it as is. Turn the bag right side out.
8. Now the really fancy reusable grocery bags out there have their own little pouches. This is where the last piece of the triangle (the one with the velco tab!) comes in. Cut a 6″x6″ square out of the triangle.
9. Fold the square in half lengthwise with the velco tab inside and sew the side and bottom. Turn right side out.
10. Roll up your bag and stuff it in the pouch!
This bag is super light and it takes up no space at all. Throw it in your backpack, car (I mean, bicycle), pocket, and you’ll have a waterproof bag for any occasion!
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Strip off the fabric from an old umbrella and hang it upside down to create a handy drying rack. Use clothespins to hang wet items to dry. Fold the new drying rack up for storage.
Prevent a mess next time you clean the chandelier. Open an umbrella and hook the handle under the fixture to catch any dust or drips.
Shield picnic food from the sun and insects. Cut the handle off the open umbrella, then place it over the dishes. Use the same cover to protect seedlings and young plants in the event of a frost.
Carry brightly colored umbrellas to signal one another in a crowd. Hold the umbrellas aloft to find each other when separated.
Protect walls and wallpaper when misting plants. Hold an open umbrella behind each plant to catch any overspray. Hold an open umbrella under a hanging plant when watering it to catch drips and runoff.
Create an instant trellis with an old umbrella. Remove the fabric, then push the handle of the open umbrella into the soil. Encourage climbing vines, such as morning glories, up the trellis as a centerpiece in the garden.
Stake top-heavy plants like peonies with the ribs from an umbrella. Remove the metal ribs from an umbrella that's been turned inside out.
Use in the garden as:
A trellis (stand in middle of planting area and allow plants to wind up around it and out on the arms).
Seedling savers when there is a frost simply drape a tarp around the frame and protect your young plants.
Use it as a stake for plants that need more support.
Use on a picnic to place with handle removed over dishes and food to protect them from flies and such. Simply drape a towel over the frame keeping your picnic safe underneath.
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