Flip Flop Pillow Tutorial

Create a cute flip flop pillow with this simple pattern and tutorial!  Perfect for decorating a child’s room, or just for a bit of fun style in your decor!

My daughter has about 20 pairs of flip flops in various colors. She is a huge fan of the things. And even though our dog Ralph eats one now and then, she manages to keep a good supply. So when I was perusing a department store one day, I ran across a flip flop pillow that I found amusing. But being the cheapskate that I tend to be, I wasn’t willing to pay the money that they wanted for it. Not when I could come up with one of my own.

I have a large collection of fabric fat quarters. A fat quarter is a quilter’s term for a one-fourth yard cut of fabric that (usually) measures 18″ x 22″ instead of the typical 9″ x 44″ quarter-yard cut. Of course the term “fat quarter” can also describe the result of sitting on your butt doing too much quilting. Not that I would know anything about that.  I like to refer to my “quarters” as fluffy.  ANYWAY, in this case, we are referring to the first definition.

For each flip flop pillow, you need:

2 fat quarters of contrasting fabric
1 dollar store roll of wired ribbon
1 yard of pom pom fringe
1 silk flower
Poly-fil stuffing

Step 1: Draw out the pattern on a piece of posterboard. The length of the flipflop is 17″, width is 8 1/2″ at the top and 6 1/2″ at the heel. Cut out the pattern, adding 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step 2: Use this pattern to cut the top and bottom of your flip flop out of your main fabric. Remember to flip the pattern over for the bottom.

Step 3: From the contrasting fabric, cut a strip that measures 4″ wide x 44″ long for the sides of the flip flop, and a strip that measures 3 1/2″ wide x 20″ long for the strap. (If you are using fat quarters, you may have to piece 2 strips together to get 44″).

Step 4: Start with the 44″ long strip of contrasting fabric and with right sides together, sew the ends together to create a loop.  Placing the seam at the heel, pin to the bottom of the flip flop with right sides together, clipping at the curves for fit.

Sew the side to the bottom Flip Flop piece of fabric allowing a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step 5: Take the 3 1/2″ wide strip and fold in half lenthwise, right sides together.  Sew along the end and the length of it, leaving one end open.  Turn and press.

Step 6: Cut a piece of wired ribbon about double the length of the strap and fold it in half.  Then fold it in half lengthwise and slide it into the length of the strap.  Baste the open end closed.

Step 7: Fold the strap at about the 8 inch mark.  (One side is longer than the other).  About 1 inch from the fold, sew a straight seam.  This will make the section that goes between the toes.  The internet calls this the “toe thong”.  For some reason, I find that rather humorous.  Anyway…

Step 8: Pin the toe thong in place on the top piece of Flip Flop fabric.  Sew the toe thong in place at each side and where the big toe would be.

Step 9: With right sides together, sew top piece to the side piece. Be sure to leave a 3″ opening for stuffing. I put my opening on the side for easy basting later.  Above,  the flip flops are ready for stuffing and basting.  I stuffed them using Poly-fil and then basted the side opening shut.  Be sure to baste the ends of the straps down.

I then “blinged up” the flip flops with pom pom trim and silk flowers.  Because we all need a little “bling” now and then.  I hand-stitched the pom pom trim on, and added a dot of hot glue to add the flower.

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