Tutorial - Reversable Bath Tissue Holder

I made this reversable bath tissue holder a while back, when I was trying to figure out how to use up my scraps. Apparently, people liked it and asked for a tutorial. I was so excited. But then everyone in the house got sick, so it has been postponed till now. This bag is quite simple, you can use it for anything, not just holding extra bath tissue. And you can change the dimension and make it in any size you desire. I am no expert at all, so here is just my way of making it. And since this is my first real tutorial, I probably said too much and might not explain everything clearly. So if you have any questions, just leave a comment.

Reversable Bath Tissue Holder: Materials
To make a bag like this, you need:

• Fabric for outside, inside, and border. The finished bag is quite small, so just some fabric scraps will be enough. I used home decor fabric samples I bought when Fabric Place closed shop, you can use thinner cotton. No need for interfacing, the tissue rolls will help the bag to hold its shape.


• Rottary cutter, ruler, and self-healing cutting board. If you don't have these, then you have to draw the design on the back of your fabric, and cut the pieces out with scissors. With the markings on the board and ruler, I didn't even need to draw the pattern.


• Sewing machine. Of course, if you don't have a sewing machine, you can hand stitch it. I personally love the cozy feeling of a hand-stitched item. But it's just too time consuming to me.

Reversable Bath Tissue Holder: Cutting

• Cut two 7" by 15" rectanglar pieces each from your outside and inside fabric.


• Cut two 5" by 15", and two 2.5" by 8" pieces (optional, for handles) from your border fabric.

You will end up with 8 pieces like the picture above.

Reversable Bath Tissue Holder: Sewing

• Put an outside rectanglar piece and a border piece right side together, and sew a straight line. Then open the finished piece, fold the seam towards one side, zigzag along the edge to add some decorative touch and provent it from fraying. Do the same with the inside fabric, attach it to the other side of the border piece. Repeat the step and sew the rest of the pieces together. You will end up with two bigger rectanglar pieces, with the outside and inside fabric on the either end, and the border piece right in the middle. Note: If your fabric has a direction like mine, make sure to sew the top of it to the border fabric.


• Put the two pieces right side together. Make sure you have the outside fabric facing each other, otherwise you will end up with a weird bag that the inside and outside are the same, front and back reversable. Pin all around and sew. Make sure to leave a small opening at the center of your inside fabric, so you can turn the right side out.


• Pick up one corner, use your fingers to feel the seams. Once you get the two seams right on top of each other, you have the perfect corner. Hold it on your cutting board or with a ruler, measure 2.5" down from the tip, you should get 5" across. Mark with marker or pin along the line, like the picture above. Sew along the line. Repeat this step to all four corners, then you end up with a rectanglar box shape. You should see the opening you left is on a shorter edge of the 'box'.


• Cut off the corners, leaving about 1/4" seam. You can zigzag all four seams to keep the corners from fraying.Turn the 'box' right side out through the opening, fold down the fabric and sew it shut.


• Now is the magic moment. Hold the center of the border fabric, and push the inside bag into the outside bag.And feel around, the seams where the border fabric meet outside and inside fabric should at the same level. Pin around the top of the bag, and sew a straight line or zigzag line if you want more details. Now if you turn your bag to change sides, it won't shift, and you don't have to realign it everytime. Basically, your reversable bath tissue holder is done.


• This step is optional. I like my bags to have handles, so I can easily move them around, say when I clean the bathroom. The two 2.5" by 8" pieces you cut are for handles. Press 1/4" seam along the long sides, then fold it in half. Fold in the two ends as well, about 1/4" in. Sew along the long edge. You can leave the two ends open for now. Repeat this to make the second handle. Pin the handles to the outside of your bag, and sew a square to secure it. Now you are finally done.

Just put in a couple of tissue rolls, and put it on top of the tank. And admire! Now the hard part, which side should I show off today?

There are lots of amazing tutorials out there, like this one from Pink Penguin, and the bagsket tutorial from foofanagle. Jessica from How About Orange once posted some awesome tutorials as well. Just google "fabric basket tutorial", you will find all of them.