How to Sew a Dressing Table Skirt That Fits a Swing Arm

Making a skirt for your vanity table will take a little time, careful measuring and attention to detail when attaching it. By using a hook-and-loop fastener, you'll be able to remove it for laundering or to change it for a completely new look.

Instructions

Making the Skirt

1

Measure the dressing table all the way around the outside edge on the top and add three inches for seams and side hems. This will be the width measurement. If you're making a gathered table skirt, double the width measurement.

Measure the distance from the table top to the floor and add four inches for top and bottom hems. This will be the length measurement.

2

Cut the fabric according to the width and length measurements. Unless you're using extra-wide fabric, you'll probably be working with two pieces of fabric, which you'll seam together.

3

Sew the two fabric pieces together along the length using a 1/2-inch seam. On the two remaining short edges, which will be the front of the skirt, turn under 1/2 inch, then turn under 1/2 inch again and sew. To sew the top and bottom hems, turn under 1/2 inch, then turn under 1 1/2 inches and sew.

4

If you're making a gathered skirt, sew a line of very long basting stitches along the top hem, leaving long tails of thread at the beginning and the end. Pull the tails of the thread to gather the fabric.

5

Put the skirt on the table with the opening in the front and adjust the gathers to fit, allowing for a one-inch overlap on the front edges. If necessary, loosely staple the fabric to the table in a few places to hold it while you adjust the skirt. Pin the skirt at two-inch intervals to hold the gathers. Remove the skirt and any staples from the table and sew the gathers in place over the hem seam.

Attaching the Skirt

6

Attach sticky-back hook-and-loop fastener all the way around the top edge of the table, except in the area of the swing arms. Attach the fastener to the swing arms themselves, but only up to the point where the arms are attached to the table with bolts or screws.

7

Attach the other portion of the hook-and-loop fastener to the top of the skirt, over the gathering seam.

8

Starting at the front, with the open edge even with the end of a closed swing arm, press the fabric onto the swing arm. Leave the fabric unfastened at the end of the swing arm where it's attached to the table. This will allow the swing arm to move freely. Work around the table, connecting the fastener, and finish with the second swing arm, again leaving the fabric unfastened where the arm attaches to the table.