Palm tree umbrellas look great over tiki bars.
You can make your own palm tree umbrellas to add the feel of the islands to your outdoor retreat. These umbrellas are made out of real palm tree fronds that are thatched to create an umbrella cover that rests over a patio umbrella. Most palm umbrella structures are the same but with decorative accents you can make each umbrella unique. Palm tree umbrellas protect against sun, but not rain, because they are not waterproof. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Decide how large the palm umbrella cover needs to be by measuring around the circumference of a patio umbrella.
2. Make a guide for your palm fronds. Spray paint a circle on the ground that is the exact size of your umbrella.
3. Collect about 50 palm tree fronds for an 8-foot umbrella. Lay the palm fronds in the circle with their stems pointed inward. Overlap each frond by about 3 inches as you create the umbrella topper.
4. Tie twine onto the stem of one of the fronds and secure it with a double knot. Tie the stem next to it with the remainder of the twine so the fronds are bound together. Continue tying all the stems together in this fashion until all the stems are bound to one another.
5. Measure 5 to 6 inches below the frond's stems. Weave a piece of twine up and over each frond in the circle. Tie the ends of the twine together when it has been woven through all the fronds. Continue weaving twine up and over the fronds every 5 to 6 inches until you reach 5 to 6 inches from the tips of the fronds.
6. Set the umbrella's pole into an umbrella holder in its final resting place. Open the umbrella fully. Set up ladders on either side of the umbrella so the fronds can be lifted above the umbrella.
7. Lift the circle of palm tree fronds up and over the umbrella with the help of a few friends. Hold the circle above the umbrella while another person pulls the stems down into the umbrella's center hole. Under the umbrella have someone tie all the stems together this will keep the fronds from sliding off the umbrella.
8. Allow the fronds to rest on top of the umbrella. Cut all the sharp edges of the frond that could puncture the umbrella's fabric with pruning shears.
9. Add decorative accents to the umbrella to make each umbrella unique. Incorporate white lights to create a romantic island umbrella. Pull an extension cord through the hollow umbrella pole and out through the top. Connect the white lights to the extension cord. Start at the top of the umbrella and wrap the lights around the umbrella in a downward spiral. Turn the lights on.
10. Hang tiki lights, parrot-shaped lights or flamingo-shaped lights around the rim of the umbrella to make a tiki bar umbrella. Tie one end of a piece of twine to the center stalk near the end of a frond every 4 to 6 inches around the rim of the umbrella. Tie the other end of the twine to the light's cord so they hang just below the fronds around the rim of the umbrella.
11. Hang shells and starfish around the rim of the umbrella to make a beach-themed umbrella. Make 5- to 8-inch long loops by tying the ends of a5- to 8-inch long piece of twine together. Glue the knot on each loop to the back of a shell or starfish with superglue. Allow the glue to harden. Hang the shell and starfish ornaments on the fronds around the rim and top of the umbrella.
Tags: around umbrella, palm tree fronds, piece twine, tree fronds, 8-inch long, above umbrella