I grew up as a pool rat kid, living just three houses away from the public pool. Every day we would walk (barefoot) down the gravel alley to swim for the entire afternoon. Beyond the delicious nachos at the concession stand and the gorgeous lifeguards that seemed to step off the set of Baywatch, I felt at home in the water under the steaming hot sun of summer in St. Louis.

Skip ahead to high school. I spent my summers twirling a whistle and yelling at every person in sight as a lifeguard, myself. Yet, I needed foot wear. Cleaning the deck and washing the disgusting bathhouse at the end of my shift required some layer of ‘protection’ between myself and the chlorine-covered pool residue.

Enter the flip-flop addiction. You can get flip-flops in an amazing variety of colors, styles, and even heights (High-heeled floppers? You betcha.). But, You can also make them yourself! Do you remember where that yoga mat is that you bought a few years ago, but never used? Well, go find it. We’re going to make our own flippy-floppies out of those neglected mats (and not out of maxi pads…eeew!). After watching this episode of Threadbanger, I remembered the two yoga mats hiding in the back of my own closet and made myself a pair. View the step-by-step instructions, below!

Materials

• Old yoga mat
• Permanent Marker
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Razor

Step 1

Scrub that Yoga mat like nobody’s business. It quite possibly might smell like butt sweat.

Step 2

There are two sides to every yoga mat: one textured and one smooth side. Lay the mat down smooth side up. Find a tennis shoe (that’s fits you) and then trace the outline of the shoe onto the mat using a permanent marker. Cut out the shape.

Step 3

Flip over the shape you just cut and lay it back on the mat. Trace the outline of the the shape and cut it out of your yoga mat. Looky! You’ve got two feet.

Step 4

Trace and cut four more sets of each foot until you have a total of 5 pairs. Stack them on top of each other (one pile for each foot) and turn them over, textured-side up.

Step 5

Use your glue gun to adhere four of the five layers together (CAREFUL: this sucker gets hot!). It helps if you glue a little section and then press down until you’ve made your way through all the layers. Repeat for the other foot.

Step 6

Take out the fifth layer and put it on the floor. Position your foot over it and then make a mark in between your big and second toe with your permanent marker. This is where we’ll put the straps.

Step 7

Very carefully, use a razor to cut the mark open.

Step 8

Cut two long 3/4″ wide strips from what is left of the yoga mat. You can trim them later.

Step 9

Put one end of one strip into the hole you just cut, with the smooth side facing out. Bring the strip around and under, out the other side, and place the other end of the strip into the hole, smooth side facing out.

Step 10

Slip it on to make sure it fits. Tighten or loosen as needed by carefully adjusting the strips.

Step 11

Trim both sides of the strip and then glue them down. Glue down the middle part as well.

Step 12

Glue the top layer to the other four layers, just as you did when gluing them before. Put a little more pressure on the middle and toe parts of the flip flop.

Step 13
Use your glue gun and make tread on the bottom of your flip flop. You can get creative here, but make sure to cover the entire underside of the shoe.

Step 14

Repeat for the other foot and you’re all done. I’m proud of you, Craftypantses. Now, go show them off and smile wide when you tell everyone you made them yourself!