DIY storage solutions: how to make a fabric covered canister

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Part of my journey to a nearly-free craft room makeover includes making fabulous storage solutions from repurposed containers. I’ve been collecting empty jelly jars, baby food jars, frosting containers, oatmeal canisters and other assorted empty cylindars (well, I’ve been collecting boxes and flat containers too, but that’s another post altogether).

The glass containers can morph into button storage, package accent storage, ribbon storage fairly easily- just remove the label and fill with pretty supplies.

The other containers are not quite as low maintenance, but still display great potential for a new life as a craft material storage device. But what to do about those pesky relics of their days as oatmeal/baby formula/frosting containers? Cover them with fabric and felt, of course!

You’ll need:
-a clean, empty canister (I used an oatmeal container)
-fabric and felt scraps (enough to cover the container)
-a sewing machine
-a glue gun
1. Cut your fabric scraps to ‘container covering capacity,’ plus a little extra around the perimeter for gluing and sewing. I used three horizontal panels- two pieces of felt and one scrap of lovely pear fabric. You don’t have to use panels- you can just use one piece of scrap fabric (if so, skip to #3).

2. Sew your panels together. You should now have a piece of fabric that’ll wrap all the way around your canister, plus a little extra for sewing the ends together. Your piece of fabric should also have a little extra room at the top and some at the bottom for gluing later. TIP: For a cleaner look and less fraying, I put the cotton fabric in the middle and the felt pieces on the top and bottom.

3. Fold your piece of fabric in half and stitch the ends together. You should be stitching on the unfinished edges for a cleaner finished look.

4. Flip your fabric back to the finished side. You should have a tube of fabric with two hollow ends.

5. Slip your casing onto your canister. Using a hot glue gun, glue the extra fabric at the top and at the bottom into your container.

6. Fill this little lovely with pom poms or small paper punches or buttons! Then, examine the contents of your pantry… I’m sure there are all sorts of things just waiting for their new lives as gorgeous fabric covered storage in there!

Happy repurposing!

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5 Comments

  1. I'm so glad you liked the lemonade party! Can't wait to see pics! Great blog by the way. =)

  2. I wanted to let you know that in "See Spot Save" at Target they have some great organization stuff for a dollar! I just picked up some great clear plastic stacking cylinders for storing little things.

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