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I get so many requests about making the umbrellas. People love them. They’re functional and beautiful. They can be personalized so they make a great gift. Do you have someone that has everything? You cannot possibly buy them a gift because they have all that they need? Well, I would be willing to bet that they don’t have a handmade umbrella.
These are extremely sturdy. I have sold over 2000 of these frames, and they have always held up. I use mine all of the time.
So, if you’re planning to take an umbrella class with me or one of the folks that I have sold these umbrellas to, what are you going to need?
Here’s the low down.
If you’ve never sewn an umbrella before I would suggest that your first one be made with a fabric that is a quilting cotton, and is an all over print. By all over I mean one that isn’t directional.
Once you are a pro, you can fussy cut or use a one way print. You can even choose to make each panel a different fabric.
There are 8 panels to the umbrellas. Here are some photos of an umbrella that is a one way print. It’s made with fabric from Alexander Henry that is large raindrops.
![](https://www.bungalowquilting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_7187-768x1024.jpg)
Here’s what it looks like from the inside.
![](https://www.bungalowquilting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_7189-768x1024.jpg)
After seeing these photos you will understand that there are a million different options for how to make these. The design possbilities are endless. But, hold on, you need to make a basic one first.
Here is what you need:
Umbrella with 8 panels all of the same allover fabric:
2 yards of quilting cotton
Good fabric cutting scissors
crummy paper cutting scissors
thread to match your project (I always use a medium to light gray as it blends right in with the fabric).
tape
glue stick
pins
8 safety pins that are about 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches long
hand stitching needle
water proofing spray (to be done in the privacy of your own yard, not in class)
small piece of velcro–1” x 1” both the hook and loop sides
small ruler for rotary cutting
rotary cutter
small rotary cutting mat
object for turning a tube right sides out (turning bodkin or something like this. A blunt pencil will also do).
Supply list for making umbrella with every other panel a different color (alternating 2 colors)
1 1/2 yards of one fabric
1 1/2 yards of another coordinating fabric
same remainder of items listed above
Supply list for one way print:
3 yards of fabric
same supply list as above
If this is your first one, I would encourage you to stick with an allover print. If you’re really an experienced sewist or a good garment sewist, you can choose any of the above methods.