I love sewing but I wouldn’t dream of sewing a slipcover for a sofa or some other large piece of furniture.  Too overwhelming!  Too much time!  I’d much rather sew something small, using my fabric scraps, and that I can start and finish in an afternoon.  This tissue box slip-cover fits that criteria.  These covers are simple, easy, and can really tie together an entire look in your room. This project does require you to know how to sew straight seams on a sewing machine and use an iron to press your seams.  It’s really quite easy and very clever!

How to make a tissue box slip-cover

To complete this project, you will need.

• 2/3 yard of 45” fabric or you can check your scrap bag.  This project doesn’t take much.
• Fabric marking pen that dries clear in air.
• Sewing machine, iron, and the usual sewing notions.
• Pattern {at end of post}

Prepare your fabric by washing, drying, and ironing prior to beginning this project.  All seams are sewn using a 1/2” seam allowance.

Place fabric on flat surface and place pattern pieces on fabric.

Pin pattern pieces to fabric.  Visualize how the pattern will work by placing a tissue box on the pattern piece.  This is a good way to see if your box will work with this pattern.  Simply adjust pattern as needed.  I’m using 1/2” seams for this project so make sure you add that into your pattern if you must make your own piece.

This piece is just the tissue box.  One long side and one short of the box.

After you’ve pinned pattern pieces to fabric, cut pattern pieces on line marked “cut here”. Save time by doubling fabric for pattern pieces that need to have 2 pieces cut.  Cut with right sides together.

Cut out all the pattern pieces before moving onto the next step.

After your pieces are cut, take pattern piece #1 (top) and make sure right sides of fabric are facing one another.  Poke pin holes through the paper where circles are.  This is where you will mark with a fabric pen from the top of the pattern.

After you’ve poked pin holes through the pattern, push pen through holes to mark fabric underneath.  You are marking where you’ll sew the top seam of the cover.

After you’ve marked your 4 holes, connect the dots by stitching the rectangle and connect the dots.

Finished product of connecting the dots.  Now, you’re ready to carefully trim the seam.

Start by folding top in half.  Line up sides so top is even.

Cut seam but make sure you stay inside the the stitches you’ve made.  Trim close to your seam but not too close!

This short video will show the next step.

Now warm up your iron so that you can press that seam nice and flat.

Press your seam with lots of steam and use the tip of iron straighten out any bumps. Be sure and put pressure on the iron to get a crisp seam.  Please note: I’m not really ironing on my cutting mat.  That’s just where my camera was set-up.

Next, stitch around the outside of the seam that you just pressed. This is to top-stitch it into place.

Next, baste stitch around the outside to keep all of your layers straight and together.

Take piece #2 (you’ll need to tape this pattern piece together), pin ends together and stitch.  Do this to both ends so when you’re finished with step, you will have a square/rectangle of fabric, which will become the sides of your cover.

Set your machine to use 1/2” seam allowance.  Measure from your needle to the guide to get your measurement correct.

Use your guide to make sure you’re being consistent with your 1/2” seam allowance.

Sew side seams, right sides together with 1/2” seam allowance.

After sewing both side seams of piece #2, press seams open with iron.

Pin side pieces, which are now in a round shape to top piece.

Watch this video for pinning techniques.

Now pin all the way around and you’ll be ready to sew your top piece to side rectangular piece.

Once you’ve pinned it all the way around including your corners, sew the seam with 1/2” seam allowance.

Next, press your seams on the inside.

Now, flip the tissue box cover around and press the finished side seams. Use your ham for this.

Use a ham (this is the name of a stuffed form sewers use to get curved seams flattened and I have no idea where the name came from!) with your iron to press your seams.

Take pattern piece #3 and press fabric turned up by 1/2”.  Press one short side and one long side of pattern piece.

Stitch in place and press.

At this point, it may help you to place the cover on the tissue box inside out to see how your project is coming along.  You could trim all of these strings but you don’t have to.  No one will see these seams so save yourself the work.  Place bottom pattern piece #3 with two finished sides on bottom to see where to line up the piece and pin.

Pin two unfinished sides to two sides of top cover.

This is another view of the bottom of the box, with two sides pinned to the sides, ready to sew into place.

After sewing two bottom sides, press the other part of the sides that are left.  Turn sides up 1/2” and press into place.  Sew after you’ve pressed, then give a quick press once you’ve sewn the seam.  You’re almost done…now to add the ribbon to finish the slip-cover.

Trim ribbon pieces to about 8”-10” long.  I’m using a wide ribbon but you can use a more narrow ribbon.  You can also use any ribbon you have around your sewing studio.

Trim edges of ribbon so they don’t unravel.  This gives your ribbon ends a very finished look.

Attach your ribbons at corner and about half way down the box.  I don’t have set spots where I sew them.  Just make sure you line them up and sew back and forth a few times to ensure they ribbons stay put.  You can tie in a bow or you can…

Tie in a double knot, whichever look you prefer.

Now, stand back and admire your handiwork!  You have turned a not very interesting tissue box into something pretty, covering up a functional item with a lovely little slip-cover.  This is a great way to use your fabric scraps, have your room décor all pulled together, and it doesn’t take very long to make.  You can do it!  Go Gingham!

Do you sew strange little covers for items?  What do you want to slip-cover?  Do you make up patterns like I do?

Tissue Box Slip-Cover pattern #1

Tissue Box Slip-Cover pattern #2A

Tissue Box Slip-Cover pattern #2B

Tissue Box Slip Cover pattern #3

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