How to Make a Sink Skirt

The sink skirt is having something of a revival in country homes around the world and one can see why. They’re sweet, add a homey element to the kitchen, more cost-effective than built-in cabinet doors, and soften hard cabinetry edges. If you’re on a tight budget and have the ability to sew a straight line, you can make your sink area look pretty in an hour or so.

Basically, a sink skirt is perfect if you want to create a cottage or country-style kitchen. And best of all, when you get tired of the one you’ve hung, you can make another for next to nothing or replace it with doors when you have the cash.

I recently decided to make a sink skirt for the serving bench in the dairy. Why? Read on to find out.

*All images in this gallery via Remodelista website

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Why Would You Even Make a Sink Skirt?

“A sink skirt is old-fashioned.”

“It gets grimy and encourages dirt and germs.”

“They’re kitsch and flouncy.”

These are some of the replies I got recently when I said I was going to make a sink skirt for our buffet bench in the dairy. But you know me, I sort of like old-fashioned and flouncy. And if there’s a way to hide stuff without using plastic tubs or built-in storage AND not spend a lot of money, I’m there.

I love the idea of a sink skirt.

In the dairy, we have a large bench that we plan to use as a serving area. Gavin built it from an old tool bench base and some of our old floorboards. It has a large space under that we use to store chicken food and items we use during farm tours. I don’t like these to be on show. Another plan is to have a small bar fridge hidden under. I don’t want this to be seen either for aesthetic reasons. Sink skirts have a traditional country feel. If I make a sink skirt with green gingham, I’ll ramp up the country feel for this space.

What I Used

• 3 metres of green gingham fabric from Spotlight
• white thread
• scissors
• tape measure
• sewing machine
• stretch wire curtain hanger

What I Did

• Measure the length and height of the item you want to cover with the sink skirt. Our bench is almost 1.77m long, and 80cm high (under the benchtop).
• Double the length of your bench or sink to get a nice full skirt.
• I bought three metres of fabric and cut it into thirds from selvage to selvage. (side to side) I was going to cut in half length ways but it made a longer length to cut into 3 sections and then sew them.
• Sew the selvage seams together to make one long length of fabric.
• Finish the sides of the skirt by folding a hem, ironing it in place and then folding it on top of itself to neaten. Sew along the edge to neaten and finish the two side seams.

Finishing the Top and Bottom of Your Sink Skirt

Now it’s time to finish the skirt.

• Depending on the width of your rod, you will need to make a top hem with a channel to fit the rod. Repeat the same procedure as with the side hems but make the fold about 2cm wide for stretch wire.
• Once the top hem is complete measure from the finished top to the bottom and mark to get the height of the skirt.
• Fold and sew as before. I did not trim but rather made the bottom hem very deep to give the skirt some weight. This helps it to sit nicely when hung.

Hanging the Skirt

• Once you have finished sewing your large panel take the rod you intend to use for hanging, cut to size and attach to the sink or bench. Leave a small amount of room below the lip of the bench or sink so that the skirt can slide easily once hung.
• Push the rod/wire through the top hem.
• Put the rod in place and adjust the flounce so it hangs evenly

Your sink skirt will inevitably get dirty but it is easy to slide it off the rod and pop it in the washing machine with other coloured fabrics. Below are some wonderful examples of sink skirts I found on Pinterest. You can follow me there too