How to Make Covered Buttons for Flip Flops

These flip-flops could use some sprucing up.

Flip flops give you a multitude of advantages; they’re easy to slip on, they allow your feet and skin to breath and they're perfect for wearing all summer and to the beach. Also, they come in a variety of styles from ultra casual to super fancy, and most flip flops are often very comfortable. If you’ve got a pair of plain flip-flops that are stuck in the back of your closet because you find them to plain to wear, you can change that easily by decorating them with covered buttons.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread
• Buttons
• Hot glue

Instructions

1. Select a fabric with a color or pattern of colors that complements or contrasts the color of your flip-flops. For example, if you have black flip-flops, a black or steel gray fabric would look nice, as would a bright red or turquoise color.

2. Measure the diameter of the buttons you wish to cover. Cut out a circle of fabric for each button with a diameter that is slightly less than twice the diameter of each button.

3. Thread a needle with nylon thread that matches the fabric color for each button. Turn each swatch of fabric so it is face down. Sew a running stitch around the circumference of each circle of fabric. When you get to the end, snip off the needle, but don't cut away the excess thread.

4. Place each button in the center of each appropriately sized piece of fabric. At this point, the fabric should still be face down.

5. Pull on the long, loose piece of excess thread that you ordinarily would have knotted and cut. The fabric will wrap around the button. Knot off the thread and cut away the excess thread from each button. Add a dot of hot glue to keep the fabric around each button.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a big button for the intersection of the straps on the middle of each flip flop and smaller buttons for the sides.

References

• Make it and Mend it; How to make covered buttons; May 2010