I’ve to admit that as a mother, I wrestle a bit with having messy enjoyable and letting go of management over attempting to maintain issues comparatively clear at occasions. It’s not that our home is completely clear (it’s like actually, actually removed from that often!), however I nonetheless try to preserve messy crafts to the outside for simpler cleanup when potential. That’s all effective and good if I can simply transfer an exercise exterior and we nonetheless get to color cardboard containers or have a mini automotive wash (or dinosaur wash—Lola’s favourite!), however there’s a very good six months out of the yr right here the place that’s not likely potential, so we now have to convey the crafts indoors!
I’ve been desirous to make a easy waterproof cowl for our breakfast nook desk for some time now so we may paint/craft in that house with much less worrying about mess and I lastly made one! I even added some massive piping to the sting of the desk cowl as a lip to maintain paintbrushes and markers from rolling off the desk always, which retains me from having to fetch a crayon or marker each 20 seconds as they only naturally appear to need to roll onto the ground (and retains the ground cleaner as effectively!). Whereas it’s a massive merchandise to stitch, it’s nonetheless a fairly simple factor to make—I’ll present you how one can make one, no matter form desk you’ve gotten!
Provides:
-waterproof cloth* (I used this as I used to be in search of a extra pure waterproof cloth)
-sewing machine
-straight pins
-large piping (I purchased 4 yards of this piping)
-fabric scissors
*The yardage you’ll want will rely on how huge your desk is! My desk is 42″ spherical and I did a 6″ tall aspect and had loads with the 2 yards I ordered, however not all cloth is identical width so ensure you take into consideration that too.
First, you’ll need to measure the desk you’ll be masking and add a 1/2″ to every aspect so you’ve gotten a 1/2″ seam allowance throughout. I added a tiny bit extra to my prime panel measurement simply to ensure it wouldn’t be too small for the desk, so I’d counsel doing that as effectively. Lower out a chunk of material these dimensions. My desk is comparatively small so I simply turned it the wrong way up and positioned it on prime to hint and add 1/2″ round—haha! Then, lower two lengthy strips of material to make the aspect panel that had been 7″ huge. You will get a good suggestion of how lengthy you want your aspect strip to be by including up all 4 aspect measurements of your sq. or rectangle desk (with that 1/2″ seam allowance included). For a round desk like mine, you may measure the diameter of the desk (add 1″ for the 1/2″ seam allowance on each side) after which multiply that quantity by 3.14 to search out the circumference. Do not forget that from math class!? I’d add 2-3″ to that quantity to have slightly further and that’s how lengthy your aspect strip will have to be. 
Because it’s an extended strip, you’ll most likely have to affix multiple strip collectively to get your whole size. So simply face the correct sides collectively of two strip ends, sew them along with 1/2″ seam allowance, and flatten the seam allowance and prime sew the flaps down for a extra completed look. 
As soon as your prime is lower and your aspect piece is lengthy sufficient, take your prime piece and pin your piping 1/2″ in from the sting all alongside the highest of the material (so that you need the rope a part of the piping to hold over that 1/2″ mark … my piping had a 1/2″ cloth allowance on the opposite aspect of the rope so I may simply line it up with the sting precisely). To complete your trim once you get again to the place you began, simply cross over the ends and also you’ll simply sew over the hump of the place they cross. 
You should purchase a particular piping foot to your stitching machine (simply look into which inserts your make and mannequin of machine if you wish to get one), however I often simply use a zipper foot as that’s what already comes with most machines and it really works effectively sufficient. Load your zipper foot onto your machine and place your needle so you’re stitching simply on the surface of the rope a part of the piping and stitch all the best way round (you’ll have to assist it slightly because it goes over the crossed ends hump on the finish). 
As soon as the piping is in place, pin your aspect panel to your prime panel, proper sides along with the piping within the center. To seek out the precise size your aspect panel ought to be to go all the best way round completely, pin all of it the best way round and once you get again to the start once more, pin the panel collectively the place it ought to shut so you may sew it along with a 1/2″ seam allowance on each ends and trim any extra cloth. Then sew the 2 ends collectively (with that 1/2″ seam allowance), push the seams flat and topstitch them right down to have one lengthy linked aspect panel. You possibly can unpin a number of inches of the aspect panel from the highest piece in the event you want slightly slack to stitch the panels collectively, simply re-pin it again on when the 2 panels are connected. Sew all the best way round along with your zipper foot taking care to stitch simply on the surface of the piping rope sandwiched between your cloth (you need to be capable of really feel the place it’s along with your fingers fairly simply). As soon as completed, you may trim your 1/2″ seam allowance to a 1/4″ one if you need for rather less bulk. 
And now you’ve gotten your piping on the connecting level to your prime and aspect panels!
To complete your cowl, fold underneath the underside 1/2″ of your aspect panel and stitch the folded edge all the best way round. That’s all! Now your desk cowl is able to use!
How legit does that look? I really like that I can toss stuff on the desk that gained’t slide round (like after I simply attempt to put a chunk of cardboard underneath tasks), it’s waterproof, wipeable, and the piping lip is nice for catching gadgets earlier than they roll to the bottom. When you wished to make piping out of your waterproof cloth so it was all waterproof/wipeable you may do this too! I believe it’s nice for teenagers to have the ability to get messy and do a lot of artistic tasks, however I additionally like simple cleanup and fewer chores on my lengthy to-do checklist, so this can be a win for everybody (and waterproof smocks like this one assist save laundry too!). Thus far this has been an enormous hit for watercolor portray and wipes off actually simply once we’re accomplished—let’s get messy! xo. Laura