Things You'll Need
1/2 yard fabric
Ruler
Scissors
Straight pins
Tailor's chalk
Sewing machine
Iron
200-count Kleenex box, rectangular-shaped
Masking tape
Stuffing
Needle and thread
Hot glue gun
Sew a decorative Kleenex cover mini couch to coordinate a tissue box with your style and personality. The whimsical design of the cover is a stylish home accessory that can be placed in any room by using an upholstery, novelty or designer fabric that complements the room's colors. The cover is constructed around the shape of the box, allowing for a custom-fit on Kleenex boxes of slightly different dimensions. When the box is empty, simply remove it and insert a new one.
Step 1
Cut two rectangles of fabric 14 inches wide by 18 inches long.
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Step 2
Place the two rectangles together with the right sides facing each other. Pin the layers together. Measure along both short edges and mark their centers with tailor's chalk. Lay a ruler across the pinned rectangles, matching the marked centers. Using the tailor's chalk, draw a line along the ruler from one mark to the other mark.
Step 3
Measure along the chalk line and mark the center. Measure 2 1/2 inches from each side of the center and mark each measurement. The space between these last two marks is 5 inches.
Step 4
Sew the two rectangles together along the center chalk line. Skip over the marked 5-inch space. This will provide the opening for pulling the Kleenex out of the box. Remove the pins.
Step 5
Lay the stitched rectangles on your ironing surface. Fold over a long edge on the top rectangle and match it to its remaining long edge. Press the fold. Flip over the stitched rectangles. Then fold over a long edge of the other rectangle and match it to its remaining long edge. Press the fold. The fold is at the center stitch line and the opening in the rectangle. Both sides of the ironed fabric now have right sides facing out.
Step 6
Lay the ironed rectangle on your work surface. It does not matter which side is facing up. Center the Kleenex box on the rectangle. Fold each edge of the rectangle up and over the top edge of the Kleenex box. Tape the centers of each edge with masking tape. This will prevent the box from shifting. Each corner will have a fabric triangle sticking out.
Step 7
Pin through the layers of the triangles as close to the corners of the box as possible. Remove the tape and slip the box out of the fabric. Sew along each pinned corner. Cut off the triangles 1/4 inch from the stitching line. You now have a box-shaped cover.
Step 8
Fold over 1/4 inch of the raw edges on the cover and press with an iron. Fold over another 1/4 inch, press and pin. Sew the pinned edge to finish the hem.
Step 9
Cut a 6-inch wide by 19-inch long strip of fabric for the couch back and arms.
Step 10
Fold the strip in half with the right sides together and the long edges matching. Pin the edges together. Sew along both short ends and the long edge using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave a 3-inch opening in the center of the long edge.
Step 11
Turn the tube right side out. Fill the tube with stuffing and hand stitch the opening closed.
Step 12
Turn the box cover with the exposed corner seams inside. Insert the Kleenex box in the cover. Stand the covered box on your work surface with the top side facing up. Apply a line of hot glue along the seam of the stuffed tube in order to hide the seam. Center the tube of the couch back on the glue with an even amount of the tube extending from each end. Allow the glue to cool.
Step 13
Apply a line of hot glue along the seam on both short ends. Fold the ends of the couch back and place them in the glue. These are the side arms of the couch. Hold the arms a few minutes until the glue has cooled.
Tip
Different types of fabrics will give you different results. Cotton and chambray are fairly lightweight, while wool and flannel are a bit thicker and heavier.
Create mini-couches with patterns that match each of your friends and family members, and give them away as birthday or Christmas gifts. Create one with bone-shaped biscuits for dog lovers or one with playing cards for the consummate poker player.
Customize your fabric with 3-D touches like glitter, sequences or pieces of candy.
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