I’ve officially fallen down the Lady of the Flag rabbit hole—in the best way. 🧵✨ This piece is already iconic, but I wanted a cooler, more ethereal look… a flowing baby-blue gown paired with a bold cherry-red flag that still reads classic and patriotic, just with a softer, more elegant mood.
This post captures two blue conversions that I found online: Kelly Shields’ Conversion (2025) and Carrie Hankinson Reinhart’s Conversion. My stitching of LOTF follows Carrie Hankinson Reinhart’s Conversion more closely, but some beads are not available. I recommend referencing both conversions and determining which one is going to work best with your stash and stitching style.
The vision: cool blues + crisp contrast
My goals with this conversion:
- Shift the gown into layered blues (from baby blue through navy) for depth and movement
- Keep the flag high-contrast (cherry reds + garnets) so it remains the focal point
- Upgrade the sparkle by converting all beads to Miyuki Delica for consistency and shine
- Tweak a few areas (skin, bouquet, torch, leaves) to feel more cohesive and refined
The result is a version that feels a little more “moonlit Liberty”—still bold, but with a softer elegance.
Fabric + overall build choices
Here’s the foundation I’m using:
- Fabric: Fabric Flair Constitution 32-ct linen
- Stitching approach: Several elements are stitched 2-over-1 (notably skin and bouquet) for smoother coverage and detail
- Beads: Full conversion to Miyuki Delica (noted as “DB” in front of numbers)
Dress conversion: blues that still read “Mirabilia dramatic”
The gown uses a tight blue range to create shadow and sheen:
- Baby Blue base with deeper blues layered in
- Darker accents moving into navy and deep navy to keep the folds crisp and dimensional
Where the sparkle lives
The dress isn’t just “blue”—it’s blue + light:
- Scarf swirls:
- DB 202 (White Pearl AB)
- DB 2391 (Inside-dyed Moonstone) for shadowed swirls
- Tassels + fringe:
- DB 2386 (Inside-dyed Night Sky)
- DB 1784 (White-lined Sapphire)
- Extra texture panels:
- Zigzag panel uses a mix of DMC Étoile + Delicas for shimmer and contrast Cross-hatch panel uses DB 670 (Crystal AB Silk Satin), DB 2386, DB 1811 plus Kreinik #16 braid
Flag conversion: cherry reds with intentional highlights
For the flag stripes, the conversion is designed light-to-dark, with highlights added into the “U” areas (the center sections), while the gray/white stripes remain unchanged from the original.
The reds move through:
- Very light salmon → antique mauve → raspberry → cherry red → garnets
Blue ground + stars
The blue field is adjusted using a blend of blues (including Delft, royal, navy, and lighter antique/baby blues) to create depth across folds.
And the stars? Delicas all the way, with shading by placement:
- DB 41 (bright white on the center fold)
- darker grays outward for shadowed folds: DB 1701, DB 1901, DB 52
Bouquet + skin tweaks: small changes, big realism
Two changes here really elevate the finish:
- Bouquet stitched 2-over-1 for clean coverage and smoother edges
- A small redesign tweak: the bouquet footprint stays the same except a flower is draped over the tip of her fingers to shorten the hand slightly
These are the sorts of micro-adjustments that make the final piece feel “intentional” rather than “just swapped colors.”
Laurel leaves + bow + halo notes
Laurel leaves
The leaves get a refresh with a mix of greens plus specialty threads:
- Anchor greens
- Caron Waterlilies “Jade”
- Dinky Dyes “Mud Flats”
- Sulky “Mocha Brown” for fine detail LOTF Baby Blue Dress and Flag C…
Bow
The bow ties into the new palette using a combination of light blue through deeper navy tones.
Halo + flame sparkle
There are two halo bead notes depending on placement:
- Halo beads listed as DB 110 & DB 58
- Another halo callout uses DB 2032 (Luminous Sun Glow) for a warmer glow effect
My beading plan (how I’m approaching the “sparkle” without chaos)
Because this is bead-heavy, I’m treating it like a mini project plan:
- Prep Delicas by area (dress panels, scarf, tassels, stars, halo)
- Bead in “zones” so I’m not constantly swapping beads
- Prioritize high-impact areas first:
- scarf swirls + tassels
- dress specialty panels
- star field shading
- Save halo + torch beads for last so they stay pristine during handling
This is also exactly why my Video 1 in the series is all about setup + planning—future me will be grateful.
Final thoughts
This blue conversion keeps the drama and detail that make Nora Corbett + Mirabilia Designs designs so addictive—while making the piece feel uniquely mine.
If you’re considering your own color conversion, my best advice is:
- commit to a tight palette for cohesion
- use beads strategically (they’re “light,” not just decoration)
- don’t be afraid to adjust small anatomy or accessory details if it improves flow
Kelley Shields (2025) Blue Conversion
Carrie Hankinson Reinhart – Blue Conversion
