I have to start this off by saying, I always thought I was not the kind of person that would ever have a knit Kleenex box cover in my home; much less knit one. Not that there is anything wrong with that – it is just not my kind of thing. I don’t want to come off as some kind of craft snob but I suppose I have been called worse. But this project was a mission of motherhood. A few nights ago, I was making my nightly rounds, peeking in on my kids while they sleep. I went into my daughter Sydney’s room and there she was, adorably cuddled up, nice and cozy in her bed and in her little arms was a box of tissue. A sharp-cornered, hard-edged, cardboard box of Kleenex. Not a bad looking box but not something you would want your kid to cuddle up with. I realized that Syd, (my perpetually runny nosed kid) has probably gone to bed with a cardboard box in her bed for most of her life. Yes, I know most people keep them next to their bed but Syd just likes to keep her Kleenex close so she does not have to fumble around reaching for it at night. My poor kid seeks comfort from a cardboard box. I knew that I could make something for her that would hopefully be as comforting to cuddle as those little tissues. Ta da! The TissEwe.

I did try a few variations of yarn, number of stitches… before discovering a Syd approved sheepiness formula for the perfect fuzz factor. Thanks so much to Susan B Anderson’s Lamb for providing the inspiration and the head pattern.

I have never written a pattern before – If anyone is actually interested in making one of these, I hope this makes sense. Feel free to drop me a note – I would be happy to help. Some more experienced knitters can probably do even better.

Knit the box cover and the turn inside out for finishing. Purl side is simply sheepier. You can do this right side out by purling the whole thing but I prefer to knit and since I made it up, here’s how I did it.

Holding Organic Cotton and Shag together, cast 52 stitches on a 24” size US 8 circular needles.
Using “Magic Loop” 1Place marker and continue in the round until base is 5.5 high finish round and end at marker.
k13 place marker
k6
Make bobble for tail in next stitch as follows:
(increase into next stitch) k1, p1, k1
turn - p3
turn - k3
turn - k3
turn - p3
turn - k3
turn - p3tog
- remember if you are knitting, you are working inside out. the bobble tail should stick into the cover until you turn it right side out.
turn k7 and place marker
k13 and place marker
k 13
k 52 (one full round) ending at round marker
(k2tog k9 k2tog) repeat 3 more times to end of round
(k2tog k7 k2tog) repeat 3 more times to end of round total 36 stitches
k36 (one full round)
(k2tog k5 k2tog) repeat 3 more times to end of round total 28 stitches
knit two complete rounds
(k2tog k3 k2tog) repeat 3 more times to end of round total 20 stitches - switch to dpn if it will make you more cofortable.
k4 - slip next stitch from left need on to right needle, remove marker, slip stitch back to left needle k2tog.
(k 3 - slip next stitch from left need on to right needle, remove marker, slip stitch back to left needle k2tog) repeat two more times - 16 stitches
Bind Off
Filip sheep body right side out.

Using Bulky yarn and size 8 needles to maintain proportions, follow basic instructions on Susan B. Anderson’s Lamb Head, Ears, Hair and Face. Attach to box cover body across from tail - see picture. Pull over tissue box, pull out tissue and bless you! or should I say bless ewe!