Hello sweet friends, I don’t often jump on a trend train bandwagon. But I couldn’t resist creating A Gingham Oven Skirt. This post will share all the details.
Early Inspiration
It’s hard to know just how long curtains have been added to other areas of the home beyond windows and entry doors.
We have seen skirts encircling bathroom sinks for decades.
Fabrics in all colors and prints are often pleated or gathered and then swathed around the sink bowl.
But skirts have also been used to hide kitchen and pantry storage for centuries.
Recently, I have seen more and more curtains in laundry rooms.
The Latest Trend
The latest trend in whimsical curtain application seems to be oven skirts.
They can be seen all over Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok.
Some oven skirts are attached with clips.
Others have a rod pocket attached with Velcro.
Most seem to use ties. They often are sewn on to the skirt.
The ties can also be inserted through a buttonhole or a top lace panel.
A Gingham Oven Skirt
Last week I shared the dining area of my small kitchen. Some of the touches included a green and white checked tablecloth and napkins.
I took a second tablecloth (which was found at TJ Maxx) and cut it in half to make some curtains.
The curtains are so cheerful!
TIP: I often make curtains from tablecloths and oversized tea towels. It’s a quick, easy and low cost way to source lovely fabric.
Since I had the remaining half of the tablecloth left I decided to make an oven/stove curtain.
How To
I simply measured my oven door and cut off about 10 inches of the fabric so that the curtain would hang right above my oven drawer.
Then the raw edge was hemmed and I added some buttonholes.
Strips of fabric ties were made from the leftover fabric that had been removed to shorten the curtain.
I didn’t even bother to hem the ties. I just simply tore the strips on the grain of the fabric to create a frayed effect.
The ties secure the curtain to the over door through the buttonholes.
I do like how the fabric softens the area which texturally reads as very hard.
Normally, I hang decorative dishtowels on the oven door handle so this is a nice change.
Safety first: In the 40 years I have had a kitchen I have always hung towels on my oven door and never had an issue with anything catching fire.
The oven curtain has been hanging for over a week now with no issues.
I do think it makes the kitchen much cozier.
Gracie the dachshund agrees.
What are your thoughts on oven skirts?
Feel free to leave a comment below.
Laura
I was like you at first , not really liking them based on what I had previously seen online.. But when I saw yours, it It really changes the look of the kitchen to be more inviting. I might have to give that a try even though I don’t sew anymore. I suppose I could always use hem tape and then ribbons for the ties. Thanks, thanks for the ideas.
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I think I will occasionally put one up just for a change of pace. It’s a fun project!
I love it! I think it makes the kitchen even more cozy. I really love the brick in your kitchen. It is beautiful!
Thank you Susan for your kind words. It is hard to believe that brick used to be terra cotta orange. 🙂
If I could only sew, I’d make a skirt for my bathroom sink. It has no vanity and would need to wrap around. Someday I’ll get brave (or get velcro!)
Hi Jeanie, I know a lot of people go the Velcro route. You can also use iron on tape to hem fabric. So no sewing needs to be involved. I say go for it!
While I think your oven skirt is lovely, as are the other samples in the post, I think it is a curtain without a true function. And it seems impractical to have a curtain that would rest on the floor when the oven door is fully open. There is something appealing about a clean, shiny, unadorned oven door. I guess that I’m the outlier that finds beauty in the utilitarian. I’ve been reading your blog for a long time, and I’m a little sad that to be commenting for the first time because I don’t think that oven door curtains are a good idea.
I enjoy your posts so much: gardens, lovely interiors, amazing sewing and textile projects, all things Laura Ingalls Wilder (my family lives near DeSmet, SD)… Thank you for taking time to make your posts so beautiful, interesting, and instructive.
Hello Rocky Lanotte,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment.
It’s true that not all trends are for everyone.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Laura
Laura in my pool courtyard with 10 foot high adobe wall… I have a table like a narrow sofa table and hung a curtain in the front as the table is hiding some minor pool equipment. (lighting boxes). anyway it does the job but I really don’t like it. I sit in the courtyard as the curtain billows and blows and exposes the boxes anyway…but when there is no wind,I still don’t like it. Don’t know why So I guess I would have to say I am not a fan of curtains on anything but windows…altho I only have plantation shutters on some windows… but on the kitchen, sliders, paned french doors etc…there are no coverings at all. I am far from being a minimalist so it isn’t that. guess I am just weird. I have always loved how you changed your brick in your kitchen and living room…I watched the whole process and it is stunning….and cozy. hugs and blessing my friend.
Hi Kari,
There are plenty of things I have created that didn’t turn out how I envisioned. It’s all part of the process. I don’t think I will be making any more oven skirts. LOL
I love oven skirts! I made one for my stove in June that ties to the oven door handle. It give the kitchen a much softer look and I’ve no issues with mine either. Yours is very sweet, Laura. Let’s hope they catch on!