Get Inspired by These Romantic Albion Blouses and Be Your Own Muse
- Words by Peppermint
The hills are alive with the sound of the Peppermint Albion Blouse, created in collaboration with sweet Sweden-based patternmaker Vanessa Hansen from Vanessa Hansen Studio and made possible by our good friends at Spoonflower!
To showcase the show-stopping possibilities of this beaut of a blouse – and to give you a healthy dose of sewspo to start your own – we asked four fantastic sewing influencers to create their own versions in a Spoonflower fabric of their choosing. The world’s largest marketplace of independent designs from global artists, Spoonflower is leading the way in sustainable textile printing. Their on-demand process significantly reduces materials, energy and water, and uses non-toxic inks and fabrics that are ethically sourced. We love!
From @FrocksAndFrouFrou’s gorgeous geometric gauze and @Leila.Makes’ leafy luxury to @AlissahThreads‘ fabulous florals and @Andrea_DJones‘ cool checks, beautiful blouses abound! Read on to hear all their secret thoughts on the pattern and get inspired to create your own version!
DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN NOW!
FROCKS AND FROU FROU
Fabric Choice – Organic Sweet Pea Gauze in Shape of Things
“I was thrilled to be invited by Peppermint Magazine to try my hand at this month’s free sewing pattern, the Albion Blouse! Designed by Vanessa Hansen Studio, and available in two different cup sizes up to a 50-inch waist, the Albion Blouse is a romantic wrap-front top with gorgeously full gathered sleeves, long cuffs fastened with rouleau button loops, and a darted bodice.
I had to learn a couple of new techniques, and it’s definitely one of those projects that allowed me to stretch myself, but the instructions were straightforward and easy to follow. The result is a lovely dreamy blouse that I enjoyed taking my time with.
I made it from an organic gauze fabric, courtesy of Spoonflower. The brightly coloured collage-style print is called Shape of Things and was designed by Janine Lecour. You can find the pattern in [Issue 54] of Peppermint Magazine, or you can download a free version via their website.”
LEILA MAKES
Fabric Choice – Cotton Poplin in INDRA POPPY SAGE Fabric
“This was a fun lil collab w Peppermint Magazine and Spoonflower for their newly released FREE pattern – the Albion Blouse designed by Vanessa Hansen Studio.
I made this blouse in a lovely printed cotton poplin designed by Holli Zollinger. I didn’t make too many modifications other than shortening the bodice by one to two inches and when all was done I didn’t love how loose the cuff was around my arm (it’s giving me business lady shoulder pad vibes?) so I had a stroke of genius and just tucked the cuffs in. I also opted not to use interfacing on the neckline because the fabric felt stiff enough on its own.
There are three hidden snap buttons on the inner wrap side and three cute lil buttons on the outside to create this wrap top and I couldn’t help but add one more lil snap button to keep the front wrap closed at my chest because this pattern was intended for a B cup (and includes a lovely/thorough instruction on how to do full and small bust adjustments!) but I just refused to do it.”
ALISSAH THREADS
Fabric Choice – Cotton Lawn in Autumn Floral – Blush Terracotta Fabric
“It’s been a hot minute since I’ve sewn and I miss it so much! I’ve literally had dreams about what I’m sewing next. I got sick and it took me OUT and I don’t mean out on a cute date unless you call a visit to the ER and losing my taste and smell a cute date. Thankfully I’m finally feeling better and I can’t wait to get back sewing!
Before I got sick, I got to sew the gorgeous new FREE Peppermint Magazine and Spoonflower Albion Blouse pattern designed by Vanessa Hansen Studio.
I made no modifications or hacks. It’s so perfect as is! I love the button details and a hint of a puff sleeve!”
ANDREA D JONES
Fabric Choice – Cotton Lawn in Neon Yellow & White Checker Fabric
“The Albion Blouse – the latest free pattern from Peppermint Magazine by Vanessa Hansen Studio . Made possible by Spoonflower who also printed this lemony checkered cotton lawn. I’m obsessed with checkers now and these cuffs on the Albion Blouse!”
Pop over to spoonflower.com for more inspiration, then download the free pattern and make sure you tag #PeppermintPatterns (and #PeppermintAlbionBlouse) in your creations!
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Dreaming of a flowy, blousy dress with beautiful details to take you through sunny days and beyond? Same babe, same – so we designed it!…
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TOGETHER WE STITCH RETURNS! 🪡✨
Ditch the dishes. Clear your cutting table. Pop the kettle on. Because Together We Stitch is back from 15 to 22 March for seven joy-filled days of sewing, learning and reveling in the joy of shared community, no matter where you are in the world!
Hosted by Megan from @SewAndTell.Co, this global online sewing event brings thousands of makers together for a week of practical know-how, confidence boosts and those “why didn’t I know this sooner?!” moments.
This year’s line-up is packed with masterclasses and practical inspiration, like:
🪡 Simple knit finishing tricks to make your garments look store-bought by @SewAndTell.Co’s Megan Linley
🪡 Troubleshooting your sewing machine by Jenni Miller from @LetsGetSewingNow
🪡 Hands-on pattern adjustments for sway back from @GinaReneeDesigns
🪡 An interview with Brandon Hayden from @HappilyDressed about building a garment around the fabric you love
🪡 Iron Care 101 by @MicheleMuska
🪡 Kate Boyle from @MindMovementHealth shares posture tips and exercises to help prevent sewing aches and pains
🪡 An easy jeans-to-skirt upcycle project from @LaCreativeMama’s Victoria Martinez Azaro
🪡 DIY custom fabrics and creative craft-room upgrades by Stephanie Young from @So_Stephanie_Says
🪡 Plus choosing prints with intention, making your dream wardrobe a reality, and meeting the creator of Project & Cut, Clinton Blackmore to talk all things PDF pattern future
Together We Stitch is all about expert-led sessions, creative demos, practical tips you can take straight to your sewing table, and a community that celebrates every win along the way. Join live or catch the replays when it suits you.
Head to togetherwestitch.com or hit the link in bio to save your seat. 🪡
#TogetherWeStitch #SewingExpo #SewingInspo #MeMade #SewingCommunity #SewistsOfInstagram
Coffee begins long before your morning cuppa! ☕️
2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer, led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the @UnitedNations. It’s a global spotlight with a practical purpose: to recognise women’s indispensable roles across agrifood systems, and to push for the changes that still haven’t arrived evenly, like equal access to land, finance, training, technology and decision-making.
Into that bigger picture steps Elizabeth Duna, a coffee farmer from Papua New Guinea and the chairwoman of the Keto-Tapasi Progress Association. Elizabeth is also the only female chairperson across the @FairtradeANZ cooperative network in the Pacific, overseeing farmers across the association and helping ensure Fairtrade standards are met.
We had the privilege of chatting to Elizabeth (just in time for International Woman’s Day this Sunday, too!) about what’s been growing and changing within her cooperative, what ‘fair trade’ means to her, and the hopes that manifest in a ‘simple’ bag of coffee beans.
Link in bio ☕️
#FairTrade #FairTradeCoffee #InternationalWomensDay
DIFFICULT ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿
The collab we needed for International Women`s Day… and every day!
From @DangerousFemales:
"Hands up if you’ve ever been called difficult behind your back, to your face, or by an Australian Prime Minister during a Q&A?
DIFFICULT by Grace Tame, in her own handwriting is… one word: ICONIC!
100% of profits from our tees are donated, 100% of the time. Funds from this @TamePunk tee will go to @BerylWomen_inc, a First Nations led women’s refuge in the ACT.
Kinda ironic, don’t ya think?
Supporting an org in the parliament state with words from a politician for Australia’s longest running and underfunded women’s refuge.
Thank you @TamePunk for being difficult." 🫶🙌
Link in bio to get behind this tee!
#InternationalWomensDay #DangerousFemales #GraceTame #Difficult
NEW PATTERN ALERT 🎉
She’s giving comfort, she’s giving style, she’s giving palate-cleansing sewing. There’s nothing quite like an easy breezy dress that’s not only a dream to wear but a delight to sew, and the NEW Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress delivers!
Cute, classic and cool with a touch of retro: the Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with sleek lines and elegant curves. Bust darts are in play for shaping and spacious pockets to hold all your treasures. Top-stitching detail around the neck and armholes invites creative contrast threads and the keyhole loop closure at the back neck begs for a feature button (or a tie closure!).
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 @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection. Karmme also stocks darling tassels so we popped a hot pink one on as a closure!
The love child of Imby Langenbach, Karmme Apparel (fittingly pronounced ‘calm’), is a haven of boho apparel sewing patterns alongside complementary fabrics steeped in tradition with modern iterations from Jaipur, India. Hand block-printed and digitally printed soft cottons produced by Indian artisans showcase rich colours and designs from Imby’s travels, perfect for showing off me-made masterpieces.
Our dresses were superbly stitched by our sewing manager @Laura_The_Maker, and modelled magnificently by Shannon @Pins_And_Tonic and Serah @SerahSews. And that perfect pink wall was courtesy of the good folk at @ShareTheDignityAustralia, an organisation that aims to bring dignity to women, girls and those who menstruate who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and period poverty.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Patternmaker: @GarmentaApparel
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
Connection 🫶🏻
Such great ideas from @GrowWithColby:
“A common theme I noticed in 2025:
Everyone is craving more connection.
Use these friend nights to make it happen in 2026.
Send this to the people you want to do these with.”
#Connection #Friends #Community
No bull - these pants are the cat`s (or cow`s) pyjamas...
Jenny from @RhubarbSundays:
And they are done! My @PeppermintMagazine #PeppermintFernPleatedPants made using a gorgeous fabric from @IndyBindyFabrics! I absolutely love this fabric! It’s soft and drapes beautifully. And the best thing about it is that, from a distance, it looks like an abstract print and then you look closer and theres a curious bull looking right at you. 🤣🤣 🐄 🐮
Really happy with the end product. They are very comfy! I didn’t make many changes to the pattern. Just a touch more room in the rise and a little bit off the waist. I’ll post some closeups of the details tomorrow when I actually take them off. 🤣 "
Grab the pattern from the link in bio!
#PeppermintPatterns #IMakeMyOwnClothes #ClothesThatFeelLikePyjamas #SewersGonnaSew
