Vintage lace has always had a magical impact on me. Its enchanting appearance is filled with historical values passed down through generations. Here are a few samples that caught my eye at the Fergus Scottish Festival this summer, aren’t they just gorgeous?! Irish Crochet and Bruges Crochet have touched my heart when I learned these techniques in my early 20’s…and Pineapple Lace doilies were the beginning of my crochet path in middle school.

With vintage lace in my heart, I enjoy creating modern designs using old motifs and techniques as inspiration. A few decades ago, Pineapple Lace was commonly used in home decor, but in our modern world you can find Pineapples in almost any crochet category. I started using Pineapple stitch widelly for designing dresses and parasols in 2005-2007 and it’s still one of my most favourite stitches.

Parasols are just like big doilies; however, the lace does not lay flat as it has a dome shape. So when you stretch out your parasol, it creates a nice rounded canopy.

You might be stumped by where to get an umbrella mechanism…no worries, it’s just a regular stick umbrella that you can easily take apart and remove its original fabric cover. I recently purchased this black umbrella in Walmart, but you can also find them on Amazon or elsewhere. You will also need size 10 cotton thread; Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet Thread is a great choice. Check out my video below on how to turn a basic stick umbrella into a beautiful lace parasol.

I have another little trick to share. Over time, the woven yarn ends might get loose and will pull out eventually. To avoid that, apply a small drop of fabric glue onto the yarn ends right after you weave them in. Let the glue dry completely before using your parasol. I like Liquid Stitch, it has white color when you apply it but is clear after drying.

I hope you will check out my Parasol Patterns at IraRott.com and will enjoy making them. Happy crafting!