The Stitch Up – A Celebration of Me-Made May Makes
- Words by Peppermint
above A TERRIFIC TAPESTRY-BACKED SAMFORD SET FROM THE BRILLIANT @BYBEABROWNE
The only downside to Me-Made May is that you’re all posting so many marvellous makes, it’s hard to keep up, and absolutely impossible to pick our favourites! It’s an embarrassment of riches and you simply must head to the appropriate hashtags to check out the rest of the #MeMadeMay2023 and #PeppermintPatterns goodness.
To celebrate you darling buds of May, we’ve put together a roundup of some of our favourite makes we’ve seen this month. If you want to show off your sensational sewing, be sure to tag us in your posts and you might see yourself in The Stitch Up in months to come!
TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Take a peep at the gorgeous greens on display as @ChrisInSeams preens like a peacock in another fantastic Peppermint Samford Set in Rifle Paper Co fabric while @CrookedPins prowls the streets in a spectacular pair of leopard print Peppermint Wide-Leg Pants.
THE OL’ RAZZLE-DAZZLE
We love it when you beautiful geniuses put your brilliant brains to jazzing up a pattern in ways we could never predict and these two smarty pants have blown us away – @CraftyProfessor’s hand-stitched sashiko Peppermint Robe Jacket is sensational. As is the magnificent @ByBeaBrowne’s tri-fabric, tapestried, neon-piped Peppermint Samford Set! Swoonsville.
PEP PEP HOORAY!
A couple of cuties rocking the heck of the Peppermint Peplum Top (and also some adorable headwear). @ChantiSewSew is tripping the light fantastic in a brilliant brick red, while @Rena_SewSolo is giving layers and coordination (plus dog!) in a brilliant Lady McElroy wool tweed.
WANT MORE SEWING AND DIY CONTENT? RIGHT THIS WAY!
MAXIMUM FASHION
Some fantabulous Peppermint Wide Strap Maxi Dresses! @A_GirlWithAnAccent customised her classic linen make with some terrific tie straps and @Nan_And_Ariane made her second show-stopping number with a specially saved silk blend.
SMARTYPANTS
These groovy gals are looking hot to trot in their smart casual ensembles. @Allie.Upcycles is keeping it thrifty with her free deadstock fabric Peppermint Wide-Leg Pants and @HauntedThimble is nailing the business goth aesthetic!
FLOWER PUFF GIRLS
There’s something about the Peppermint Paddington Top and floral fabrics that’s simply a match made in heaven! @Ruth_Creates shines in tropical technicolour and @Alice_X_Wang blooms beautifully in Minerva-exclusive viscose.
BACK IN BLACK
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a good black dress goes with everything. We see that here with @CarlyInTheClouds’ cosy and colour-blocked Peppermint Wide Strap Maxi and @ViewsFromTheStitch_’s bee-utiful pattern hacked Peppermint Pleated Summer Dress. That’s fashion, darling!
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
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🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
