Tablecloth as Patio Umbrella Cover!

last week, i showed you what i did with a glass round 'tabletop'

 that used to sit on top of the tablecloth on one of my Mom's pressboard 'accent tables'.

tables that i threw OUT when we moved. because... well... i really don't have to tell you WHY, right?! 

today, i'm going to show you what i did with a tablecloth that she used to have on that table!
continue reading to see how it moved up in the world...

are you asking 'why a tablecloth?'
well, it's fabric and comes in many colors and patterns, sure to fit any decor.
it's already cut into a circle AND has a ready-made hem! how easy is that??!!
and, as one of my sweet regular readers observed, it's a great way to color-coordinate for a party!

BarbaraAnnApril 10, 2018 at 8:07 AM

This would be a great way to color coordinate for a party.

Especially if you can get the umbrellas on sale but the color doesn't work. Thanks for sharing...

first, to see if my crazy idea would WORK, 

i laid the @ 90" round 'accent' tablecloth on top of my wood umbrella frame*,

stretching the tablecloth out evenly around the ribs (support arms) of the umbrella. and it fit!

next, i took the fabric off and cut a small hole in the center of the tablecloth -

it allows the top finial to screw through it into the umbrella pole, helping to hold the fabric in place.

then i unscrewed the umbrella pole, and took the top of the umbrella off.

this makes it shorter and easier to work on for the next step, which is

securing the tablecloth to the ends of the ribs/support arms...

using my wood spool patio table as a workbench, (this is why rustic decor is so great!!!)

i sat the open umbrella top on the ground, with one rib at a time over the table.

a simple metal brad was hammered into the end of each rib, while stretching the fabric taut.

{in the photo above, you can see the tablecloth hem. yes, it's inside out on purpose.

this tablecloth was the right COLOR for our backyard (it matches the other umbrellas we have)

but the finish on the fabric was shiny, almost metallic. NOT my thing.

the underside, however, has a matte finish and nice texture - so that became the visible side.}

you can see in this photo how the finial holds the center of the fabric, and the brads hold the ends.

(if i was doing this project on a larger umbrella, i'd have used three or more brads per rib.)

it opens and closes with ease, is very lightweight, and i'll be able to easily remove it when needed.

right now, it works perfectly to protect my newly-planted basil from a sudden heatwave!

* important info: this umbrella frame is 4 feet diameter, not the normal 8 foot diameter patio size.

 to cover a larger umbrella, you'll need a larger tablecloth.

i'd tell you how large, but that involves doing math - and i hate math. so you're on your own!!!

click to see my lace tablecloth + frilly petticoat umbrella covers

shared online:

feathering your empty nest | share your style #166