I feel just awful that I recommended a shoe to Red that didn't work for her, and I feel for her frustration and the waste of money. And part of the reason I feel terrible is because the shoe I advocated so strongly is not what Orthaheel is currently selling as the Wave flip-flop. Last month, I ordered a Wave pair and a Tide and found I can't wear either one because OrthaheelUSA has redesigned the product! I measured them for comparison against my older ones. The strap is tighter, the footbed is a little softer and more padded, and the angles and hollows of the footbed are shallower (it's been made just a little flatter). But the worst part is--and I can't understand why they would do such a thing--the thong has been positioned one-quarter inch farther back from the front of the shoe, which means that the thong digs painfully between the toes and prevents the arch and heel from settling fully into the places designed to receive them. A noticeably larger amount of empty sole now extends beyond my toes (enough to be a tripping hazard). The new flip-flops were so uncomfortable that I couldn't keep them on for even half a minute. For any other product, I would have shrugged philosophically and sent them back, but I was so concerned (actually, DH would probably describe it as enraged and distraught) about this threat to long-term physical health and well-being that I fired off emails to the place from which I ordered them, to OrthaheelUSA, and to the office of the Australian doctor who developed them. The redesigned shoes are easily differentiated from the original ones by the Orthaheel logo on the bottom of the shoe---the old good one has ORTHAHEEL in all caps with a squiggly line under the first 4 letters (ORTH), whereas the new logo has larger letters all in lower case with the squiggle under the last 4 letters (heel). If I wear the good flip-flops every day (first thing in the morning and last thing at night), the old Orthaheel design stabilizes my plantar fascitis and my feet NEVER hurt, even if I walk around barefoot for part of the day. I dread the day my old ones wear out and I return to the chronic pain and inflammation of heel spurs that I lived with before I bought my first pair of Orthaheel flip-flops. Anyway, the vendor followed up on my anguished complaint, contacted the manufacturer, and responded as follows: "We learn something new every day! . . . There is a difference between the new foot bed and the old. Apparently, Orthaheel has moved to a new manufacturer (for better quality, they say). The variance on the foot bed is meant to be so slight that it should not be noticeable. Obviously it is for you." Now I will try to locate a bunch of the old version of the flip-flops and stockpile enough of them to last 15 or 20 years. It illustrates something I must have forgotten: Just because you've found a perfect product, don't assume it will always be obtainable. And boy am I kicking myself.

****PATTERN**** Take a rectangle of paper & cut it 2 3/4" wide by 4 1/4" long. The last 2 1/4" in the length is curved on the right side down & around the bottom. This was a size 6-8. Once you do this you can shift up & down for other sizes. Might want to try a newspaper pattern of the upper bodice before cutting fabric. Use length of fabric of your choice, depending on if you prefer longer dresses, knee length or a top for shorts or capris. Sew at the selvages & make a tube. Fold the tube for the seam to be center back. Take for pattern for the armhole & place it on the fold of the side & at the top edge on each side. Cut the armhole & face with bias tape or bias strips. Finish top edge & turn down 1" for the casing. Use length of ribbon or ties from fabric about 27-30" for front & back for a size 6. Go up & down for other sizes. Some we saw used one long piece that crossed one shoulder & tied on one side. I also tacked the ribbon/tie in the center to keep it from coming out. If you use Vintage pillowcases or Walmarts battenburg lace trimmed pillowcases, you would just undo the top edge & go from there like the fabric tube. I am going to attempt to reproduce vintage style pillowcases with embroidery & maybe scallop the hem area. I have some designs that sew off the edge like the antebellum dresses with crochet edges I had on pillowcases as a child. My sister crochets & since most of what we do are for her grands, I will pass that chore to her. She says she wore these dresses in the summer as a child but called them sack dresses...probably because they were made from feed sacks as much as the general shape.

Thanks all! Now I HAVE to go get some flip flops. They are really cheap right now as they are clearing space for Back To School stuff already. I know what you mean Donna. There are half a dozen lil guys in the family right now & I am having a heck of a time figuring out what to make for them. I was thinking about bucket/boonie hats but can't find a pattern anywhere. I may have to break down & BUY one. I do have to say that Madison is quite the model. Such a cutie!!!!

PlanetShoes.com also has Keen shoes/sandals, as does ZBSports.com. "If you're stubbing your toes in them they are probably too small." Not necessarily so. I have never, ever, worn shoes that are too small. I have no bunions, corns, or callouses on my feet; and often get compliments from total strangers that I have very pretty feet. Yet I can stub my toe into things like you wouldn't believe...