How-to: Coffee Can Bag

An empty coffee can doesn't have to end it's useful life as a repository for rusting screws and nails (although that is a pretty good use for an old coffee can).

I made this little bag, by adding a drawstring top cut from a burlap rice bag to an ordinary 1 lb. coffee can. I combined these two, because I liked the colors together,  but any type of medium to heavy weight fabric and any type of can is suitable for this project.

You Will Need:
Can with the lid removed.
Fabric
Heavy Duty Glue (I Used Gorilla Glue)
Rope, Cord or Twine for the Drawstring
Sewing Machine or Needle and Thread
Newspaper

How To:
#1: Measure the circumference of the can. Cut a piece of fabric into a rectangle. The height of your rectangle should be twice the height of the can. The width of your fabric rectangle should be equal to the circumference of the can plus 2 inches.
#2: Fold your fabric rectangle in half short ways and right sides together.
#3: Stitch up the side seam to form a fabric tube.
#4: Sew a casing an appropriate size to fit whatever you selected for your drawstring.
#5: Thread the drawstring through the casing and knot the ends of the string together.
#6: Squirt two rings of glue around the inside of the can. Put one  ring of glue at the middle and one near the top. Make sure not to glue so close to the top of the can that it will ooze out.
#7: Carefully position the bag inside the can. Press the fabric into the interior walls of the can and use crumpled newpaper to stuff inside to hold the fabric up against the metal while the glue dries.