How to Make a Slide-On Wire Hung Canopy (Pergola Canopy)

After watching this VERY detailed video I am (maybe) two steps from final installation. I am quite the "detective" and researched every single item needed to make my wire hung canopy. Bit by bit, piece by piece I got the best deals on fabric, wire cable and clamps, stainless steel turnbuckles, caribiners, pad eyes, etc. Hours spent measuring, sewing, and only occasional cursing! I was not about to abandon this project and saw it through til the end. I'm beaming with pride and will share a picture to show how it turned out.

I will most likely never do this project, but wanted to say that you have made what is probably the best instructional video I have ever seen on YouTube! Clear, concise and professionally done without extraneous chatter or music that interferes with hearing your verbal instructions. Cheers.

This has been a fantastic instruction! I've only got 1 of my 4 panels done so far but its great! I'm more of woodworking/metalworking guy, but this has been easy enough to follow that I haven't screwed up any sewing yet, not to mention it looks great.

I am so thrilled to have found your video. We've been contemplating on getting a retractable shade cover for our pergola for a while now but the prices I got from some of the online vendors seemed outrageous and the DIY options a little intimidating, especially because I couldn't find good info on the materials I would need. Your online calculator and your detailed instructions make it look straightforward and achievable. I just placed my order and am looking forward to starting this project. Thank you for all these resources!

Thank you for your wonderful video. I found this a year ago while researching retractable diy awnings for a greenhouse project. Now that the greenhouse is ready, I could not find how to set up the pulley system! Your video was excellent and gave me what I needed to know. Thank you again!

A great show that is not only curiosity, but also great pleasure. Thanks to you, I have properly shaded on my terrace. Thank you very much.

I loved watching this informative video. I've always wanted this type of shade. After watching your complete instruction video, I now know how to do it myself. It is a lot of steps, but Eric Grant's personality along with his family's assistance; kept my attention from start to finish. Thank you so very much for all your work and effort put into this project.

This is an outstanding tutorial. Maybe one of the best I have seen. I feel like I just finished a trade seminar for Sailrite. I was searching to make a retractable awning to extend away from the beam that supports the balcony of my first floor apartment that will give some shade when the sun is setting in the west, not for a permanent structure like the pergola. This will work for my application with a removable bulkhead on the end away from the patio, so long as it would support the wire rope tension. With the water repellent nature of that material, it would provide a substantial cover when I have to grill in a light rain. I may take it a step further and use a tubing bender to form a gable or mild arch. Even if it only had a 2-12 or 3-12 pitch, it would increase water shedding immensely. With a bend in the thin wall conduit in the middle of the span, and a slight bend just up from each end; it would make a great retractable patio cover. As long as the wire ropes were positioned uniformly at the proper height, commensurate with their position on the arch; it would work exactly the same way. Of course some scaling of fixtures and fasteners may be necessary. I want something wider though. If it does not come in wider widths, any secrets on joining panels edge to edge? I’m sure an overlap is necessary, but a certain stitching pattern may be proven best. Again, great job! P.S. Ship one of those sewing machines to me for the project and I’ll make a video, then ship the machine back. I do a lot of leatherwork. I wonder how one of those machines would stitch a belt? Would it work on multiple layers of 8-9 oz. leather for the welt of a knife sheath? All I do now is a saddle stitch by hand after beating the holes through with a pricking iron.

Thank you so much for posting this video! Pretty nifty calculator, too! I've been struggling for years on how to keep the sun from beating down in my glass sunroom and making it so hot. These canopies are perfect! Your home and family are beautiful.

I am a constant youtube watcher, but have never seen this. You have been the most enjoyable to watch. You explained in such great detail and clarity, I feel if I want to go through the labor, it would be easy to watch from points 1 to 15 on stringing and all the previous aspects from start to finish. Your smile during the install makes me feel comfortable to do it...thank you

This is a great instruction / educational video. A true tradesman who knows his craft, explains in detail without missing a single step or passing on a tip no doubt learned from years of experience. To top it off the video is of high definition, excellently lit and edited with informative close ups and clear, calm precise verbal description. There are SO many YouTube videos where someone thinks they are some kind of expert because they did a job once, filmed it and got away with average results that are questionably successful. Here is the real deal. I love to see someone who is an expert at what they do, show us how they do it. Thank you for posting :)

I did not read through all 187 comments but I felt this might save some time. Most quality staplers like the Swingline you used have an anvil with two settings. The normal setting that folds the legs in and if you push up from the bottom and turn the anvil around it will bend the legs out; this in effect makes the staple a straight pin that can easily be pulled out.

What a fantastic tutorial! You didn't irritate me once and you gave really great instructions! Thank you for your time and effort. Super helpful.

First I must thank you for sharing! It’s a wonderful project with very very so details and explanation are good. I think no one will have such patience to give details. I would like to see other projects too!

wanted to setup a canopy for my roof garden and this one is too perfect. 👍

Followed your excellent instructions and made two fabulous retracting shades. The downloadable calculator helped. Going to add the pulley system too. Thank you!

When I bought my Salerite LSZ1 sewing machine a few weeks ago I bought it just to make a motorcycle seat and some miscellaneous things for that. I had no idea I could do all this stuff. Now I have a list of things to do with this machine (which is an outstanding workhorse by the way); The Pergola shades, awnings for the home, covers for grills etc. What a great machine and such great tutorials!!!

Wonderful video. I don't want to do this exact project but the information and materials certainly do apply to what I have on my mind. Very useful and very well done. Thank you.

Great job, including a detailed explanation for putting the wire hung canopy system together. I'll be happy to send you my work order so I can get my future Slide-On Wire Hung Canopy done right. Thanks

Professional quality. Kudos!