Take It or Sleeve It With This Fun Peppermint Bowen Dress Sleeve Hack!
- Words by Peppermint
Are you totally obsessed with the Peppermint Bowen dress yet? We know we are. It’s simple, it’s comfortable, it’s elegant, it’s swooshy, what more can you ask for? Well… it’s also adaptable.
Hackable even. We love the Bowen Dress’s ruffley rah-rah sleeves but maybe you want to play things a little closer to the wrist. By lengthening the sleeves and adding an elastic channel at the bottom, you can add an additional two sleeve looks to your Bowen arsenal!
What you will need
Everything you need to make the Bowen Dress
Plus…
Elastic
Iron
Ruler
Safety Pins
Let’s get making!
STEP ONE // Before you start, download a copy of the free pattern (if you haven’t already). When cutting out your sleeve ruffle rectangles, use the width measurement of your chosen size but add an additional 20cm to your length measurement, going from 27cm to 47cm.
DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN NOW!
STEP TWO // Follow the instructions as written until you get to step 13. At this point, fold the bottom edge of the sleeve over 1cm towards the wrong side of the fabric and press.
STEP THREE // Fold edge over again, this time by 3cm (or approximate width of your elastic plus 1cm) and press.
STEP FOUR // Topstitch down around folded edge, leaving a gap in the stitching of approximately 5cm.
STEP FIVE// Measure out enough elastic to sit comfortably around your bicep and cut.
STEP SIX // Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and use it to feed the elastic though the sleeve casing. Pin the other end of the elastic to the sleeve so it doesn’t get sucked into the casing and lost. Make sure the elastic doesn’t get twisted during this process.
STEP SEVEN // Stitch both ends of the elastic together securely.
STEP EIGHT // Pull the elastic back inside the casing and stitch up the gap left open in step four here.
STEP NINE // You are done with the sleeves! Continue following the original instructions until you’ve completed your beautiful Bowen Dress! Push the sleeves up to wear as delightful mushroom puffs or wear down for a more autumnal peasant look!
FEELING CREATIVE? WHY NOT GET INSPIRED BY ALL OUR OTHER CRAFTY GOODNESS!
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Dreaming of a flowy, blousy dress with beautiful details to take you through sunny days and beyond? Same babe, same – so we designed it!…
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…. Which means we are officially entering party season. Work parties, friend-dos, family get-togethers and then we’re straight…
Hang out with us on Instagram
How much do you LOVE the Waratah Wrap Dress? A lot, it seems! 🪩
This fabulous gingham linen version was modelled (and made) by the talented Mel of @Melt.Stitches 🫶🏼
If you need more of a reason, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint peeps a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern until 29 February – jump on it while you can!
Head to the link in bio now. 🪩
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Fun, fabrics, florals and fab fashion fits by local sewists – what a way to spend a day!
The @LibertyFabrics Showcase hosted by @2GreenZebras and @Regent_Street_Fabrics in Brisbane/Meanjin was a spectacular event. We learned the history of the iconic Liberty Fabrics from two legends, Mary-Ann Dunkley (Head of Design) and Anna Buruma (Archive Director), browsed stalls bursting with Liberty delights and cheered on our local sewist pals on the runway with the @StyleArc Fashion Parade. A little biased shoutout to our Sewing Manager Laura who graced the catwalk with her gorgeous make (check the bag and shoes!). Well done to all involved. 👏🏼
Melbourne/Naarm – it’s your turn this weekend. We can’t wait to see what our Southern friends create for the event.
🪡🌼🪡🌸🪡🌻
#LibertyFabricsShowcase #RegentStreetFabrics #TwoGreenZebras #LibertyLondon #LibertyFabrics
We know what we saw.
Incredible quilted art from Pam Brisse of @Pamdorra:
“Just sharing this intense quilting job, it’s almost done!
All I can think is people are HUNGRY for protest art. And for ICE to get the hell out of our cities. We won’t give up.”
#ProtestQuilt #StandWithMinnesota #Craftivism
Totes stylish 🥦
Keep your swag safe and close to hand with this sweet tote bag DIY!
This cute craft project is a nicely oversized tote with exposed bound seams to add a bit of spice, and an internal pocket to keep your essential essentials in.
With this beauty on your arm, you’ll be TOTE-ally ready for your next adventure!
The pattern is only $5 over on our website – link in bio!
#PeppermintMarketTote #PeppermintPatterns #MeMade #ShoppingTotePattern #BagPattern
Wrap dress wardrobe malfunction? Not with the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress pattern!
Our number one complaint is wrap dresses flying open in the wind, leaving you clutching a handful of skirt in your paw to avoid a public indecency offence. So we designed the Waratah to make sure this never happens. 🌪️
And yes, you could say we had a lot of fun on this shoot! 😆
MODELS/SEWISTS: @Melt.Stitches, @KatieMakesADress @Tricky.Pockets
Head to the link in bio for the #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress 🪡
#PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #MeMade #WrapDress
Secret pjs all day everyday!
How sweet is this version of our Samford Set pattern - created in collab with Lindsey of @SewToGrow 😍
From @Claire.Creates.Clothes:
🟤🟣🟢 Colour spot blocking pregnancy friendly set 🟢🟣🟤
I wanted some #secretpyjamas that I can wear on the couch when I’m pregnant and after for breastfeeding, with a top that I can wear out of the house. Welcome the #PeppermintSamfordSet
I made the Samford set top in a size F, one size up from my current bust and it’s the perfect amount of room for my expanding tummy, and will hopefully not be crazy oversized after pregnancy. I used a spotted linen that used to be considered good fabric, blocked with a organic linen sheet that was gifted to me for the sole purpose of being fabric by the lovely @heather_steenholdt
The top came together super quickly and has already had lots of wear - couch, dinner and work ☑️ I even attached the buttons within a week of starting the project, who am I?!
I already had the shorts in the rust linen but never wear them because I don’t like the length or shape at all - they were a pants pattern that I just made shorter. So I cut them to have an inseam of 2.5” and added a 1.5 length ruffle cut at 3” in the contrast spot linen and love them so much more already. Although the shorts will now just be reserved for in house.
I’ve already planned 2 more Samford sets, but will size down to get more post pregnancy wear. And will tackle the pants!
Special thanks to Laura at @peppermintmagazine for sending me the Samford set instructions, you motivated me to put the buttons on before the baby actually arrives! 😁
Pattern: @PeppermintMagazine Samford set top
Size: F
Fabric: Linens
#PeppermintPatterns #PyjamasAllDay
