This summer turn your flip flops into Crochet Sandals!
As the twins have grown we have gone through various stages of confusion when it comes to socks and shoes. Like, are these my husband’s socks or Oldest Twins? Are these my flip flops or Youngest Twins? At the moment I don’t have a solution for the sock confusion, but I did come up with one for the flip flops. Obviously, my flip flops needed a little crochet added on to them.
This is also a great way to make flip flops more comfortable. Yes, I said more comfortable. Sometimes the toe thing bothers me, depending on the brand. Or the plastic straps are irritating. I just don’t always find flip flops comfortable. And in fact I often wear ballet flats instead. But if I’m headed to the pool then I really want to bring sandals to wear as I get in and out of the water.
So with a tapestry needle, a 3mm crochet hook, a 4mm crochet hook, and some worsted weight yarn I turned a pair of flip flops into easy crochet sandals.
The first step is to create the holes all the way around the sandal. The holes need to angle from the top of the sandal toward the middle of the sole edge (a 45 degree angle). I used a tapestry needle to poke through the foam sandal, you could also use an awl or a double sided knitting needle. Anything pointy and not too wide. I spaced my holes 1/2″ apart around the entire sandal, and placed the hole on top of the sandal about 1/4″ away from the edge to help it not rip through.
Once the holes are all made I used a 3mm crochet hook to single crochet around the entire edge of my sandal.
Once the crochet edge is done you can make the straps. For the straps I used a 4mm crochet hook. Starting on the left side of the sandal and using the back holes as a guide I joined my yarn to the crochet edge. Then I chained 21 which becomes the strap leading out to the left. Turn and sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and each of the following chains back to where you started. (Test out the strap length on your foot and adjust the length as desired.)
Then chain 20 again and slip stitch into the space on the right side of the sandal. This chain become the back part that slips over your heel.
Finally, chain 21, turn and sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and each of the following chains back to where you started. This becomes the strap leading out to the right. Cut the yarn and tie off.
A few stitches above the where you joined on the left join again for the top left strap. Here I chained 16, turned, sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and each of the following chains. Cut the yarn and tie off. Repeat on the right side for the top right strap.
Once all the straps are made it’s time to cross them before you attach them. Stretch the straps across the sandal and create an over under pattern for a woven look.
Once the straps are in place use a small piece of yarn to attach them. Then weave in all the ends.
I kept the round plastic pieces from the bottom of the flip flops and used strong adhesive to reattach them, that way I didn’t have any holes in the soles on my sandals that things could come through. Like those small rocks in my backyard.
I used a similar colored yarn to my sandals, but you could use a contrasting color as well! Or do the edging in one color and the straps in another color. So many possibilities for your Crochet Sandals!
Want to see another shoe makeover? Check out my Cat Toe Shoes
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