I am sure like many of you, I was at Old Navy this last Saturday morning for the flip flop sale!
I got one for each of my boys and a pair for me. When I got home my husband remarked that he wished all the flip flops came with the cool strap in the back like the toddler boy ones have. I shrieked, “You’re a genius!”
That is when the hunt began for colored elastic. I live in a relatively small-ish town so my choices for buying crafting stuff can sometimes be limited. I could only find white and black elastic. So then I started hunting for head bands to use in place of elastic. The ONLY place I could find a thicker RED headband was at our DollarTree and not with the headbands – I had to check the Memorial Day supplies aisle. Seriously…after four stores I was losing hope and wondering if I was going insane wasting my time on this. Anyway…you don’t want to hear about that. 🙂
So with my red headband I cut it it in half…
and hand sewed it on the flip flop straps. I went back and forth several times. I wanted to be sure it would stay nicely. I am sure you could machine sew it but I wanted to sit and watch TV with my hubby 🙂
You could glue the straps to stay in a certain place but I didn’t. I just hike them up after he puts them on and they stay great once on.
One tip that I wish I had known before….RIGHT after you cut your elastic head band apply fray check or singe the edges {or serge them?}. The outside threads frayed severely on some of the ends.
Some turned out okay, but I bet singeing it will keep all of them nicer.
Also note that the strap may look a bit short. This ensures it will keep their sandals on their feet better. If it is too long then it is really pointless I think (like I kind of wish my toddler boy’s flip flops were a bit tighter).
Summer here we come!
Edited to add: At the time I wrote this post, there were just not many places that sold colored elastic. Now you can find it in almost any color, type, in soft fold over kind, even glittery elastic! That should make this project much much easier.
Wow, what a great idea. I live in a small town too and getting supplies is a joke here too.
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for doing all of the foot work for us. Going from store to store is exhausting.
Tricia
Leafytreetopspot.blogspot.com
I've been back-reading your blog for a while and I just came upon this entry today! I love your idea! Someone gave my daughter a pair of baby flipflops and though it already has elastic straps at the back, it keeps slipping of her feet. I wanted to add another strap to go over the feet to keep it in place. I have no idea how though (the back strap is attached like
Thanks so much for this idea. My daughter is 10 and has trouble keeping flip flops on due to her Cerebal Palsy. Can't wait to cut up some headbands. YEAH!
Hey Delia, I just love this idea! I've featured one of your photos and mentioned your blog in my post that will be going up tomorrow. I hope you'll come check it out! ~Jen http://www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com
I love this, so creative!
I featured it on my blog:
seemesew.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing. I can wear flip flops to work but they have to have a strap. I have use black elastic and now I going to be on the hunt for headbands! Great Idea.
That's a genius idea. My daughter is 2, and has yet to learn the trick for walking in her sandals & flip-flops. I am going to fix her cute little shoes after I stock up on headbands. Again, a GENIUS idea!
This is an awesome idea! I love the idea of buying those great mulit-pks of colorful eleastic headbands at Dollar Tree and other places like 99 Cents Always stores. I have balance problems and although I love wearing sandals in this intense TX heat, it's easy to step mout of them unless they have a backstrap. An idea for those who don't have easy access to Dollar Tree is to use regular,
Wow, this is such a simple and awesome idea! Going to try it out for, not just my daughter, but myself!
Ah ha! I knew somebody had to have come up with a solution like this! I hate how I have to curl my toes to keep flip flops on my feet when I walk. Problem solved!
Thank you! <3
Thank you! I used to wear flip flops all the time & then developed foot drop prior to back surgery that never went away. I have learned to manage walking fairly well considering but trying to wear casual, normal sandals is hard. The rubber soles and toe divider on flip flops is more comfortable but I MUST have a back strap. I was able to find some a few years ago from JCP but have worn to death! Now I am going to try this and let’s pray it works!
Thanks for posting this! I used to wear basic flip flops all the time & then suffered permanent foot drop damage on one foot. I literally almost cried when I gave away about every color imaginable of ON flip flops that I couldn’t wear anymore. 5 years later, it’s still very hard to find a light-weight sandal with a strap that has the soft sole. I don’t like wearing hard soled sandals because my foot kind of slaps the ground when I walk & I also need the toe piece between my toes like a flip flop for control. Last year I actually bought a few pair to try this & wasn’t able to get my hands on any colored elastic because of covid. I am just now able to get some so I’m hoping to try this out. Can’t wait! I too wish they’d just make some adult ones with straps. I’ve found a brand that does, Havianas, but dang they are like $20 for a pair of basic flip flops.