DIY & Crafts

Home craft: Sew a reversible tissue-box cover

Home craft: Sew a reversible tissue-box cover

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DIY & Crafts

Home craft: Sew a reversible tissue-box cover

This easy-to-stitch project makes the ugly box go away and brings a little cosy chic into any room in your house. Use a solid and a print for reversible style to suit the mood.

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Finished size: 4-1/2" wide x 5-1/2" tall x 4-1/2" deep
Fits standard grocery-store tissue box 4-3/8" wide x 5-1/2" tall x 4-3/8" deep

Fabrics and thread:
• 1/4 yd (44" wide) fabric for both exterior and reversible side
• Coordinating thread

Supplies:
• Chalk pencil or other fabric marker
• Iron
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Yardstick or ruler

Construction notes:
All seams are 1/2" unless otherwise noted, and the 1/2" seam allowance has been included in all cutting measurements and pattern pieces.
Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying and pressing it before starting your project.

Step 1: Cut out all pieces
a. Print Reversible Tissue Box Cover template. (Template should be 3-3/4" wide.)
b. Measure and mark dimensions below on fabric's WS. Cut out each panel.

From fabric for both exterior and reversible side of tissue box cover:
• Cut 1 side panel: 6-1/2" wide x 19" long
• Cut 1 top panel: 5-1/2" square

Step 2: Construct side panels
a. Sew stay stitching line just short of 1/2" from top raw edge of exterior side panel.
b. On exterior side panel's WS, starting on L side edge, measure and mark across top edge at 5", 9-1/2" and 14".
c. Clip into seam allowance (SA) at each mark, making sure not to clip stay stitching line. Clips will mark three of cover's corners; fourth corner is top of side seam.
d. Fold exterior side panel in half, right sides together (RST), matching up short side edges, and pin. Starting 1/2" from top edge, stitch 1/2" seam down side edges, backstitching at each end. Press SA open.
e. Repeat Steps 2a-2d to make reversible side panel, and set side panels aside.

Step 3: Construct top panel
a. Fold exterior top panel in half lengthwise and then in half across width. Gently press crease to mark panel's centre. Open panel and place wrong side (WS) up. Centre template pattern piece on top of panel by matching up lines on template with creases on panel, and pin. Using chalk pencil, trace around template; then remove it.
b. Place exterior and reversible top panels RST, and pin. Stitch completely around chalk line on exterior panel's WS, backstitching at each end (see Figure 1 below). Remove pins.
c. Cut through both layers of fabric in centre of panels, inside stitching. Cut out centre oval of fabric, leaving 1/4" SA. Clip frequently into SA side of stitching line to allow opening for cover to turn RS out, making sure not to clip stitching. (See Figure 1.) Turn top panels RS out and press.

Step 4: Join exterior top and side panels
Note: You will be joining exterior top and exterior side panels first, and then joining reversible top and reversible side panels. Since top panels are attached at centre opening, you will need to pin side edges of reversible top panel out of way.

a. With RS, align and pin one edge of exterior top panel to top edge of exterior side panel between side seam and first clip, placing corners of top panel 1/2" beyond clips. Turn exterior side panel at first clip, and match up its top edge with next edge on exterior top panel, and pin them in place. Continue process to match other two edges of top panel with top edges of side panel. (See Figure 2 below.)
b. Stitch 1/2" seam across matched raw edges, starting and stopping 1/2" in from each side of exterior top panel and pivoting at corners, making sure to keep side panel flat and smooth after each pivot and backstitching at each end of seam. Trim SAs on corners, making sure not to clip stitching.
c. Fold bottom raw edge of exterior side panel 1/2" toward WS, and press.
d. Unpin reversible top panel and pin exterior top and side panels out of way. Repeat Steps 4a-4c to join reversible top and side panels.
e. Unpin cover's exterior side and pull down over reversible side, WST. Match side seams and bottom folded edges, and pin. To finish, edge stitch completely around bottom folded edges, backstitching at each end.





Excerpted from Amy Butler's Sew-It Kit: 15 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects for the Home, copyright 2007 by Amy Butler. Excerpted with permission from Chronicle Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Home craft: Sew a reversible tissue-box cover

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