The Stitch Up – Remember, Remember the Me-Mades of November
- Words by Peppermint
above A PAIR OF COZY PALS IN A PAIR OF LOUNGEWEAR PANTS BY @MAKE.IT.OFRLJE
November! In the wise words of Tom Cardy… it’s ‘Not Quite Almost Christmas Time‘. Depending on where you are in the world (or even just where you are in Australia), you might be snuggling up for some snow or bracing yourself for a blistering heatwave.
And in this, the penultimate month of the year, you sewists have been churning out some ultimate makes! So to get a headstart on a time full of festivities, we’re celebrating some of our favourite Peppermint makers and makes with this marvellous edition of The Stitch Up. 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!
PEPOWEEN
Oo-oh! We’ve been keeping our peepers excitedly peeled for Halloween costumes made from Peppermint patterns and you did not disappoint! @RachelSanchezSews makes the most beautiful little mushroom in her Peppermint Valley Jumpsuit (what a fun guy she must be) and @EstudioLunaTextiles went back in the archives, using the Peppermint Prom Dress to make a magical Little Red Riding Hood fit.
MIX AND MATCH
There’s nothing we love more than a bit of thrifty crafting, except perhaps some power pattern clashing! @Kee_Naah_Yah transformed a too-big denim shirt and some scraps into this pocket-tatstic Peppermint West End Jacket while @Rou2an1_Made combined four different fabrics to create a match made in patchwork heaven for her Peppermint Pocket Skirt.
PINING FOR THE FORES
These dashing dames have smashed their Peppermint Milton Pinafores out of the park! @ClaireSchagerl has made a more traditional pinafore in some smart pinstripes while @Des_Airs_Exotiques has hacked hers into a oh-so-cool pair of overalls or la salopette as they are called in the language of love.
DRESS TO IMPRESS
We love to spotlight some stunning Australian surface pattern designers! @Pins_And_Tonic’s Peppermint Wide Strap Maxi Dress shines in her Ellie Whittaker Paradise Found print (and we loved seeing it in person at our Issue 56 Launch Party!). @LittleMelonBun’s Peppermint Everyday Dress is anything but every day in her lovely Lisa Congdon-designed Nerida Hansen fabric!
TIP TOPS
These ladies are in top form! We love to see @EmSewHappy’s terrific wearable toile of the Peppermint Albion Blouse (made from an old bedsheet!), @JoliesBobines’s chic check Peppermint Paddington Top and @HDickFits ‘s heavenly hack of the same with a high gathered neck and statement bow-tie!
FANCY PANTS
Pop a peek at these pair of playful pants – @Handmade.Nandini’s avocado-themed Peppermint Wide Leg Pants are as good as gauc, and @TheSlipDressProject’s luxurious Peppermint Loungewear Pants look like the cat’s pyjamas!
TESTING TESTING ONE TWO
Our latest and loveliest free pattern, the Peppermint Rosalie Skirt will be available for digital download on 1 December. The physical copy is already in the mitts of the clever kids who’ve bought a copy of Issue 56 and of course our lovely pattern testers like @EverySeamItTakes and @Stephanie.In.Stitches!
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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. 🌿
