Rainy day remedies: How to fix an umbrella and start knitting

There are days that are just better spent indoors and the weather is telling you to stay in, but that doesn't mean you cannot be productive.  Fix a broken umbrella before running out or take up knitting.

Not only is it raining, but a gust of wind catches your umbrella and tears the fabric from a spoke. Don't throw it away — take it home and make this simple repair, instead.

You will need:

• Strong thick thread
• Needle

1. Check the corner seam of the umbrella where it's supposed to meet the spoke. If it's undone, repair with a few stitches.
2. Fold the seam corner about six millimetres (1/4 inch) in towards the umbrella's centre, and add a few stitches to hold it in place.
3. Insert your needle into the edge seam just to one side of the folded corner.
4. Pass the needle through the hole in the loose spoke of your umbrella.
5. Add a stitch in the seam on the opposite side of the folded corner. Remember to go back through the spoke hole again and repeat steps four and five once more.
6. Knot the end of your thread. Working close to the fabric, wrap the thread around the needle twice, then pull the needle through. Repeat for strength.

Now that you have fixed your umbrella, it's time to knit.

1. Tie a slip knot round a needle and hold that needle in your right hand.
2. Wrap the yarn from the ball end around your left thumb, then grasp the yarn firmly between the palm of your hand and the tips of your fingers.
3. Turn your hand so that the back of your thumb is facing you, forming a loose loop. Insert the needle from front to back through the loop.
4. Slip your thumb out of the loop and at the same time pull the yarn downward to close the loop around the needle. Repeat to make first row.

Yes, it's as easy as that but if you are up for more of a challenge, try the purl stick.

Get ready, set, go.

1. Insert the right needle in front of the left needle (not behind) and behind the ball-end yarn rather than in front.
2. Wrap the yarn around the right needle as before, pull it through and push the stitch on the left needle towards the tip.
3. Allow the stitch to slip off the left needle and tighten it against the loop on the right needle on to make a purl stitch.

Go ahead and get busy.