Shelley Made: Custom Size Tissue Pouch

This is the tutorial for sewing up my Custom Tissue Pouch - available at Spoonflower here

Materials List

Pre-printed Cut & Sew fabric panel from Spoonflower

Coordinating thread

Sewing machine

Iron

A pocket pack of tissues

Calculations

Not all pocket tissue packs are created equal!! If you want to - you can use the measurements from my Kleenex To Go size pack - which are as follows:

Length - 4.25 inches (4 1/2)

Width - 2.125 inches (2 1/8)

Depth - 1 inch

To calculate the size of the two fabric pieces we need, some very simple maths is required...using the measurements from your packet of tissues (or mine). We are using quarter inch seam allowances throughout - so the extra 0.5 or 1 inch at the end of each calculation is to allow for all the seams we need to sew.

Measurement 1: (2 x width) + (2 x depth) + 0.5

Measurement 2: (length + depth) + 1

So for my tissue pack:

Measurement 1: (2 x 2.125) + (2 x 1) + 0.5 = 6.75

Measurement 2: (4.25+1)+1 = 6.25

We need two pieces of fabric for each tissue cover (an outer and a lining). The fabric for the lining shows as a border strip around the opening of the tissue cover. In order to do this, we add an inch to Measurement 1 for the lining, and subtract an inch from Measurement 1 for the outer.

Our final cutting dimensions are as follows:

Outer = (Measurement 1 - 1) x Measurement 2

Lining = (Measurement 1 + 1) x Measurement 2

For my pack

Outer = 5.75 x 6.25

Lining = 7.75 x 6.25

If you are using my fabric panels, the fabric provided is 20% bigger than my calculated pieces in both directions. So if your pack is slightly bigger you should still have plenty of fabric to work with. In either case - smaller or larger - just cut the fabric to suit the calculations you have just done.

The little robot is in the very centre of the fabric panel - and in order to have him wave at you when you have used the last tissue - please take that into consideration when cutting out that piece! You will want to trim equal amounts of each side to keep him centred.

NOTE: If you are using very lightweight fabric, you may want to consider using some fusible interfacing here...I've made them in quilting cotton before, and not interfaced, but if you have a preference for a stiffer feeling holder, then feel free to interface before you start sewing.

Construction

Take your two cut pieces of fabric and place them right sides together. Line up one of the ends - one piece is longer than the other - this is correct. They should both be the same height though.

Sew a quarter inch seam along one of the ends. Then match up the other end and sew another quarter inch seam. You will now have a tube.

Centre the outer piece on the lining piece, and give it a press with your iron. There should be half an inch of the lining showing on each side of the outer fabric.

Now sew another quarter inch seam along one of the long sides - remembering to backstitch at each end. Next - sew about 3 inches along the last open side, leave an opening of an inch or so in the middle (remembering to backstitch on each end of the opening) then continue all the way to the end.

Turn your piece through the opening you left. Use a knitting needle, or other round-pointed instrument to push the corners out nicely. Give it a really good press with your iron, remembering to tuck in your opening.

Find the centre point of the long sides. I usually just fold it in half, and use my fingernail to press a slight crease into it. With the outer fabric facing you, fold both short ends to meet in the middle where you creased.