Fun With Sewing Around the House

We're doing some late Spring cleaning and yesterday we worked on the deck.  Our old patio umbrella was rotted and tattered and we were about to go buy a new one when I had the *** IDEA ***   Hey, the frame is still good and we'll just be throwing it away.  I'll SEW a new umbrella! 

Outdoor fabric I bought at JoAnn 

Cutting it out was the hardest part since it involved getting down on the floor, spreading out 10 yds of fabric, and getting all four sides exactly the same.  (Each side is 2 yds across).  

But I think it turned out very well.  Sewing it was the easy part with my Singer 301 that makes nearly 1600 stitches/minute.  Sewing these long straight seams and eight yards of hem are when you really want to put the pedal to the metal - and this machine doesn't disappoint.  My serger also made quick work of the seam finishes.  

Best part is that it actually matched very well with the cushions on the patio chairs - the same gray and white.

View underneath - and yes, this is a crappy frame which was hardly worth repurposing because.....

...the fabric cost more than an entire new umbrella!!!  Yes, I paid $100+ for the fabric @ $10/yd (which was half price).

I guess I'm weird because I think it is fun to sew something like this rather than buy it even though it actually cost more.  

UPDATE, TEN years later.  (April 2024)  Was it worth it?  Yes, this umbrella is still in good shape after being out in the elements year round for a DECADE!  This year, for the first time, I threw it in the washing machine and mended a couple of worn spots, but otherwise it is in perfect condition. This is one sewing project I'm pretty proud of.