TUTORIAL: Umbrella Sleeve

Do you want to dress up your umbrella with your favorite fabric?  You'll be surprised how easy it is to do!

This tutorial was inspired by one of my Facebook Fans....Thanks Lindsey!  As a thank you, Lindsey will be receiving one of these sleeves!

On to the tutorial..... This tutorial will provide measurements for making a sleeve for a compact 11" umbrella.  If you have a different size umbrella, just grab the sleeve that came with it and follow the "Measurement" steps to get your fabric dimensions.

What You Will Need:
>  The sleeve that came with your umbrella (if making a different size sleeve)
>  Fabric of your choice
> Coordinating thread

**Seam allowance = 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

STEP 1:  Measure Your Umbrella Sleeve

Lay your umbrella sleeve flat and measure the length & width.  Use the following calculations to get the size of the fabric you will start with.

Length + 3  (if your umbrella is really fat, increase this to 3.5)

[Width x 2] + 1

STEP 2: Cut and Prepare Your Fabric

Cut your fabric to the dimensions you calculated in Step 1.

For a standard 11" compact umbrella you will cut your fabric to 11" x 7"

TIP:  I used regular cotton for this sleeve, but you may want to make this with a laminate!

Serge or zig zag around the perimeter of your fabric to prevent fraying.

STEP 3:  Prepare the Top

With the right side facing up, fold the short end of the fabric down 2" and press.  This will create the hem at the top of the sleeve.

Sew down each side of the sleeve to close off the open ends. 

 This will create a "pocket".

Turn this pocket right-side out.

Sew along the raw edge about 1/2" in from the raw edge.

STEP 4:  Create the Sleeve

Fold the sleeve in half lengthwise (right sides together) and pin.

Sew the sleeve beginning about 1/2" above where the raw edge of the top hem begins (indicated by the pencil in the image above).  This leaves about 1 3/4" slit so you can easily get your umbrella in and out.

Sew down the side and across the bottom.

STEP 5:  Box out the Corners

Put your fingers inside the opening and flatten out one of the two corners to create a triangle (seam lines should line up in the center)

 Mark a line across the triangle about 1/2" in from the center of the tip.  (If your umbrella is really fat, you will want to increase this to 3/4")
Sew(backtacking at start and end).  Repeat for the other corner.

Clip the excess of each corner.

Turn right side out.

Insert your umbrella!

Happy Sewing!