Dive In! Beautiful Bronte Bathers From Three Of Our Fave Pattern Testers
- Words by Peppermint
The Peppermint Bronte Bathers, designed in collaboration with Sharon and Justine Cowie of Swim Style Patterns, have certainly made a splash since they hit the scene! With a super comfortable high waist and near-full coverage bottoms, paired with the cutest twist-tie top (or optional bandeau style), this perfect poolside pairing is a dream to wear and a dream to sew. You can even turn them out without an overlocker!
In terms of fabric, the Spoonflower Sport Lycra was the pick of the day – the resounding feedback was that the fabric is wonderfully opaque and has great recovery (read: it doesn’t go see-through when it’s wet and it springs back into shape when it’s been stretched). The colours are vibrant and the fabric performs well in both chlorine and seawater. Just what we want in our swimwear!
From first-time swimwear sewists to seasoned lycra-sewing wizards, our swim squad of pattern testers produced a bevy of beautiful bathers. So, pop on your goggles, grab your boogie board and dive in to see what all the fuss is about!
Mel @melt.stitches
FABRIC CHOICE: Spoonflower Sport Lycra in Abstract Ocean (Electric Blue) by Tara Reed.
“These are a very lovely pair of bathers, the #PeppermintBronteBathers in fact. I was approached by @PeppermintMagazine for this collab and excitedly chose this lycra designed by @TaraNormal, produced by @Spoonflower.
The quality of the fabric is incredible. It’s a good weight with superb stretch recovery. It could probably be used without a lining.
I love how these turned out. The pattern was designed by @SwimStylePatterns. I like the fit of the bandeau top (sewed an XS) but decided to hand sew the elastic band up for a seamless finish. Next time I’ll try the burrito method.
The instructions offer a fold finish around the thighs but I really wanted a seamless look. After 2 attempts I nailed a seamless finish on the bottoms using the burrito method!
It’s cool how you can make swimmers entirely on your sewing machine. I made sure to use the @Mettler_Thread Seraflex because it’s just brilliant. I was also pushing for the seamless look because my thread is a leftover hot pink.”
Sophie @sophie.sews
FABRIC CHOICE: Spoonflower Sport Lycra in Atlantis Shells (Blush) by Nouveau Bohemian.
“Peppermint Magazine recently reached out to me to sew up the @SwimStylePatterns Bronte Bathers from the latest issue of Peppermint! Definitely not a stranger to Swimstyle patterns but it was my first time using @Spoonflower fabric – this is the sport lycra and it’s held up really well so far in both chlorine and salt water! Great recovery, opaque (self-lined both top and bottom), UPF 50+ because the sun is no joke.
I sewed a size S in the top and XS grading to S in the bottoms. I always use rubber elastic for swimwear because the one time I didn’t… my bikini top came out too loose. Notions (rubber elastic and swim sliders) are from @TheRemnantWarehouse.”
Serah @serah.sews
FABRIC CHOICE: Spoonflower Sport Lycra in Purple Red Ti Leaf Jungle by Maliuana.
“Ya girl made her first pair of bathers just in time before summer ends!
Having never made swimwear before, I was a bit unsure when @PeppermintMagazine first approached me for a collab, however, I’m really glad that I went through with it… super chuffed with the end product. I had a few unpicking moments but the overall process was so much easier than I made it seem in my head. Can confirm that the instructions were pretty clear and straightforward for someone who has never sewn any kind of swimwear before!
The stunning Lycra was designed by @LindaMaliuana and produced by @Spoonflower. Not only was I super pleased with the print but also the quality and stretch recovery of this fabric. The pattern is #PeppermintBronteBathers created in collaboration with @SwimStylePatterns.
For the sizing, I used a size M for the top. I was slightly concerned that it might be a bit small for me but it fit me perfectly. For the bottom, I used a size L at the hips graded to size M at the waist. I also raised the side seams for both the front and back pieces by an inch.”
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“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
