One of the hallmarks of a great woodworking project is the successful marriage of function and form. There's nothing more satisfying than creating something practical that also looks great, and this handsome do-it-yourself blanket chest falls squarely into that category. The classic design provides plenty of extra storage–something every home can use–and it looks great at the foot of the bed. It even serves as handy seat, the perfect spot to tie your shoes in the morning.Built from oak (as pictured, but almost any species can be substituted), the chest is cut almost entirely from a single sheet of plywood. Basically a simple box, the project calls for six rectangular pieces for the sides, top and bottom. The curved cuts for the base are traced from full-size patterns.The completed project measures 47 inches long by 20 inches deep by 20 inches tall.The Blanket Chest plan (No. 724) includes step-by-step instructions with photos, full-size traceable patterns, construction diagrams, a complete shopping list and cutting schedule and a toll-free help line for project questions.
