It’s a Ruff Story: Turn Up The Romance With The Valentine Ruffle Top!
- Words by Peppermint
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of an event invitation (like, say, a date) must be in want of a suitably romantic outfit… Enter the Peppermint Valentine Ruffle Top! This floaty, flirty number will ruffle all the right feathers, and is designed to steal hearts, snag phone numbers and claim a permanent spot in your wardrobe.
PHOTOS: KELLEY SHEENAN MODEL: JAYA KING, REBEL REBEL SHORTS: MODEL’S OWN LOCATION: FELONS BARREL HALL, BRISBANE, PINK/BLUE ARTWORK: MULGA
Not for nothing are these off-the-shoulder cuties sometimes referred to as ‘Bardot tops’ – the icon that is Brigitte turned the silhouette into a symbol of effortless chic during her screen siren days in the 60s and 70s. Wear it on-shoulder or off for the perfect mix of elegance and ease – this pretty pattern will shimmy its way into your heart, guaranteed.
The Peppermint Valentine Ruffle Top is the perfect project for an adventurous beginner: no fiddly fastenings like zippers or buttonholes, while still being a satisfyingly creative sew. Its relaxed fit, elasticated neckline and playful ruffle create a silhouette that’s equal parts dreamy and wearable.
For this make, we turned to Spoonflower’s Essex Linen in Confetti Rainbow Opal A, a dopamine-boosting print designed by Australian surface-patter artist Lauren Kelly of Thistle and Fox. The blend of linen and cotton gives this fabric just the right amount of structure while maintaining a lovely drape – ideal for showcasing those ruffled details. Plus, the dreamy pastel confetti pattern? Joy in textile form! Try cotton poplin or mid-weight cottons for a more structured top, or get flowy and floaty with silk, viscose, rayon or seersucker.
Speaking of Spoonflower, we couldn’t love them more! As one of the largest marketplaces for designs by independent artists from around the world, Spoonflower offers everything from fabric to wallpaper to home decor, all printed on demand with water-based inks and thoughtfully sourced materials. Not only does their process help reduce environmental impact, but every purchase directly supports the artist behind the design – with up to 15 percent royalties going back to the creator. So, when you pick a Spoonflower print, you’re not just making something beautiful for yourself – you’re championing small, independent artists too.
Need more ruffles? (Frankly, who doesn’t?) May we introduce you to your perfect match: the Pasadena Rara Skirt. Another ruffle-packed Peppermint pattern, this playful tiered skirt is just the thing to pair with the Valentine Ruffle Top for maximum flounce factor. Wear them together for a co-ord look that’s equal parts fun and fabulous, or mix and match them with other me-mades to keep things fresh.
Ready to ruffle some fabric? We can’t wait to see your creations! Be sure to tag #PeppermintPatterns and #PeppermintValentineRuffleTop when you share your make – we’ll be swooning over them all!
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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. 🌿
