Let's assume you're making a jewellery box out of solid wood. As a general rule, you should use a single piece of wood for an object of this size. Different boards, even when cut from the same trunk, may vary considerably in shade.

If you use a long board and separate it at the required points, the woodgrain only matches on three sides. Where the ends of the board meet, the grain doesn't merge seamlessly. This is because the grain is hardly ever straight but usually has a structure which reflects the vitality of the wood.

The trick is to cut the individual pieces differently. To achieve a continuous smooth grain, you need a board that's at least twice as thick, which you mark as follows:

1. Marking the front

   First you mark the short piece on the front left. The rest of the front will be the long part of your box.

   
2. Marking the back mirror-inverted

   On the back you mark the other two pieces in mirror inversion. If both parts are the same length, you will need to mark them so you can tell them apart later. The procedure is the same.

   
3. Marking the pieces

   Before you cut the pieces, we advise you to mark them with a triangle to avoid mixing them up. At the end there is only one possible way of assembling the pieces so that you see the whole triangle.

   The open sides of the triangle must always face inwards.

   
4. Assembly

   If you now cut and assemble the pieces, you will have a continuous grain on all sides.