Wooly Pots - Easy Upcycling Project to Turn Tin Cans Into Beautiful Flower Pots!

I love upcycling things that would otherwise get thrown away — so I started making these flower pots from the tin cans that the local pizzeria uses. It is a very easy and fun project that anybody can do with the supplies everybody has at home, and the best part is — each pot takes only 15-20 minutes to make!

All the supplies you will need:

1. Tin Can
2. Drill / powered screwdriver + drill bit (I used 8mm)
3. Tape
4. Yarn / Rope / Jute / Wool — whatever kind of thread you have
5. Bolt, 2x nut and 2x washer + socket or tool to tighten it (I had 8mm bolt with suitable nuts/washers lying around, it can be any bolt that will fit into your screwdriver)
6. Nail or punch
7. Vice / clamp
8. Scissors
9. Center finder ruler (optional)

The first step is to find the approximate center of the pot floor, punch a hole and drill it out with the drill bit of the same size as your bolt. I used the center finder ruler (intersection of diameters gives you a precise center), but our hole doesn't have to be very precise, so you can even eyeball it 😉. My bolt was 8mm in diameter, so I used the 8mm drill bit.

This hole will not only be useful to spin the can with your power tool, but also to drain excess water later, when in use as a flower pot.

Next, we insert the Bolt into the Hole, so that the can is held between the two washers and tightened by the two nuts. You can use one nut, but I had it unscrew on me in the process, so I recommend using the second nut to prevent it.

In case the order is not quite clear:

1) the bolt and 1x washer comes thru the hole from inside the can

2) another washer comes onto the bolt from outside, and everything gets tightened with 2x nuts

Now, we lay a loop of your thread onto the side of the can (leave a little loop hanging on top) and secure it with tape. We will use this loop to hide the end of the thread when we are finished.

Next, fix the bolt in your screwdriver.

(Optional — to make the setup a little more handleable, fix the screwdriver in a vice, or clamp it to the table like I did.)

We are ready to spin — but go slow and steady! 😉

Slowly start your screwdriver to spin the can, while holding the rope in your hand and guiding it into neat loops around the can.

I found it useful to put the main wool ball into another can directly underneath — this way it can uncurl itself better and steadier.

From time to time stop the screwdriver and move the wool closer together to avoid visible can metal underneath.

Be slow and careful with the last couple of loops — they tend to be slipping off the can. It can be a bit tricky to keep on the can while working the screwdriver, so I usually wrap the last couple of loops around the can manually.

When you have fully covered the can, cut the end of the thread, leaving about 5cm / 2in.

Thread this end into the loop that we prepared earlier, and slowly start tugging on the other end (photo 3) away from the can, so that the loop takes the loose end with it and hides it underneath the wool completely.

Now, cut the other end a bit shorter and tuck it under the rest of the wool on the can with a nail.

The drilled hole might still have some sharp metal, so carefully file it or make it flat with a hammer.

We are done! 🤩

You can use these pots as outer decorative pots or even fill them with soil, in which case I'd recommend punching some more small drainage holes in the bottom.