Friday, August 17, 2012

How to make a Flip Flop Pillow

Here is the second flip flop pillow I was working on in my last example. I thought I'd share the final version so you can see the finished pair!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Flip Flop Pillow or Flipping Out!

My sister recently came to spend a few days with me in Michigan, and I learned that she is a big flip-flop fan. So on a whim, I decided to try to make a flip flop pillow. So here's how the process went --
The most difficult part for me was to draw an actual flip flop pattern (I'm not much of an artist in that respect). I was able to find an image on Google which I enlarged as much as I could, then cut it out, put it down on some pattern making paper, and drew it larger. Proportions were a bit of a challenge! But I ended up with a pattern approximately 17' x 9".


I cut out my top fabric which is a cotton print, and bottom out of burlap. Because there are not really any pillow inserts in this shape, I decided to add some batting and a piece of muslin to both top and bottom, so when I stuff the pillow, it won't look lumpy and I won't have stuffing peaking out of the burlap weave.

I stitched piping to the top fabric and added the straps, which I made from a double thickness of burlap, sewing through top fabric, batting and muslin. Next I measured around the entire flip flop form to determine the length and cut a 3-1/2" strip of aqua fabric to be used for the thickness.

 

I sewed the aqua strip to the top and bottom portions of the flip flop, similar to a boxed cushion, leaving a space open for stuffing. I then stuffed, fluffed to shape and hand-sewed the opening to close. The one shown below used a coordinating fabric. What do you think? Kinda fun, huh?




Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Wholesale Zippers

Okay, now if you do not sew, you may not get too excited about this new shop I found on Etsy.
Zipit sells a multitude of colored zippers at wholesale prices. My order arrived in only a couple days, I got to select my colors, and they are a great price! Wish I had found them years ago! Check it out.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/zipit