How to make a coffee can into an organizing caddy.

I’m all about keeping organized. Okay, maybe I suck at it but I’m always trying to improve because I cannot work or function in a mess.

I needed something to organize my ~~junk~~ stuff on my bedroom side table so I decided to use a coffee can and some fabric to make a caddy to organize things.

Let’s get right to it.

Tools needed:

A can – you can use a coffee can or a paint can or anything round.

Fabric – I used three different patterns and white for the backing.

Scissors

pins

Glue – school glue or Mod Podge

sewing machine

I grabbed a bunch of fabrics with a Frenchish theme and mixed and matched until I found three I thought looked nice together. For me, it was the hardest part of this process.

I measured the can from top to bottom which was 7 1/2 inches.

I measured it around and it was 19 1/4 inches.

The first piece of fabric needs to be big enough to cover the can plus allow for seam allowances. Most people add a quarter inch on each side but I never could get the seam allowances down that small so I cut it larger.

I cut two pieces (the front and back) 8 1/2 x 20 1/2. The extra quarter is to over lap when it’s on the can at the end of the process.

I cut the next color or patterned piece and the backing 7 1/2 X 20 1/2

I cut the last front and back at 6 1/2 x 23 1/2 because the pockets have to have a little wiggle room. After it was all done, I realized the pockets could have been a little larger so I would suggest 6 1/2 x 25 1/2.

sew each piece to the backing by putting right sides together and sewing the top, bottom and one side. Keep one side open to turn it right side out again but iron it first to set the seams.

Once it is turned right side out, iron it again.

Do this with the other colors too.

Now, stack the first two pieces on top of each other with the pretty sides facing up.

Sew the two sides together. You don’t have to do this step but it gets annoying if it moves during the next steps and pins just get all pokey.

Next, put the last piece on top.

I pinned each side so that the fabric was like a tent when it was pulled up, not that I did that 😉.

The next step is kind of confusing but pretty simple to do. Take the fabric and make little folds, like pleats, and pin them into the size pockets you want. I did all of mine the same size except the end pocket which I wanted bigger.

I ended up using a ruler and a fabric pencil to mark straight lines as I pinned.

Sew, starting at the top of the middle piece of fabric to the bottom of the top piece of fabric. The bottom should look like the this now.

I flattened each pocket out and pinned the extra on each side. Then sewed the bottom closed.

I wrapped the fabric around the can but didn’t like the silver of the can so I spray painted the top and inside black.

After it dried, I painted on Mod Podge and glued the back of the organizer to the can, starting with the unfinished edge. The finished end overlaps it and hides it. Glue it closed.

Voila! (Get it, it’s French themed?)

Done!