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It's time to make the top.  I use black canvas.  It is 60 inches wide and you need about 3 yards.  Start by clamping the material and centering it on the frames.

It's time to make the top.  I use black canvas.  It is 60 inches wide and you need about 3 yards.  Start by clamping the material and centering it on the frames.

Once the material is centered, fold the material and pin for a one inch hem.  Keep the material as straight as possible from front to back.  Do not worry about the sides at this time.

After the hem is sewn along the front of the material, snaps are placed along the front edge.  The first snap is centered and the others are at whatever interval you desire.  Use black snaps on the material.  The receiver for the snaps are screwed into the metal tubing with #4 x 1/2 inch metal screws.

With the snaps installed along the front edge, the material will be pulled tight, cut and hemed.  The snaps will then be installed on the rear edge.  The location of the rear snaps will be about 2 inches from the bottom of the seat back.  These snap receivers will be installed with #4 x 1/2 wood screws.

Find the center of the material in the back and the center of the seat.  Pull the material tight and install the snap and snap receiver.

Install the snaps and snap recivers on the edges of the seat back.  Three snaps should be enough to hold the top cover tight on the back.

Remove the excess material on the back sides.  Be careful to allow enough material on the top sides.  Hem the sides.

With the snaps and snap receivers installed on the back of the cover, you can begin working on the sides.  Pull the material and pin.  Sew the material and remove the excess material created by the pleats.

The top is now complete except for the window.

The top is now complete except for the window.

The top is now complete except for the window.

The top is now complete except for the window.

The top is now complete except for the window.

The top is now complete except for the window.

The top is now complete except for the window.

Cut a 2 inch by 6 inch hole in a piece of canvas approximately 6 inches by 9 inches.  Use a razor blade to cut the hole and using fabric glue, fold the material from the 2 x 6 window over and glue it down.  Install a piece of clear plastic approximately 1 inch larger that the 2x6 hole and glue it in place.

While sitting in the seat, locate where you want the window centered in the back canvas.  Be sure the hole is level and cut a 2 inch by 6 inch hole in the back.  Place the plastic window and corresponding material created in the previous step on the inside and sew it in place.

The completed top with the window installed.

The completed top with the window installed.

The completed top with the window installed.

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