how to make cute flip flops

21 June 2010

Happy first day of summer! My kids are throwing together a little party to celebrate,june 2010 004 1


but I promised a tutorial for the flip flops we made at my daughter’s birthday: 
 

These all started when I saw this top at Walmart. I didn’t buy it because it would look cute on me (let’s just say…it wouldn’t.)
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I got it ($3) because I wanted to cut it up and see how they made the flowers on it.
june 2010 062 The flowers were just circles of sheer fabric tied around a plastic circle disc. (The sideways view of the flower is in the top left)
So, since I had already cut up the shirt, I decided to try my own flower with the shirt fabric. It turned out to be a new discovery of how to make cute flip flops.june 2010 069
1. Buy your flip flops at Old Navy, Walmart, JoAnn Fabrics, or Michaels. These are the places I’ve seen them for $2 or less a pair.
2. Gather some fabric that is the same on both sides. I’m sure there is a technical sewing term for this, but I am too lazy to look it up or call a sewing friend. I’ve found that fabric with a little stretch in it works best. Something you might use to make….say….stretchy pants.
3. Trace a circle on your stretch fabric, fold it in half (you want 2 circles) and cut. This circle is from a pyrex lid, about the size of a medium size saucepan lid.june 2010 119
4. Place one of your circles like this on the flip flop:june 2010 120
5. Pull it up:
june 2010 122 6.Tie around the base. We used ordinary string, but I really think some stretchy bead wire or fishing line may work better (?) and fluff it out.june 2010 123 7. You’ll have three little poofs. Stretch the middle one up and cut it.
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It will now look like this:june 2010 128 It’s fine like this, but if you want some more poof, you just take your other circle and tie it around this one june 2010 131
fluff it out, and it will look like this:
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cute flip flops for everyone! These ones were cotton, they didn’t stretch as well, but they work.
For these type, just cut up some ribbon or fabric and double knot them around.
Go have some flip flop fun! If you have questions, ask away in the comments…