How to Make a Patio Umbrella

Obtaining And PreparingThe Umbrella Material

• 1

  Spread out the nylon material on a flat, clean surface that will accommodate the desired size of your umbrella. To cut out a circle approximately five feet in diameter, first measure five feet across the fabric with your measuring tape and put a mark where you need to cut the fabric at both ends with your pen. Measure five feet across the fabric again as if it were a cross or an "x" and mark the fabric at both ends. Cut a circle out of the material approximately five feet in diameter. Using the needle and thread, hem the material all the way around the circle about 1/2 inch for a finished look. Cut a hole in the middle of the material which is 1 inch in diameter, the same size as the grommet diameter. Using a hammer, tap the grommet over and into this hole nice and snug. Place the four smaller grommets into the material evenly spaced out where you put your measurement marks.

• 2

  Drill two holes into the PVC pipe. Drill the first hole about one inch from the top part of the pole. Drill a second hole three inches from the top of the pipe. Check the holes with your bolts to make sure the holes are large enough so the bolt will go all the way through the pipe. Put a bolt through the lower hole and then put a nut on the the other end of it to secure it in place. You should have 1/2 inch of the bolt showing on both sides of the pipe.

• 3

  Slide the nylon material onto the pole by placing the grommet over the top of the pipe. Put a bolt through the upper hole in the pipe, leaving 1/2 inch showing on both sides and secure it with a nut. Stick the pipe at least four inches into the ground.

• 4

  Take a cord and put it through one of the smaller grommets and tie it securely with a few knots. Pull it taut and then attach the other end of the cord to a stake or tent stake in the ground so the material is up and out to provide shade. Repeat this step with the other grommets so the cords are pulling the material in four directions and tied to a stake or tent stake tightly in the ground.

• 5

  Check to see that the pipe won't easily move in the ground and that the cords are securely tied to the stake or hook screws so that they stay in place.Old parachutes should still have cords attached to the material, otherwise, you will need to purchase cords separately if you bought nylon material.