Repurposed Fabric-lined Can Tutorial

We found this fun bar at Ikea for the laundry room.  We also got the cool hooks, but didn't splurge on the accessories to hang on them.

I needed something fun to hold stuff.  I was making a fruit salad with some big cans of peaches and it hit me...the cans would be perfect.  They just needed some prettying up.

In this tutorial, I'm going to show you a simple way to line a can with fabric.  You can embellish the outside however you wish.  I used spray paint, decoupage, and even jute.  To line the cans, you'll need:

• large scraps of fabric
• matching thread
• sewing tools, including sewing machine
• iron and ironing board
• hot glue gun

Step one.  Cut out your fabric pieces.  You'll need a bottom and a side piece.  For the bottom, trace the bottom of the can and cut that exact size.

For the sides, you'll need a rectangle.  Measure the outer diameter of the can, add 0.25 inches for the width.   To make this simple, I actually marked a starting point, and then rolled the can until I came back to the starting point, and then added a quarter inch beyond my mark.

Measure the height of the can, and add 1 inch.  This will give you a rectangle.

Step two.  Take your rectangle and match the short sides together to make a cylinder shape.  Right sides of the fabric together, sew with a 1/2" seam.  

Step three.  Pin the circle piece to the cylinder, right sides together.

Sew with a 0.25" seam.

Step four.  Measure down 0.75 inches from top of cylinder, and iron down.

Step five.  Tuck cylinder into can.

Then use your hot glue gun and glue the lining in place.

Project complete!  Now, you can take this simple idea and personalize it in countless ways, really.

In my example, you see the decoupaged can with grosgrain ribbon trim.  The fun part with the lining, is you completely cover up the hole in the can. 

I also spray painted cans.  One tip I figured out, use a rubber glove to make sure you don't paint your arms.

All dolled up:

The best part, using my method, you can line any size can, because it is based on the can dimensions!  What kinds of applications can you think of for a fabric lined can?  I'd love to see what you come up with. 

Here's my happy laundry room bar.

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