the blue blog archives: is that a flip flop?

Oh yeah! It's a giant fabric flip flop that I just finished sewing up for wee one. Now before you ask why on earth I would sew a big flip flop, remember that I'm the girl who made the knit boot! I'm a little weird, yes.

Okay, so here's the story... I'd seen this pattern (Fancy Flip Flop Pillow from Roommates' More Splash than Cash series of sewing patterns for teens) and a sample at my lqs a couple of times and thought (like you, I'm sure) what a ridiculous thing. Why would you ever make such a silly thing? What are you supposed to do with that? Then I went to the shop another time with wee one. She spotted the flip flop and dragged it around by the strap the whole time we were in the store. The next time we went to the store, she went right to it again. Well, mommy can take a hint! I picked up the pattern - great pattern, super simple to sew up, by the way - and pulled out some really fun fabric I got at Ikea.

I centered this cute birdie on the top and put some other fun animals on the bottom.

And wee one likes it! There is actually an odd little warning on the pattern noting that "this is not a toy", but wee one begs to differ.

So yes, I sewed a flip flop. And I may even have some strange affinity for crafting useless footwear. But wee one's happy and that's all that matters, right?

posted by alison at 11:37 am | in sewn

Comments

ok, that is one of the cutest things i've seen in a good long while. love the ikea fabric, too.

Posted by: denise at March 21, 2008 11:56 AM

I am not showing my almost 9 year old - she's going to want one instantly, flipflops being her favourite footwear (would wear them in the snow if I let her).
By the way, I love the babe doll you knitted - she's so cute!

Posted by: Cybèle at March 21, 2008 12:00 PM

I'm sure the warning is because of the strap - strangulation hazard. It's so silly, like the warnings on plastic bags that you shouldn't put them in cribs or let your kids play with them. I gotta say, if you are stupid enough to think that a plastic bag makes a good toy for your infant, you can't read the warning! : ) CLearly, the flip flop is a toy - what the heck else would it be? Anyway, i think it's super cute, and wee one never fails to make me chuckle a bit (she reminds me so much of my now 3 year old at that age).

Ta, and Happy Easter!

Posted by: Rachel at March 21, 2008 12:01 PM

Oh I love the flip flop!! I could see putting one in a beach-themed room, perhaps on the bed. Glad wee one is enjoying it, she is such a cutie!

Posted by: Lauren at March 21, 2008 12:13 PM

Very high cuteness factor there!

Posted by: Jocelyn at March 21, 2008 12:29 PM

HA! That is incredible! And I love the fabric!

Posted by: Bertha at March 21, 2008 12:36 PM

that is SO DARN CUTE!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad wee one's eye(s) is(are) better :)
So, if this is from a book for teens, I'm assuming it's easy? Like, easy enough for someone who cannot guarantee to be able to sew a straight line? Because my baby's room is a beach/surfer-girl theme, and that would be SO CUTE as like a chair pillow until she gets old enough to play with it :) I have plenty of time since she's not even due to arrive until early June (but as I'm sure you know - she'll come when she's ready!). :)

Posted by: Meg at March 21, 2008 12:41 PM

That is too cute.
My niece would love one of those

Posted by: mari at March 21, 2008 1:20 PM

definitely a cutie - wee one, and the flip flop too!

Posted by: debbie at March 21, 2008 1:33 PM

Hmmm, you're going to start bringing her to political rallies, aren't you :-).

Posted by: colleen at March 21, 2008 1:57 PM

Oh that is so cute - love the Ikea fabric. I didn't even know they sold fabric. I'll have to check it out the next time I get to one. This never ending winter has kept me close to home (we're expecting about 7" of snow in Chicago today - a lot more in the far north & north west suburbs).

if you are stupid enough to think that a plastic bag makes a good toy for your infant. then survival of the fittest may come into play

Posted by: Donna at March 21, 2008 2:04 PM

That looks like a lot of fun!

Posted by: Seanna Lea at March 21, 2008 2:28 PM

Very cute - and it's such a happy color and pattern. Wee one has a big smile which says it all.

Posted by: Jennifer at March 21, 2008 2:59 PM

LOVE IT!!!!

Posted by: Chelsea at March 21, 2008 3:27 PM

My son used to chew on my father's flip flops when he was a baby. Wee One's fondness for the stuffed version is far less odd (and far more sanitary).

Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog) at March 21, 2008 3:42 PM

That is too adorable! My daughter is 15 months old and she LOVES dragging around shoes. We have to constantly be sure that we have them put away. I need to make her one of these.

The fabric you chose is great...did you order it online from IKEA or purchase it in the store? Earlier this week I had went there in search of fabric, and I was disappointed with our nearest store's selection...so I walked out empty handed.

Posted by: Michele at March 21, 2008 4:09 PM

Michele this fabric was upstairs in the kids' furniture section where the kids' bedding stuff was.

Everyone, the pattern is very well written, definitely with a beginning sewer in mind. The only tricky part is lining up the side piece so there's not too much puckering in the curved seams. But worst case is that it puckers a little. It'll still be super cute! You'll have fun making it though - it's so silly! :D

Posted by: alison at March 21, 2008 4:53 PM

super cute!

Posted by: Purl at March 22, 2008 1:40 AM

super cute!

Posted by: Purl at March 22, 2008 1:40 AM

That is so cute! I especially love that Wee One is carrying it around everywhere. So sweet.

Posted by: Jaime at March 22, 2008 2:16 AM

It's probably the straps. Some schools don't want kids wearing scarves these days (in Winnipeg!!! it's freezing here in winter!!!) because they're a strangulation hazard... the world has gone paranoia-nuts.

Posted by: Andrea at March 22, 2008 11:58 AM

Ah yes, the strap. I couldn't come up with a technical reason for the warning, but that has to be it. Ugh!

Posted by: ALISON at March 22, 2008 3:23 PM

So fun! I wonder why it's not considered a toy. Hmmm.

Posted by: Anita at March 22, 2008 5:38 PM

If one were really worried about the strap, you could tack it down to the insole of the flip-flop in a couple of places to that no opening is large enough for a baby's head to poke through.

It is adorable.

Posted by: speattle at March 23, 2008 4:33 PM

oh that is too cute! i had the same fabric made into a Roman blind or the little guy's room - he loves naming all the animals nd telling me what colours they are, lol.

Posted by: Kellie at March 23, 2008 4:52 PM

Perhaps appreciation of unusual fiber footwear is a genetic trait, no?

Posted by: dee at March 23, 2008 7:31 PM

That is so insanely cute! I'm 24, but the inner 11 year old in me really wants one! I hope wee one enjoys it.

Posted by: Courtney at March 24, 2008 10:38 AM

I need to make this pattern! The kids' playroom is a beach theme - so it'd be perfect.

I'm still searching for somewhere that has it online that doesn't charge more than the pattern for shipping! Stinkers!

Super cute! Wonderful job - love that Ikea fabric.

Posted by: Chris at March 24, 2008 3:02 PM

It's easy to see you made something that wee one really likes. Too fun!

Posted by: Marcia at March 24, 2008 8:18 PM

That is so cute! What is it supposed to be other than a toy? A silly pillow, I guess. It's much better as a toy. I'm glad you "listened" to wee one's wishes and made her the giant flip flop she wanted. :)

Posted by: Casey at March 27, 2008 12:24 AM

oh wow, how cool. I really like that flip flop and I'm not even a thong flip flop or otherwise kind of gal [LOL], the fabric you used is just FAB, I LOVE IT.
I beg to differ on the knitted boot as I've seen them selling knitted boots in the stores here during winter of 07...I think I even saw a few teen agers wearing them.

Posted by: Orli at March 29, 2008 10:00 AM