A Steno Pad for My Thoughts
Blah, Blah, Blah. Connect the dots. This blog is now an archive only. No new entries will be posted, please visit our new blog here.Runny Button Noses
We don’t actually have runny noses but you gotta be ready. It’s actually much more likely I’ll need to grab a tissue to wipe glue off my hands or to try to remove the ink from my fingerprints. Either way, you want it to look good. And after seeing this awesome one Melissa made, and after I refused to buy the exact same fabric and make it the exact same way, I decided to strike out on my own and use the button fabric. Cause that’s funny, button noses.
I’m going to try and walk you through it. Let’s just say this will make sense if you have some sewing experience since I’m too lazy to be too terribly precise. The top is made from two pieces, so as to allow the kleenex through the top, and then you need four sides and some contrasting binding at the bottom. That’s all, easy enough.
For the top, I used two pieces that measured 5.25″ wide x 4.25″ long. So as not to assume all tissue boxes are the same, you want enough fabric for each side of the top so that when you turn it under at the middle there is plenty there. See next two images.
Next, sew the folded edge 1/8″ from the end. To ensure there is little fraying, zigzag the raw folded under edge or get out your pinking shears.
You now need the four sides. Cut four pieces that measure 5.25″ wide x 5.75″ tall. (This fabric is a medium canvas weight so no interfacing or lining is necessary.)
After you have cut out your side pieces, sew the sides together until you have the side walls constructed. (See below.)
Finally, in order to sew on the top, line up the sewn edge of the top piece to the middle of one side wall and begin stitching.When you get to the corner, stop and lower the needle back into the exact corner.
Lift your pressure foot and then, with the needle holding the fabrics down, twist your fabric and line up the fabric to sew the next side piece. Repeat for the other top piece.
Turn right side out and add on a contrast binding at the bottom, if you like, and you’re done! (For my binding at the bottom, I cut a piece of fabric that was 1.5″ wide by 24″ long.)
Entry Filed under: sewing, step-by-step
12 Comments Add your own
1. melissa f. | July 10th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
oh that’s really good… i like the top a whole lot better than mine. i’m going to have to make another one.
2. Nancy Cook | July 10th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
very cute. like the fabric too.
i’m curious what are your seam allowances on the side pieces and how much are you folding the top pieces under.
thanks
3. sarah | July 10th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I used 1/4″ seam allowances and folded under the top about 1″ so it would be durable with all the kleenex pulling. oh! and the fabric is from superbuzzy, they have it in blue still available here.
4. MissMeshell | July 10th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Oh WOW, it’s fabulous, I love it! I gots to get me some of that fabric too, I’ve been eyeing it off! =)
5. Natch | July 10th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Thank you so much for this mini tutorial! I saw a nice tissue box cover at renegade (though a different construction/style) but haven’t gotten around to figuring out how to make it yet, so I know I’ll have to try yours out since it is so beautiful and simple!
6. Corinne | July 10th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Love this! I am gonna’ have to try it, thanks for sharing!
7. Sarah | July 12th, 2007 at 6:59 am
This is brilliant! I love the fabric, and it’s such a cute way to make an everyday object look special. Thanks for the tutorial.
8. Emma | July 12th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
It looks great! I was actually just thinking about making some kind of tissue box holder for my room a few days sog, so thanks so much the tutorial as well!
9. Heide | March 3rd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Bloesem just linked to this… I need to whip one up!
10. Angela | July 18th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
What a great project! IIm a neophyte just bought a sewing machine this morning and for my first project sewed a simple pillow. I was looking around for something simple to do and spied the tissue box on my coffee table and thought, that’s it! I looked at three other patterns for tissue boxes before coming upon your site. Yours was by far the simplest for a beginner. And my tissue box looks great! Thanks.
11. Becky | January 28th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
What’s the name of that fabric/who makes it?
12. molly | April 19th, 2011 at 9:32 am
No, YOU rock. Just ordered a whole heap of stamps, re-discovered your swell spot here, and lo and behold, found this: i’ve been searching for a tissue box cover (is that geeky?) ever since seeing a grooving one in the last Jansdotter book, sans pattern.
Hoo-rah for you!
I'm curious about your two cents. You smart cookie!
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