How to Make Personalized Flip Flops

Flip flops are fun, fashionable summer footwear that can go from casual to dressy in an instant. With a little bit of basic sewing and creativity, you can jazz them up with your initial or monogram. Follow these steps for making your own pair of personalized flip flops.

Instructions

1. Visit your local fabric store to pick up a package of large buttons to cover. Found among the notions, covered button kits are easy to do and come with all of the tools you need to make a beautiful covered button. Choose a large button, at least an inch and a half in diameter. Two inch buttons work best, but the smaller size might be more appropriate for a teen or child.

2. Select your fabric. While you are at the fabric store, select a remnant or scrap of fabric that coordinates or contrasts to the pair of flip flops you plan to personalize. You don't need much, just enough to cover two of the buttons in your pack. Lime green, pink, or blue coordinate well with black or brown flip flops and look very summery.

3. Decide how to apply the personalization to your fabric. The most professional look is to take your small pieces of fabric to a monogramming store and have them embroider your initial on the fabric, small enough to cut out for the covered button. You can hand embroider the initial or even paint or stamp it on with fabric paint.

4. Cut out your initial in a circle, using the template for your covered button. Usually found on the back of the covered button package, the circular template shows you just how large to cut the circle of fabric to precisely cover your button. After cutting it out (making sure your initial is centered in the circle), follow the directions on the package to cover the button with your fabric.

5. Sew the button on your flip flops. Using strong button thread and a curved upholstery needle, sew the personalized button on the V of the flip flop thong. Fabric flip flops work best for this project, but if you choose to use a rubber flip flop, back the button with a bow tied of ribbon, stitch the button to the ribbon, then affix the ribbon to the rubber thong.

Tips & Warnings

• When choosing a fabric, consider how busy the print is. Your personalized initial is hard to see against some small busy fabrics. Be creative and embellish your initial with rhinestones, tiny buttons or other sparkly notions.