DIY Fabric Tissue Box Couch Cover: A Step-by-Step Sewing Guide

Make a whimsical Kleenex box cover for your home.

Create a decorative cover for a tissue box that resembles a miniature couch, allowing you to coordinate the box with your personal style. This whimsical accessory can be placed in any room; simply choose an upholstery, novelty, or designer fabric that complements the room's color scheme. The cover is built around the box's shape, so it fits Kleenex boxes of slightly varying dimensions. When the box is empty, just take it out and put in a new one.

Step 1

Cut two fabric rectangles, each measuring 14 inches in width and 18 inches in length.

Step 2

Place the two rectangles with their right sides together and pin the layers. Use tailor's chalk to mark the center of both short edges. Position a ruler across the pinned fabric, aligning it with the marked centers. Draw a chalk line along the ruler connecting the two marks.

Step 3

Find the midpoint of the chalk line and mark it. Then measure 2 1/2 inches to each side of this center point and mark those spots. The distance between these two new marks is 5 inches.

Step 4

Sew the rectangles together along the center chalk line, but leave the marked 5-inch section unsewn. This gap will serve as the opening for pulling tissues out. Remove the pins.

Step 5

Place the sewn rectangles on an ironing board. Take the top rectangle, fold one long edge over to meet its opposite long edge, and press. Turn the fabric over and repeat with the other rectangle, folding one long edge to meet its opposite edge and pressing. The fold should align with the center stitching and the opening. Now both sides of the fabric have their right sides facing outward.

Step 6

Lay the pressed rectangle on a flat surface; either side can face up. Position the Kleenex box in the center of the fabric. Bring each edge of the fabric up and over the top edge of the box. Use masking tape to secure the centers of each edge, preventing the box from moving. Fabric triangles will protrude at each corner.

Step 7

Pin through the layers of each triangle as close to the box corners as possible. Remove the tape and slide the box out of the fabric. Sew along each pinned corner. Trim the triangles, leaving 1/4 inch from the stitching. You now have a box-shaped cover.

Step 8

Fold the raw edges of the cover over by 1/4 inch and press with an iron. Fold over another 1/4 inch, press, and pin. Sew the pinned edge to complete the hem.

Step 9

Cut a strip of fabric measuring 6 inches wide and 19 inches long for the couch back and arms.

Step 10

Fold the strip in half lengthwise with right sides together and long edges aligned. Pin the edges. Sew along both short ends and the long edge using a 1/4-inch seam allowance, but leave a 3-inch opening in the middle of the long edge.

Step 11

Turn the tube right side out. Stuff it with filling and hand-sew the opening closed.

Step 12

Turn the box cover inside out so the corner seams are hidden. Insert the Kleenex box into the cover. Stand the covered box upright on your work surface with the top facing up. Run a line of hot glue along the seam of the stuffed tube to conceal it. Center the tube on the glue, ensuring equal lengths extend from each end. Let the glue cool.

Step 13

Apply a line of hot glue along the seam on both short ends of the tube. Fold the ends of the couch back and press them into the glue to form the side arms. Hold the arms in place for a few minutes until the glue sets.