How to Replace the Canopy on a Patio Swing

X-HT-300426

If your patio swing canopy is ripped, falling apart or faded, it's time to replace it with higher-quality outdoor fabric. This is the follow-up blog to our "How to Replace Fabric on a Patio Swing" (#300425XHT) how-to video. If your entire patio swing needs an upgrade, be sure to watch that video as well to learn how to replace the seating fabric on your outdoor swing. If only your canopy needs to be redone, watch now to learn how to sew a patio swing canopy with high-quality fabric and supplies from Sailrite®.

Video Chapters:

Measuring & Fabric Selection – 0:25 min.
Cutting Fabric to Size – 2:36 min.
Creating Hems & Sleeves – 3:56 min.
Inserting Sling Cording & Installing – 7:33 min.
Materials List – 8:27 min.

Materials List:

Outdoor Cover Fabric from Sailrite^® (we used Top Notch^® 9 Tan 60" Fabric) #120451
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (50 yds.) #129
Thread Tex 90 Polyester or Sailrite^® Tex 92 PTFE Lifetime Thread #107128
Awning & Sling Chair Spline Cording (25 ft.) #122114

Tools List:

Scratch Awl Yellow #2354
Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" #102400
Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set #121669
Sailrite^® Edge Hotknife #103800
Sailrite^® Tempered Cutting Glass #121915
Sailrite^® Canvas Patterning Ruler #107040
Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide #103597
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) #311602
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® Industrial Sewing Table #120934

The first step is picking out your fabric. We stock hundreds of the best outdoor fabrics in the industry. Our premium outdoor fabrics are UV resistant, stain and mold resistant, and will last for years in the elements. We chose Top Notch^® 9 fabric for our canopy. It's a 100% solution-dyed polyester that is breathable, reversible (so it will look the same underneath the canopy) and water repellent. If you'd like some added style to your canopy, consider a Sunbrella^® Awning fabric in a bold striped pattern.

Our canopy is a very simple design and construction. There is no valance around the canopy, and there is also no hollow in the canopy's shape. Basically, it is a large rectangle of fabric with hemming on all four sides with a slot kept open on each short edge for the cording to slide through and attach to the frame.

Watch the video to see how simple this DIY is. It's definitely a project that a beginner sewer can tackle, so don't be intimidated if you are new to sewing. If you're interested in sewing a canopy with a valance edging, check out our other patio swing video, "How to Make a Swing Canopy" (#200641XHT).

We hope you've enjoyed this how-to video! Be sure to post photos in the comments section below so we can see your amazing work!