This is my version of a modern day Tuffet, If Miss Muffet were here, I think she would find this little stool perfect for sitting on while she ate her curds and whey! I needed a seat for my antique vanity but didn't have a lot of money. I wanted a chair that I could sit on while I applied my make-up and then tucked out of the way while not in use. It also needed to be lightweight so that it wouldn't leave scratches on my new wood laminate floor. A few years ago I made a chair out of cans, that's where I got the idea to make a smaller version out of larger cans. I attached some small casters that allow the stool to roll with ease. This is a pretty piece of furniture, but it is also quite sturdy! Total cost of this project was about $15.

Step 1: Supplies Needed

24 Large juice cans, (46 ounces). Make sure the cans have been rinsed out very well and allowed to dry completely. Do NOT remove the tops of the cans! this is very important, open with a "church key" (a pointy type can opener punched in on opposite sides of the top of the can.), This step keeps the cans very strong. Make sure the cans have been rinsed out very well and allowed to dry completely. hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, Newspapers, piece of plywood 13" x 17", jigsaw, set of 4 casters, sewing machine, thread, straight pins, an old pair of jeans and shipping tape.

Step 2: Attaching the Cans Together

There is no need to remove the labels, they are glued on well and actually help keep everything together. Place one can on top of another, Tape the cans together with a piece of 3" wide shipping tape all the way around.

Step 3: Covering the Columns With Newspaper

Wrap each individual column with 3 or 4 layer of newspaper, this helps keep the cans from shifting around during construction.

Step 4: Connecting the Columns

Cut the old jeans into strips approximately 1" x 8" Hot glue these strips onto the cans attaching one column to another. When you have 6 pairs of columns, glue them to each other so that the stool is 4 cans across by 3 cans wide. 12 cans in the bottom layer and 12 cans in the top layer. 24 cans total.
You could also cut an old sheet into long strips about 3" wide and just wrap it around the cans, hot gluing every now and then.

Step 5: Attaching Casters to Base

This step would probably be easier if you attached the casters to the plywood before gluing the plywood to the cans. Use short screws and screwdriver to attach the casters to the plywood near the corners. As you can clearly see, I used nails instead of screws.

Step 6: Connecting Base to Cans

Place the cans that have all been connected together on top of plywood. Trace around the base. Using a jigsaw, cut out the plywood. Hot glue denim strips to the bottom of the side of the cans and then glue to the bottom of the plywood. This step is probably easier to do with the whole thing upside down, plywood on top.
Also, an old sheet cut into long strips would work well here instead of the denim strips.

Step 7: Making a Cover

I made this removable fabric cover for the stool out of a couple of cotton dresses from the thrift shop. It has elastic sewn to the bottom at the corners. It fits quite snug. I measured the top and added 1/2" on all 4 side for the seam allowance. I then measured from top to bottom and added 1/2" at the top for seam allowance and 1" at the bottom for the hem.

Step 8: Stitching a Cushion

I made the cushion out of an old standard size bed pillow. I cut the pillow in half and placed one half on top of the other. Then I covered that with a scrap of fabric and hand stitched it on.

Step 9: Fabric Skirt and Seat Cover

Cut a piece of fabric 25" x 27". place the cushion on top of the stool and put the fabric over cushion. Pin the fabric to the original fabric cover. Pull gently, making it nice and snug. Hand stitch to the original cover. For the skirt section, measure from the top of the stool (do not count the cushion) to the bottom where the plywood is. Add 1" at the top and 2" at the bottom. this is the height. Now measure around the whole thing and multiply x 2-1/2 or 3. (depending on how full you want the skirt to be.) This is the width. cut a piece of fabric this size. It will be approximately 20" tall by 120" wide. Using the sewing machine, sew the 2 short ends together. (right sides together) Turn under the bottom edge 1" and turn under again. Pin. Hem with the sewing machine. Fold it in half and in half again and using safety pins, mark it at the top in 4 places. This step will help it be evenly distributed when you gather. Place the skirt around the stool and fold over the top edge 1". Pin the skirt to the stool where the safety pins are at the 4 corners. Continue pinning all the way around. Hand stitch skirt to the stool.

Step 10: Band and Piping

Adding piping is a nice touch, I covered the piping with the same fabric but it would also look nice with a solid color. Stitch the fabric over piping using a zipper foot on your sewing machine. For the band, Cut a piece of fabric 5" wide by 60" long. fold in half lengthwise (right sides together) and sew using the sewing machine along the long edge, with 1/2" seam allowance. Turn right side out and press. You should now have a band that is 2" wide by 60" long. Place the piping around stool, raw edges up. pull tightly and pin ends together. hand stitch where the ends meet and at the 4 corners. Place the band around stool over the raw edge of piping. The bottom edge of the band should be right at the stitching on the piping. Hand sew in place. And there is your pretty little tuffet!