How to DIY a Patio Umbrella Cover

So funny story...

A couple of weeks ago I was awoken at about 1am by a loud banging noise outside my bedroom. The wind was blowing so I put on my hot pink, fluffy robe and went outside to see what it was.

Once I got out there I realized that I had forgotten to close up my patio umbrella and it was nowhere to be seen😲 The wind had picked it up and it flew away.

I stood there for a minute, my mind fogged by sleep, trying to figure out what to do... it must have gone over the fence into the neighbor's yard I thought. I can't see in their yard but where else could it have gone?

Just as I turned around, I tilted my head up toward the sky saying "why, why??" and I saw it... it was on the roof!!

Again, I stood there trying to make a decision... do I just leave it? No, that's not a good idea, what if the wind picks it up again and it goes through someone's windshield? I'll have to pay for that!

So, I stomped off to get my extension ladder and I crawled up on the roof... the wind blowing up my hot pink, fluffy robe.

The next morning I inspected it and sure enough, it was broken since it's made of wood.

I just happened to have a metal umbrella frame with no fabric on it. It was a freebie I picked up a couple years ago with the intentions of using it in my space at the antique mall with a lace tablecloth. I no longer have my spaces at the antique mall and I had every intention of getting rid of it but just kept forgetting.

I'm glad I didn't get rid of it after all because I decided to DIY my own boho patio umbrella cover!

How to DIY a Patio Umbrella Cover

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Here is my old (now broken) patio umbrella, it's kind of boring anyway so I'm not too heartbroken.


I decided to use three vintage sheets and a vintage chenille bedspread that I had to create my new umbrella.


Here is the metal umbrella frame that I had. I cleaned it up and was happy to learn that the crank still works!


The old umbrella was slightly smaller than the new one but I was still able to use the fabric for a basic pattern to cut my new pieces.

It consists of 6 triangles of fabric and then a little round top piece.


I decided to remove these little pockets from the old cover and reuse them rather than make new ones. They hold the cover on the frame.


They fit over the end of each spine of the umbrella frame.


Once all the sections were sewn together it looked like this.


Then I cut a circle of chenille to make the center cover part.


Now to finish the edges... The sheets are just so thin that the tiniest little breeze would blow the edges around... they needed a little weight. I decided to use some fringe trim but didn't have enough of any one fringe trim to go around the whole umbrella so I decided to use a few... this is boho after all... mix and match baby!!!


I also took the little wooden finial off the old umbrella.


I chose a pretty green called "New Shamrock" for my finial.


I think it looks pretty with this sheet!


I put a metal grommet at the top for the hole for the finial.





I was trying to figure out how I would protect my new umbrella from sun damage so it will last for a few years when I came across Scotch Guard Water & Sun Shield. I am ordering some and I will let you know after the summer is over how my umbrella fared 😊