Peppermint’s New Sewing Expert Commits To Shopping Her Fabric Stash…
- Words by Peppermint
We are beyond thrilled to introduce Peppermint’s sparkly new Sewing Coordinator, the lovely Laura Jackson. Based on Gubbi Gubbi land (the Sunshine Coast), Laura is a wearer of all things bright and homemade and the master of all matters stitchy and crafty. This multi-talented human (she is also our People and Culture expert) is our go-to gal for pep talks, project inspiration and sewing conundrums. So, if you’ve got a question, we reckon she probably has the answer; send it Laura’s way at [email protected].
In her first article for Peppermint, Laura tells us about an encounter with a pattern designer that sparked a year-long shopping challenge…
WORDS: LAURA JACKSON PHOTOS: KELLEY SHEENAN
I recently met a wonderful pattern designer who told me that she doesn’t have a fabric stash; instead, she buys material specifically for each project. Let me tell you, I had a physical response to this news. As someone who has a heaving stash of beautiful fabrics in her studio (see above), I just couldn’t fathom how this fellow sewist was able to walk past aisles and aisles – and trawl through pages and pages of websites – filled with colours and textures without accruing a little pile of treasure for her future self to sew.
Trust me, I know this new friend has the right idea. When we buy for a specific project, we purchase the amount of fabric we need, which leads to fewer kilos of textile landfill – and let’s face it, that’s something we should all be striving for.
Which got me thinking, could I possibly commit to a year of “shopping my stash”? That is, only using fabrics that I already have in my studio?
Being blessed (cursed?) with some healthy self-belief and a can-do attitude, I was quick to commit to the challenge… sort of. When it comes to new ideas, I have a tendency to be a bit gung-ho – I lean in just a little too hard. Over the years, I’ve learned that going cold turkey isn’t always the path to success. As a performance coach (my other career!) I know that sometimes smaller measures will get you closer to where you want to go. So, what does that look like for this “shop my stash” mission?
The first rule is that I have to dig through my collection before I consider other fabric sources. If there’s something that suits the pattern I plan to sew and it’s the right size, then – ding, ding, ding! – we have a winner! If not, my next step is thrifting. If I see something I love in an op shop, if there’s fabric up for grabs on a community noticeboard or if I find a treasure at a destash market, I can buy it.
Gifted fabric is another exception. If my mother-in-law happens to give me the 1970s baroque gold bedspread that’s on the downstairs bed in my husband’s family home, then I can accept it and turn it into a coat (come on, Enid, hook a sister up!). If I’m given new fabric for a Peppermint project, I’ll take it. And if I’m sewing for a specific event or occasion, there’s some wiggle room in the rules there, too.
While this might read like a rather long list of loopholes, my mission ultimately comes down to being more intentional about what I sew with. So many of us are trying to be more present in our daily life, to buy food and nurture our relationships in a more considered way, why shouldn’t we extend that thinking to our crafts?
So, I invite you to join me as I embark on a year of shopping my stash. Who’s with me? Tag your Peppermint sewing pattern makes with #PeppermintShoppingMyStash and we can celebrate a year of thrifty, sustainable projects together (who knows, you might just find yourself in our next instalment of The Stitch Up!).
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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. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
🌻 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. 🌿
