Tissue Box Cover Tutorial

 

    I have tissue box covers in nearly every room of my house. Each one is made a little differently, so whenever I go to make another one, I'm never quite sure how to do it. I took some pictures this time, so that if it worked out (which it did), I could make a tutorial for myself. Decided I may as well share … 

You will need (for this size box): Stiff Stuff 12x20 should do it for this size Tissue box top to use for cut out pattern Main fabric about 7” x WOF (A fat quarter should do it.) Binding fabric 2 ½” x WOF Batting  Basting spray The usual sewing notions Note: These same directions can be followed for any size tissue box. Just cut the Stiff Stuff the exact measurements of the outside of the box.

Cut a 4 5/8” square of Stiff Stuff (SS) for the top of the box. Spray with basting spray and lay it on top of a piece of batting. Cut around batting to the edge of the SS. Using the top of an empty tissue box for a pattern, draw an oval on the SS and cut out the center. Cut two pieces of the main fabric about 1” larger than the SS (5 5/8” square). With two fabric squares right sides together, spray baste the SS and batting with batting side down to the fabric.
Stitch around the center oval right next to the edge of the SS.	Cut out the center fabric and clip curve to stitching line.
Turn fabric through the center and give it a good press.	You can finish the top with quilting if you wish. I just top-stitched around the opening using a 3-step straight stitch.
Cut 4 SS pieces for sides 4 5/8” x 5 ¼”. Use basting spray to affix a piece of batting to each piece of SS and trim batting to the edges of the SS. Sandwich with a piece of fabric that is at least 1/2" larger all the way around. Quilt this as you wish (I used a serpentine stitch), but some stitching in the center is required to hold the layers together, otherwise, the SS will be loose inside the box cover. I found that if you do not stitch over the side edges of the SS (the 5 ½” sides), when you sew the seams they will tuck behind the SS and have a nicer appearance inside the box cover.	Match up the top of one of the side pieces with one edge of the top piece. You can feel the SS with your fingers to line it up just right. Sew a seam right next to the SS. Only sew to the corner, not beyond. An edge joining foot or open toe foot is perfect for this step.
Trim the seam with pinking shears close to stitching. You could zig-zag it or use fray check or a narrow serge stitch. Technically, it might not really need anything.	Here’s what you’ve got:
Continue adding the sides to the top of the box. Join each side seam in the same way with the box cover inside out. Clip seams with pinking shears. Then carefully turn it right side out.	Turn under the fabric at the bottom edge of the box and top stitch it and you're done. Or to use binding: Turn box right side out. Trim the excess fabric along the bottom of the box. Look inside, and you can tuck the seams under the SS.
Fold one end of binding at a 45 degree angle and press. Cut the end of the binding off about ¼” away from the fold. Press binding in half. This allows for the tuck-in method of finishing the binding. I don’t think it would work to try to sew the two ends of the binding together. Leaving a tail at the beginning, sew binding to bottom of box on the inside of the box using ¼” seam. (It would have been easier to put the bottom of the box around the free arm of my machine. That’s what it’s there for.)
When you come to the end of the binding, cut it the right length to tuck inside the beginning end. Then continue sewing to your starting point.	Turn the binding to the front side and top stitch it down. (Sorry, no picture.) I used the serpentine stitch again. Use it or gift it!