DIY Flip Flops: How to Turn Flip Flops into Sandals

With the flip flop season already upon us, there’s nothing better than showing off your pedicure, and soaking up the sun! This great weather inspired me to try a simple DIY flip flops idea – making cute fabric sandals from a pair of $3 flip flops. These homemade sandals are softer, more comfortable, and definitely more colorful! In other words, a better match for the summer mood! So here is a very simple DIY on how to turn flip flops into sandals for less than $10 and in less than 30 minutes!

As I mentioned earlier, I used a pair of cheap flip flops I got from Old Navy. Their price is hard to beat, but knowing that I will be wearing the flip flops on rough surfaces (think sand, pebbles, etc), I wish I had splurged for a pair of Havaianas instead. You can find good deals on Amazon in case you want to save yourself a trip to the store.

In addition to the flip flops, I used a piece of fabric, a hair tie, a thread, and a tiny bit of glue. The fabric you are using, the flip flips, the hair tie, and the thread should all match.

These are fairly basic materials, so first check if you have anything suitable at home. If not, I have included links to the stuff I used below:

Start by cutting two pieces of the fabric. I used a 29″ long and 11″ wide piece of fabric from an old scarf. Any soft fabric that does not have a reverse side will work, but old scarfs and t-shirts are cheaper alternatives.

Wrap the fabric around the straps of each flip flop. When you reach the end of the straps, make sure that the fabric comes out from the inner side.

Tie the hair elastic to the fabric at the base of the straps. Then, try on this rough draft and determine the desired length of the elastic. As with all sling sandals, they should be just tight enough, so you can walk comfortably. The elastic should not fall under your heel when walking.

Cut the excess fabric and use a matching thread to sew the elastic on the fabric. Then, use the hair elastic leftover pieces to cover the seam between the fabric and the elastic.

Tip: I sewed the elastic and the fabric by hand. Even though I used a double thread, the fabric was too loose to keep the knot at the end of the thread from going through the fabric. To make the stitches stronger, on my second stitch I pulled the needle through the double thread. This prevented the knot from going through the fabric.

To make these homemade sandals extra sturdy, apply some glue on the inner side of the straps and glue the fabric.

Finally, let’s decorate these DIY flip flops with a cute bow. Grab some of the leftover fabric and wrap a piece of hair tie around it. Sew the piece of hair tie around the fabric and on the flip flops. Shape the bow with scissors for a cute and ruffled effect.

Below are the DIY flip flops, a.k.a. the newest addition to my shoe collection. If you have leftover fabric, you can use it to make a matching purse. Check out this blog post on how to make a tote bag out of a shirt.

 

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