because we are dreaming of warm weather.

Today is my final tutorial!  I'm a little sad to see Yarn it all! go once again... I have so many yarn ideas yet to be implemented!  But we'll save those for another year.

Today, I'm dreaming of summer... or at least no snow.  I made something to help the weather along!

Initially this was only going to be a tutorial for the rainbow ones, so the pics are heavily weighted in that direction, sorry.  I found that when I started in on adding yarn to flip flops, I just couldn't stop!  And since I had several plain pairs laying around waiting for miss mini, I just went to town.

First up, 

1. Cut red, orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo yarn all the same length - quite long.  (if you have violet, throw that in there too!)
2. Line up your yarn in rainbow color order.
3. Fold your yarn in half.
4. Put some hot glue on the end of one side of the flip flop strap where it goes into the sole. 
5. Lay your yarn bunch down on the hot glue, right in the center where you folded it.
6. Put a little hot glue on the outside of the strap.
7. Wrap the yarn that's on the outside under the strap to the inside.
8. Wrap the yarn that's on the inside over the other yarn, under the strap and to the outside.
9. Pull it tightly.
10. Take your first color - indigo - and separate it from the other colors.  
11. Cross the two indigo strands over the other yarn and pull them to the opposite sides.
12. Take your next color - blue - and do the same thing; cross the blue strands, making sure they are over all the other colors.
13. Do this with your next color.
14. And your next and next, until you've crossed each color individually.
15. Now you need to wrap each color individually behind the underside of the strap.  If you skip this part, you'll end up with a weave on top of your strap instead of around your strap.
16. Wrap each color underneath, crossing them to opposite sides of the strap until you've done each color.  
17. Now start over crossing the individual colors on top again.
18. And go through all the colors until each has been done in order.

19. Continue in this way - crossing colors individually first on top all through the rainbow, then underneath all through the rainbow - until you get to the toe separator. 

20. Put a dab of hot glue on top and press the yarn from the outside down.

21. Put a dab of hot glue underneath and press the yarn to the inside down.

22. Pull the yarn from the inside of the flip flop under the strap and to the outside.  

23. Pull it tightly against the hot glue area.

24. Repeat steps 1-22 on the other strap of the flip flop.

25. When you are all finished, just trim off the ends of the yarn.

And try them out!

Next up:

So easy and don't require any glue at all.
All you need are cheap flip flops, two yarn colors, scissors and... uh, that's it.

1. Measure how long you want your yarn.  Make it twice the length of the whole flip flop top.
2. Cut five strands that long.
3. Tie the strands together at the end with the second yarn color.
4. Braid.  Use the five strand braid.  You can find a tutorial for a 7 strand braid here, just omit two of the strands.
5. Cut a long piece of the second color and slip it under the end of the flip flop strap where it goes into the sole.
6. Lay your braid down on the strap and use the strand of yarn under the strap to tie the braid down.  Use a double knot and tie right over the existing yarn and knot on the braid.
7. Move down the strap about an inch or two, cross the ends of your yarn strand under the strap, then cross them above the braid.
8. This is what it looks like on top.  Just pull the strand tightly.
9. Cross the strand ends below the strap then on top once again.  Then do this again, right next to the toe separator.
10. Pull tightly.
11. Cross the strand ends below the strap, on the other side of the toe separator.
12. Mimic what you did on the first strap to the second strap, crossing the strand of yarn under the strap and over the braid.
13. When you get to the end of the strap, tie a secure knot.
14. And this is what it will look like.

 15. Then just trim the ends on both sides of the flip flop!

When you are wrapping the braid on there, make sure to straighten it and pull it flat as you go.

If you are anything like my daughter, it will be fairly impossible to get a decent picture of them in action.

And finally:

You need cheap flip flops, yarn, a darning or doll needle, two focus buttons (like big with bold patterns) and other buttons in different sizes.  I used about 14 buttons on each flip flop (besides the giant ones in the center.)

1. Thread your needle with a long piece of yarn.
2. Tie the end of the yarn to the end of the strap where it goes into the sole.
3. Hold the short tail of the yarn down.
4. Wrap the yarn around the tail and strap for about an inch or two.
5. Thread your first button onto your yarn.
6. Pull it tightly up against the flip flop.  Wrap the yarn around the strap on either side of the button just a few times.
7. Thread on your next button.
8. Pull it tightly against the flip flop and first button, then wrap the yarn a few times very tightly.
9. Continue doing this.  When you get to the toe separator, add your large focal button and wrap the yarn around the strap a few times.
10. Add your last button about an inch or two before the strap ends.  Then wrap the yarn around the end of the strap.
11. Stick your needle into the yarn.
12. Pull it through.  Knot it to the wrapped yarn.

 13. Then trim the yarn.  Done!

 My favorite part?  I didn't have to know how to crochet to do them!  And they still look cute!  
Here are the pretty new yarn flip flops all ready for summer.

Although the weather's not quite there yet...

And this guy?  He was remarkably pleasant and not up to any mischief, surprisingly!

Stay tuned for one more round up, some features and a wrap up!  Woo hop!

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!*