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How to Make a Vanity Skirt

Janet Beal

A vanity skirt can turn the empty space under your bathroom sink or makeup table into an area for useful storage. At the same time, a vanity skirt can also help coordinate your sink or table with the rest of the room's decor.

  1. Measure the width and height of your sink or table rim. If you are working on a curved surface, run the measuring tape about 1/2 inch from the top of the rim. Measure the height of your sink or table, subtracting, 1/2 inch from the height. Determine the amount of fabric you will need. For a tailored, flat-panel skirt, you will need enough width to span the full width of the rim. To that width, add 6 inches; this lets you add side seams on your panels for greater stability and overlap them slightly for easy access to items stored underneath. For length, add 6 inches for a 2-inch top hem and a 4-inch bottom hem.

  2. Double the amount of fabric shown in Step 1 to make a lavishly gathered vanity skirt. You can seam lengths together, creating an unseamed overlap in the front. If you want fewer or smaller gathers, increase the width of fabric by 50 percent instead of doubling the amount. Side seams are optional; the gathers will hide where fabrics join.

  3. Cut fabric into two panels. Make a 2-inch finished top hem on each panel. For a gathered skirt, run two rows of gathering stitch across the hem and pull gathers. Hem side seams.

  4. Add velcro tape. You will need enough tape to cover the full edge of the rim, plus 3 inches to secure an overlap. Separate the velcro tape. Place one side all the way around the rim of the sink or table a 1/2 inch below the top rim. Secure the other side of the tape to fabric.

  5. Mount panels on sink or table, using velcro. Measuring from the floor, pin bottom panel hems. Sew hems. Use small pieces of extra velcro or hand-sewing to secure overlap of panels in the front.