My husband Steve has awful allergies. And he passed his dirty rotten allergies onto some of our children. ;) So, with several allergy sufferers in our home, what do we have an abundance of? Yes, tissues. Every room, every nook, every vehicle. And this is kind of ridiculous (there ARE bigger problems in this world, after all), but sometimes the obnoxious packaging drives me crazy. Steve likes one type of tissue (kind of soft, but no lotions/aloe/perfumes/etc) and we’ve bought the same type for years…..but, the packaging is blah. And hurts my eyeballs sometimes when I see it sitting on my end table next to my pretty little lamp/vase/picture.
So, you know me…..I can’t leave things alone. I have to fix that darn problem with a little fabric.
And so I did. In under an hour.Â
And instead of a slit and sewn opening at the top for the tissue to come out, I attached a large grommet (which just snaps together, easy as pie!).
No more ugly tissue boxes sitting in every little space in my home. (The disguise is so fantastic, you can’t even tell what’s under that rectangle box, can you? Or is the tissue coming out the top giving it away? ;))
Oh, and just for fun, I added little strips of leather (actually, faux leather) to the bottom corners. You can take it or leave it but I kinda love the random texture thrown in there.
Ahhhhh…..no more ugly tissue boxes invading my life. Now, I only need to make like 17 more. ;)
Want to make a quick tissue cover too?
(If you use my dimensions, this should only take you about 30 minutes…)
Let’s get started…
Supplies:
**Be sure you are making your cover for a tissue box size that you use often, so that your cover will always fit. I share my dimensions below for the tissue type we always buy. If you want to just use mine and purchase the same type of Kleenex brand tissues (the shorter box), go right ahead. Just measure your box first, to be sure it matches mine below.
To begin, measure the height and width of the top of your tissue box. Add a 1/4 inch to each of those dimensions to give the cover a little wiggle room and to accommodate for slightly uneven box shapes. (After adding the 1/4 inch to each, my dimensions were 5 x 9 1/8 inches.)
Then measure the short sides of your box and add 1/4 inch to each dimension. (After adding the 1/4 inch to each, my dimensions were 5 x 3 3/4 inches.)
Then measure the long sides of your box and add 1/4 inch to each dimension. (After adding the 1/4 inch to each, my dimensions were 9 1/8 x 3 3/4 inches.)
Then, write down all of your dimensions to give yourself a visual of what you’ll be working with.
Then, add one inch to all of the outer ends of your shape, to account for hemming under the very bottom edge of the cover when it’s all done. Also, add 1/4 inch to all of the inner 8 edges, for a seam allowance.
Add up those dimensions to come up with your main width and height of your rectangle shape. (Note: Here’s how I came up with the width noted below……9 1/8 + 3 3/4 + 3 3/4 + 1 + 1 = 18 5/8 inches. And here’s how I came up with the height………5 + 3 3/4 + 3 3/4 +1 + 1 = 14 1/2 inches)
Then, cut a piece of fabric that is the exact size of the measurements above and then iron some fusible interfacing to the “wrong” side of the fabric. (What is fusible interfacing?)
Then, add up each side rectangle piece (make sure you are adding in the extra 1/4 inch on each of those inner sides) and subtract it from the main dimensions from 2 steps ago, and you’ll get the dimensions of the voided space (in orange below) for your fabric.
Then, make a paper template to match the dimension of the cutout size you need…and cut out each corner from your fabric.
Now, time for the grommet. These are the variety I purchased, with a 1 1/2 inch opening (the largest I could find).
Mark the very center of the fabric with a pen.
Then use the template guide to draw the circle size you need.
Cut out the circle of fabric and then snap your two grommet pieces together around the opening. (The grommet is already attached in the center. The other two pieces are just showing what the two pieces look like that are snapped together in the center.)
Then, match up each of your corner raw edges and sew your cover into a rectangle shape, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Be sure to start sewing each seam at the inner section of the cover and work your way outward to bottom edge of the cover.
Slide the cover over your tissue box to be sure it fits.
Then zig-zag each of the raw edges.
Trim any uneven edges along the bottom.
And now turn your cover right side out and try it on your tissue box again. Turn your cover (and box) upside down and see how much of an overhang there is on the bottom edge. (Most likely, it will be more than an inch.) Determine how much you need to fold over and then fold over again for your hem. Pin in place (and try on your box again to be sure it’s correct) and then sew in place. Iron all seams flat.
The next step is optional but adds a fun touch. Cut 4 strips of leather (or faux leather) that are 1 x 2 3/4 inches.
And then sew them right to each bottom corner of the cover.
Be sure everything is steamed/ironed flat…..and slide over your tissue box.
And that’s it!
Enjoy!
-Ashley
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