Control the shade by making your own retractable canopy. Open it up to create a shady retreat or close it to let the sun in.
Lay the PVC on a large flat surface. With a marker, mark spots at 1-1/4", 30-3/4", 60-1/4", 89-3/4", and 119-1/4" evenly lined up on the top of each pipe. Pre-drill a hole at each of these spots with a drill bit slightly smaller than the #8 eye screws. (Image 1) Paint the rods and the caps with spray paint. (Image 2) Set aside to dry completely.
Cut the fabric to 4 panels of 10'4". With the remaining fabric, cut 32 pieces that are 4-1/2" wide and 27" long. Set aside.
Sew two of the long panels together with a 1/2" seam allowance. (Image 1) Double the seam allowance over and pin it in place. Top stitch the folded fabric very close to the edge. (Image 2) Add the remaining two panels in the same manner. Tip: To get the fabric to fit through your machine and better control it as you sew, roll up each side and keep the rolls in place with binder clips or clothespins. Cut a 14-3/4" inch strip from one of the outside panels and attach it to the edge of the opposite panel in the same manner as the other panels. Fold over 2" on the two long sides of the sewn fabric shade. (Image 3) Fold this flap inside itself to create a 1" hem. Pin and sew it in place. (Image 4) Fold over 2" on the two short sides of the sewn fabric. Fold this flap inside itself to create a 1" hem. Pin and sew it in place, backstitching at the start and end of each hem. The result should be a 1" hem around the perimeter of the fabric shade.
Spread the fabric shade out on a flat surface, one section at a time. With a pencil, make a line 3/4" from the center on both sides of each long, top-stitched seam. The result should be two lines, 1-1/2" apart, with the seam in the center. Fold long seam to long seam and crease the fold. Use this fold as your guide to make 2 lines, 1-1/2" apart with the crease in the center. These lines will be your guide for the rod pockets.
Attach the 4"x4"x8' posts to an existing solid structure which is firmly attached to the ground. Alternatively, you can use a 10' post and sink 2 feet in concrete in the ground. Drill three holes for carriage bolts through the structure spaced at least 4 inches apart. Space the posts 10 feet 6 inches apart. Insert the carriage bolts and secure tightly with a washer and nut. (Image 1). Stain and seal or paint the support pieces as desired. (Image 2) Place the 2"x10"x12' board on top of the posts. It should be centered front to back and side to side over the posts. Secure the board to the top of the posts with four 3-1/2" screws. (Image 3). Add the 2"x8"x12' plank to the back of the post with the edge butted up against the bottom of the 2"x10"x12' board and the ends flush. Use four 3-1/2" wood screws on each end to secure the 2"x8"x12' plank to the posts. Further secure the 8" board to the 10" board by adding screws through the top of the 10" board into the edge of the 8" board below, spaced about every 1-1/2 feet apart.
*The materials for this shade are very light. If you use heavier materials, further structural support may be required.
*The construction of the support and installation of the shade will require at least two people.
*Sailcloth is lightweight, very durable, weather-friendly, and can generally be found in 60 inch widths. All of the measurements for this project were for a shade that is 10 feet long and 17 feet wide. If your distance or the width of your fabric is different, adjustments will be necessary.
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