Inspiration Station: Have You Made the Peppermint Bardon Dress?
- Words by Peppermint
If you’re anything like us and enjoy twirling your way through each and every day, our collaborations with Perth patternmaker Lauren Boyle of Elbe Textiles have got you covered. After creating the gorgeous Maxi Dress for Issue 44, the Peppermint Bardon Dress from Issue 48 has proved to be a hit on socials and we’re absolutely loving seeing what you create!
Featuring a sleeveless bodice, snazzy gathered tiers and the best feature in our opinion, pockets, this looks-good-on-everyone style is the injection of fun your wardrobe needs – and it’s available for free!
This sweet sewing pattern was created in partnership with our friends at Spoonflower. As the world’s largest marketplace of independent designs from global artists, we know you’ll love Spoonflower for their custom, sustainable textile printing. Their on-demand process significantly reduces materials, energy and water, featuring eco-friendly inks and a carefully sourced range of fabrics – including organic options.
For our lovely version of the dress, we used the Lightweight Cotton Twill from Spoonflower in a gorgeous print from Australian illustrator Louise Margaret. It’s the perfect put-on-and-go number for the warmer months but we reckon you could layer it with a turtleneck, tights and jacket for wear all year round.
ABOVE: PENE GORMLEY WEARING THE BARDON DRESS BY RACHAEL BASKERVILLE FOR PEPPERMINT.
If you haven’t made it already, what are you waiting for?! With so much potential for your own version (the possibilities are endless!), we asked three wonderful sewing influencers to whip up the dress in a Spoonflower fabric of their choice.
We heart these makes from our sewing pals: Chloe from @theslowlifesews’s in a gingham cotton twill, Leila from @leila_sews’s bright and colourful cotton sateen and Mijke from @sewitcurly’s lovely lilac print.
Find out what they all had to say about the pattern below and get inspired to make your own!
DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN NOW!
The Slow Life Sews
Fabric Choice – Gingham by Lily Oake in Lightweight Cotton Twill
“Introducing my (probably) last make before baby — the Peppermint Bardon Dress.
I was very kindly gifted this lovely gingham cotton twill from Spoonflower. The pattern is free, as are all Peppermint patterns, and was designed by Elbe Textiles. It’s very easy to follow (even with my pregnancy brain) and I can’t wait to make the pocket skirt too!
This would be my perfect farmers market outfit, paired with an Adairs basket and my secondhand Avarcas Australia sandals, except I don’t think my feet would survive a walk around in these shoes right about now.
It felt so good to get back into sewing after a few weeks of getting settled into our new home and ready for baby’s arrival, where I didn’t have time to really sit down and tackle a new project. Yay for my first #2021make!”
Leila Sews
Fabric Choice – Fractured Prisms by La Petite Lecour in Organic Cotton Sateen
Winterise your summer dresses!
“I’ve been admiring all of the amazing Elbe Textiles x Peppermint Bardon Dress pics and feeling envious! So when Peppermint reached out to me to ask me to make it in Spoonflower fabric, I was delighted!
The dress is a summer dress, but because it’s winter here, I’ve winterised it with a merino turtleneck and leggings. The turtleneck is a Muna and Broad fitted t-shirt (and turtleneck) pattern that’s ideal for layering or wearing alone.
In keeping with my anti-racism pledge, I asked you all to help me find a wonderful Black surface designer. Because of this I was able to find the incredible Janine Lecour and chose this awesome design that Spoonflower printed on their organic cotton sateen.
The pattern sewed up beautifully. I sized up one size and the only alteration I made was to add a little length to the front to compensate for my large bust. No other changes! The next time I make it (and there will be a next time), I think I will increase the number of gathers because I personally like a fuller gathering.”
Sew It Curly
Fabric Choice – Pale Lilac Flowers by Katie Kortman in Organic Cotton Sateen
“Loving this free pattern from Peppermint. I used to buy the mag when we lived in Australia, so when they asked me if I would like to make this dress with some Spoonflower fabric, I didn’t hesitate!
I picked out this stunning organic cotton sateen in a fabulous Katie Kortman art print. I love wearing Katie’s paintings. I’ve changed the pattern a little by shortening the bodice with 2cm, adding ties at the side seams and shortening the bottom tier by 10cm.
I styled in three different ways:
1 – Simple and ready for the beach.
2 – Dressed with heels and the ties wrapped around my waist.
3 – Fancy with a collar underneath and a belt.
Thank you so much!”
Pop over to spoonflower.com for more inspiration, then download the free pattern and make sure you tag #peppermintpatterns (and #peppermintbardondress) in your creations!
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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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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. 🌿
If your fingers are twitching for some crafting, take a peep at this massive list of marvellous makes that can be whipped up in a flash, put together by our Sewing Manager Laura. Ok yes, it was originally a roundup we created for easy Christmas gifts, but now it can be your blueprint for easy craft wins to go on your 2026 making must-do list!
If money and time are slim for you right now – as they are for many of us – these 22 projects will help you avoid the chaos and consumerism of the malls, scratch that creative itch and produce a fun me-made make that won’t break the bank.
Link in bio! 🪡🎨✂️
#PeppermintMagazine #MeMadeGifts #DIYs #EasyWins
"I, like so many of my fellow sewists, live a life of endless lists of ‘to-sew’ patterns, fabrics and garments. My stitchy to-do list is longer than my arm and it ain’t getting any shorter. There are just so many wonderful surface pattern designers, indie pattern-makers and small businesses who I want to support, that I am simply never short of inspiration for garments I’d like to sew. But you know what just does not seem to make its way to the top of the list? Pyjamas. Jimmy-jams, PJs, jarmies. They just don’t rate highly enough for me to commit time and fabric to them. I mean, barely anyone even gets to see them. The ratio of bang vs buck is low on the ‘thanks-I-made-it-ometer’."
You’ve probably heard it from your Nan: always wear nice undies, because you never know what might happen! (And who might catch a glimpse.) But just in case the unexpected happens while you’re slumming it at home in your washed out tracky dacks, Peppermint sewing manager Laura Jackson’s adding pretty PJs to her list of preferred ‘ghost outfits’… Because shuffling off this mortal coil can be perfectly stylish, too.
Read more of `Haunt Couture: Why Laura Jackson Decided To Up Her Pyjama Game` at the link in our bio!
Words and photos: @Laura_The_Maker 💤
#PJPatterns #MeMadePJs #Pyjamas #GhostOutfit
STAY SOFT ☁️
We love when some of our friends collide! And this collab between @SueChingLascelles and the legends at @DangerousFemales is a goodie.
From Sue-Ching:
New year, new mantra babes, because we tried being tough and it was exhausting. So now we’re going to lead with kindness and compassion and see what happens. We have nothing to lose! So let’s stay soft this year. Love ourselves and each other.
New limited edition tee designed by me for @DangerousFemales. 100% of the profits go to supporting DV services. Available NOW and did I mention limited edition? Such a cutie reminder for the year we’re going to have. The year we deserve to have.
BIG LOVE ya big SOFTIES 🤍
Sue-Ching x
Photos by @AMRPhotographer_
#DangerousFemales #DVAwareness #StaySoft
