<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-11-012543
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20110819
<FILING-DATE>20110823
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20110823
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SUM JOSEPH J
<CIK>0001257396
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-03834
<FILM-NUMBER>111051783
</FILING-VALUES>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CONTINENTAL MATERIALS CORP
<CIK>0000024104
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3270
<IRS-NUMBER>362274391
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1228
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>225 WEST WACKER
<STREET2>SUITE 1800
<CITY>CHICAGO
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60606
<PHONE>3126617200
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>225 WEST WACKER
<STREET2>SUITE 1800
<CITY>CHICAGO
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60606
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CONTINENTAL URANIUM INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19660830
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-08-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000024104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CONTINENTAL MATERIALS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CUO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257396</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUM JOSEPH J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11628 SWINFORD LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOKENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60448</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-08-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1533</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13669</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held in 401K Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph J. Sum</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
