Steps to Make a Dress Out of Aluminum Cans

Whether for a funky fashion design statement or a just-for-fun beauty craft, the steps on how to make a dress out of aluminum cans can be tricky. The number of cans that you need and the time spent on this project can vary, depending on how long and "tailored" you want your custom fashion design to be. Wear gloves through the entire project, as any cut metal can be a sharp hazard. For the same reason, it is also advisable to wear a layer of clothing underneath your finished dress.

Preparing the Material for Your Fashion Design
Use tin snips to cut down the side seam of the aluminum cans. Pull the sides slightly down before snipping the bottom and top circles off completely. Place the circles in separate piles and the sides in another. The next steps to make a dress out of aluminum can be tough without a template to go buy. If you are a sewer who makes your own clothes frequently, you already have a good idea on how to make a professional pattern for your body size. If not, and you're in a pinch, for this project you can lie down on a large piece of cardboard and have someone trace your body outline. Cut it out to use as a guide to how many cans you need, allowing extra for wrapping around the sides. (Note: this technique only works with this type of beauty craft project, not actual fashion design.)

Laying Out Your Fashion Design
Once you believe you have a good number of aluminum cans cut, begin laying out the front part of your dress design on a flat surface, using your template as a guide. The circles make for smoother curves around the bust-line and "hem" of your dress, but if you want to use just the sides, they can be lightly folded over later as well. Lay out the back of your dress in the same way. Make sure to allow a few inches overlap onto the sides (which you will create as you are putting it all together) and do the same when you lay out your pattern for the backside. Once you have the design layed out on the template just how you want it, it's time to get the pieces ready for "stitching."

Putting Your Fashion Design Together
Use a die grinder to smooth out any rough edges and reduce the risk of getting cuts when you are "fitting" the project on yourself. Wash all of the pieces with warm water and dry completely with a towel right afterwords to avoid any oxidation (spots forming). Use a nonmetallic abrasive paper (like sandpaper but specifically meant for using on metal surfaces) to scuff the surface lightly before applying a primer. Paint the sections the colors you wish using spray paint meant for metal. Apply a clear sealer. Use a tin hole puncher to create a "seam" where the edges of the cans used for the front and back are going to meet. Tie the front and back pieces together with a leather cord or strong ribbon.

The finishing steps on how to make a dress out of aluminum cans are more time consuming. Keep trying the dress on and add pieces to the sides to complete it, shaping them all as you go to get the tailoring fit that you want.