The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-11-08
How to Cover parasols and Umbrellas.

The majority of ladies have stowe.l
away in some neglected corner or
darkened closet one or two dilapidate,l
p~arasols, whose days of usefulness
have long since been numbered with
the past, but which, on account Of
pleasing associations or some superior
ity in frame or handle, have not been
completely banished from the house.
hold.
What shall be done with these SUPER
anuated reminders of ''the merry
months of beauty, song and flowers"
is always a perplexing and annoying
question. If they are sent to the man.
ufacturer to be recovered the proba-
bilities are that they will cost in the
end nearly if not quite as much as 0
new one and the result seems scarcely
to Justify the expenditure.
But why not do the recovering at
home? Nothing is simpler, nothing
can be more readily performed by the
average needle-woman. BY so doing
many a discarded parasol or rusty
umbrella (for they too are included in
our category a be speedily restored
to its pristine glory, and while f1aunt-
ing gayly in the summer sunshine or
struggling amid wintry storms, eve
betray to spectators the skillful fingers
that wrought its transformation. There
is an old provefb that says, "a penny
saved is a penny earned" and the
pleasing consciousness of having OBJ
tanned that desirable end will amply
compensate for the time and labor ex.
pended upon its accomplishment, while
W. ,ont,,ro To occort fhot tho naraSnI
recovered at home will yield a deeper
and more lasting pleasure than that
which it afforded when first purchased,
without care or forethought, in some
fashionable shop.
The first step in the proceedings is to
measure the parasol, in order to form a
correct estimate of the material re
quired to cover it. To ascertain this,
measure the lowest and largest part.
taking half of the given length, with
half of one of the quarters, for tho
necessary amount. Suppose, for in
stance, your parasol measures thred
full yards around, the silk or satin
needed will be half that quantity, OK
one yard and a half, adding half of on,
of the pieces-in all probability about
one yard and three-quarters.
Having obtained the length, measure
through the center of one of the quar-.
ters-that is, from top to bottom-and
the number of inches indicated by the
tape will designate the required width.
Now detach the silk from the frame
being careful not to stretch or draw il
out Of shape, as upon this stage of the
work depends much of its ultimate
success. Rip the quarters apart, OBJ
serving the same precaution in regard
to stretching. Select the n in best
condition as a pattern, and cut from
the material Is many pieces rs the old
cover contained. These pieces mus
be laid horizontally upon the goods
the broadcast part to the se1vedge, and
alternated from side to side, in order tc
economic the silk. Having secured
the requisite number, a narrow hen
must then be laid along the
selvedge edge before they are
basted together. Sew the seams up OF
the right side as narrowly as the ma
terial will permit-indeed, merely g
scant holding of the silk is all that /
really necessary. Turn on the wrong
side and haste as closely and evenly a!
possible; then stitch again, allowing
nearly a quarter OF an lncn Tor Inc seam
When ali are finished, thread a 1arg'
needle with strong cotton, pass i
through each seam a seams breadth
from the top, and draw tightly to
gether.
Cut a circle of silk or muslin abou
six inches in diameter, p~erforate tn
center, and place on the upper part O
the frame. Still retaining the cover o.
the wrong side, insert the stick througI
the small aperature, and drawing the sill
firmly about it, wind the cotton threa!
two Or three times around the SINAI
t groove which is found at the top q
| every p~arasol. and tie securely.
Turn the cover over on the right sid
, and fasten the seams to the ends of tn
l wires by attaching them to the smaI
holes designed for that purpose. Fac
seam should also be sewed to the rib
in two other places to avoid their sliE
t ping beyond the wires, and with thes
last stitches ends the labor Of .paraso
! Or umbrella observation-disclosures
l Bazaar.