Plain to Pretty Black Umbrella Makeover

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

The next project on my craft list is another makeover, this time for an umbrella.

I found myself having to replace my umbrella, again.  This time I decided to invest in one I was sure would last awhile before breaking on me. 

I got this Totes stick umbrella, which was a little more than what I usually pay for umbrellas, but is totally worth it.

It opens and closes easily, dries quickly when wet, has held up to winds that have snapped previous umbrellas, and has one of the nicest and softest feeling handles I have ever touched.

I intentionally got it in black because it both makes it less likely to get really dirty and makes it better as a sun umbrella (check out this article about that).

The downside is that it isn’t as pretty as other umbrellas, but that is way too easy to fix.  We just need to add some…

…Lace!

I got this wide lace ages ago from SAS intending to use it for an umbrella.  It’s just like the lace I used for the white umbrella I decorated before (that got super dirty looking before breaking on me, sigh).

I like it specifically because it’s a pretty non-cottony lace.  I don’t recommend cotton laces because they are very absorbent.  When you use an umbrella for both sun and rain, adding something that absorbs a ton of water will make it take forever to dry.  Not to say that this lace won’t take a ton of time to dry too.

I started by ruffling the lace using my sewing machine by using the longest stitch length and setting the tension higher.

The circumference of the umbrella is 124 in. (315 cm.) and I needed twice as much lace to make my lace ruffle plus a little extra for overlap.  The quicker option is to choose a lace that is already ruffled, but that narrows the selection quite a bit.

After ruffling, I pinned my lace along the edge of the umbrella.  Looking nicer already.

Now, I could have sewn the lace ruffle on by hand, but I was feeling lazy about it.  So, I glued it on with a glue gun.

First, I carefully glued down the sections of lace between the pins.

Then I removed the pins one by one and glued down those areas.

I went around a couple more times to glue spots I missed and remove those annoying strings left by the glue gun (I watched a lot of videos while doing all of this).

Finally, I made some little ribbon bows to add along the lace (check out my video tutorial for simple bows if you wish).

And now the umbrella, or should I say, parasol is finished and ready for use.

It is looks so pretty and the lace ruffle gives it a very poufy look, however…

…It’s not too poufy to close up!  I was afraid I would have to change the strap.

Here’s the updated list:

• 3 piece outfit
• Holder
• First aid cases
• Umbrella
• Tea set
• Tote

Two down, four more to go.  The next one should be up tomorrow, look forward to it!

Give it a try:

• Totes Auto Open Water-Resistant Stick Umbrella, Black
• Mini High Temperature Glue Gun by Ashland®
• 1.5" Black Lace by Celebrate It®
  
• 3/8" x 15yd. Satin Double Face Ribbon by Celebrate It Classic
• Loops & Threads™ Start-to-Sew Kit

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Clothing Makeover: Three More Bodyline Blouses

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

The latest craft project is another clothing makeover, technically three makeovers.

Three different blouses, all bought from Bodyline.  I had so much fun fixing up the last one I had to try my hand on these three. 

Two have fairly minor issues with them, but hang tight for the last one.

This cute blouse didn’t need that much done to it.

It has some of the prettiest lace I’ve ever seen and the cutest heart shaped pearly buttons.  And I normally don’t go for ruffles down the front of a top, but the ones on this blouse are actually really cute.

However, the problem lies with the ruffles.  They added the same ruffles across the sleeve, there something about this placement that bothers me.  It makes is so hard to enjoy the really pretty lace, isn’t it pretty though?

Anyway, just a bit of time with a seam ripper was all it took.  Ruffles no more!

I had actually intended to remove the faux pearls on the collar because they kind of clash with the buttons.  But I kind of got use to them, they do add a nice touch. 

So now this ruffly and pearly blouse it ready to be worn.

This blouse needed a little more to be done.  For starters, I love the ribbon bows down the front, but not the odd bows on the sleeves.

However, the biggest issue is the collar.  The wide lace is actually one of my favorite laces used by Bodyline, but I don’t like it enough to have two rows of it on such a large collar.  It makes it look like the blouse has two collars, and both ginormous.

Removing the lace leaves behind a visible seam.  I could have just covered it up with a smaller trim, but I decided to remove the collar.

Then pin it back  on backwards, and re-sew…

…to make a “new” collar.

The odd visible seam is now on the underside of the collar.  It did get a little bunched up while re-sewing, but it’s not that noticiable. 

So now the cute ribbon bow blouse is ready for use.

This final blouse came out of a lucky pack (the one this dress came from) and needed the most work of all. 

Being from a lucky pack meant flaws, like missing pieces.  It was suppose to come with detachable sleeves so it could go from short sleeve to long sleeve for cooler weather.

It did come with this cameo pin along with a ribbon necktie.  It is scratched up and in need of a makeover too, but that will be for another day.

Anyway, the problem with this blouse is the overly ruffled collar.  It’s funny how ruffles have been getting in way, I normally love them.   These ruffles are so not flattering, so I carefully cut them off with tiny scissors.

After cutting, the blouse now has an simple, yet elegant high neck collar.  This would be good look for those into vintage and antique clothing. 

However, I’m not really into high neck blouses, so back to more cutting.

I cut off the collar and cut a new, slightly square shaped neckline.  I find this much more flattering for me.

I then cut off the edge of one of the old ruffles and stitched it along my new neckline. 

After turning and topstitching…

…It looks like this.

I added a snap to close the top and a little bow for decoration.

I made matching bows for the sleeves to replace the odd looking ones.

And now my new collar-less blouse is ready to go.  These blouses were so much fun to alter, I wish I had a few more to work with.  Maybe later.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

Five down, five more to go.  The next one will be ready in a few days, look forward to it.

Give it a try:

• Loops & Threads™ Start-to-Sew Kit
• Singer Sewing Kit Beginner's
• Loops &Threads Seam Ripper

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Clothing Makeover: Altering a Pink Bodyline Dress for Easter

Normally, around Easter I work myself haggard trying to design and sew a lovely, ruffly new dress to wear on Easter Sunday.

This year, I decided instead to work myself haggard trying to alter a dress that needed work.

Here is the old dress that badly needed a makeover.  I got it in a lucky pack I bought from Bodyline.  The price was really cheap, but I’m not sure how “lucky” I was with this one.

You can see here that the collar had odd stains on it, but that’s okay because I immediately thought it had to go anyway.  The lace looked kind of cheap and the collar overall was unflattering.

In addition to the collar, the elastic on the one of the sleeves was shot, the lace on the sleeves was horrible, the hearts down the front of the dress were overkill, and surprisingly I thought it could stand to have a little less lace and ruffles.

So after some time with a seam ripper and sewing machine…

…Here’s the new dress.

I chopped off that horrible collar and added a touch of lace to the new neckline.  You can see that it’s the lace from one of the hearts on the bodice.  It helps to tie in the whole dress.

Obviously, I removed two of the hearts from the front of the bodice.  One is plenty, plus I can probably make something cute with the other two later.  I also removed two of the vertical strands of lace.

I removed one of the bottom ruffles, then realized the skirt was too short without it.  Oops. 

So I made a white underskirt to replace it.  It’s better this way, and I can wear the underskirt separately.

And finally, I replaced the elastic on the sleeves and switched the bad lace with the lace I ripped off the bodice.  The sleeves look much cuter now.

And just for fun, I whipped up a cute flower headband to go along with my new dress.  I think flower accessories are perfect for Easter, which is why I'm going to make a tutorial for the headband.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

One down, nine more to go.  The next project should be up in a few more days, but the head band tutorial will be up tomorrow!  Look forward to it.

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School Uniform for Fall? or Sewing a Blue Dress

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

The final project on my list is one I had intended to make over two months ago, but it just kept getting put off.  A crisp navy blue dress.

A while ago, I made a sailor uniform to wear to Phoenix Comicon.  I used some blue poly poplin material for the the collar and skirt, but I bought a much, much larger amount more than I needed.  I thought it would be useful for other projects.

For  awhile, I was thinking it would look great for a dress.  Something for Fall, though in my mind it kind of started looking like a school jumper.  Pair it with a polo and it works as a school uniform, right?

So let’s see.

Do you think my new navy blue dress looks like a school uniform?  Maybe a little cuter than some of the pieces I’ve seen.

I used the bodice from this pattern by Simplicity, but I made the straps a little more narrow both because the style of the pattern is too wide for my taste and because I’m a bit more on the narrow side compared to most store bought patterns anyway.

For the skirt though, I opted to make a rectangle skirt instead with a gathered waistline.  In retrospect though, I think it would have worked better for this fabric to use an a-line skirt.  Live and learn.

I trimmed the neckline with some nice white crocheted lace I bought at SAS (see A Spooky Black Craft Haul).  I wanted to add a bow or two as well, but I couldn’t make up my mind on where to stick it and what size.  It just leaves more room for broaches and other accessories (speaking of which, check out my button broach tutorial and lace applique broach tutorial).

I added the same lace along the skirt.  The perfect way to complete this “school girl” look.

Here’s the updated list:

• Baby
• Blue dress
• Tiny outfits
• T-shirts
• Halloween
• Pink dress
• More T-shirts

Seven projects down and out, but there’s no time to celebrate.  It’s time to start with the holiday crafting!  It will be a light list this year since it’s so close to Christmas, and I’ll have it up tomorrow.

For now, maybe a little bit of celebrating?

Give it a try:

• Simplicity Patterns Us1061D5-Simplicity Misses' Sew Chic Dress And Lined Jacket-4-6-8-10-12
• American & Efrid Ziplon Coil Zipper 18"

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Phoenix Comicon Shopping Haul and Grab Bag Opening

Continuing on from my Phoenix Comicon 2017 video, here is part 2.  The shopping haul!

All the cute and/or unusual stuff I bought at the vendors hall.  Mostly grab bags, I can’t resist them.  One part surprise, one part bargain and full of fun.

Enjoy the video.

Here’s links for some of the items:

• Victorian Folly
• J-Box
• All About Books and Comics

I will be posting the next video soon for the Sailor Moon gashapons.  Look forward to it!

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Pink Lace for…A Doll?

At long last, the last project on my craft list.  And it’s more doll clothes, plus more of that pink lace fabric.

As you can see, I used the fabric leftover from my Easter dress (see Pink Lace for Easter) to make a doll size version along with accessories.  An underskirt to give the dress a boost, a matching purse and head band, and a necklace.

And it looks adorable on her.  I’ve had this ball jointed doll for two years, so I wanted to make her a special new outfit (check out the doll blog to see her reaction).

I used the same technique for the bodice as for my doll dress tutorial (see Doll Dresses for All, With a Tutorial), and instead of a row of ribbon roses along the neck I made three little roses.  One at each of the straps on top of a ribbon bow and a larger rose on the ribbon sash.

On my dress I used a nice wide ribbon for the sash, but for this one the narrower ribbon I had left worked just fine.

I made the matching headband using jewelry wire just like in my doll headband tutorial (see Doll Head Bands with a Tutorial).

The same with the little purse, it’s similar as the simple purse in my doll bag tutorial (see 5 a Week: Cute Felt Bags for Dolls with a Tutorial) only with fabric instead of felt.  I glued on the some faux pearl beads to make the look of a clasp.  It really uses Velcro to close.

The cameo necklace actually came from my mom.  It was perfect for dolls because of the small size of the cameo and the thinness of the chain, I just needed to shorten it.

The underskirt was made as a separate piece so dress can be worn with or without it for different looks.  It can also be used as an actual skirt with another top.  Three separate looks from a couple of pieces.  Man, this is one well dressed doll.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress
• Accessories
• Jeans
• Baby
• Little dress

Five down and out, finally!

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