Peppermint Magazine Pasadena RaRa Skirt & Valentine Ruffle Top.

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November 2024 saw the release of Peppermint Magazines latest patterns. The Pasadena RaRa Skirt and the Valentine Ruffle top. Welcome ladies to my wardrobe. If you have read any of my previous posts, you may notice a theme. I adore Peppermint Magazine’s sewing patterns and have now sewn up 11 of their patterns - which is now a bi-annual print and digital magazine. Peppermint Magazine release a further two more sewing patterns, bringing you a total of four patterns a year. There is also an additional digital magazine- Sew & Tell, which is all about the sewing!

I don’t have a subscription to this magazine. Instead, I wait till its released, then I figuratively run to the Newsagency at 7am and spend my day sewing up the pattern. I consume the pattern first, sewing my little heart out, then I relax and enjoy all the sustainable goodness located within its pages- often with a sweet treat and a coffee.

Let’s talk the Pasadena RaRa skirt. If a skirt was a multi-level marketing scheme, it would totally be this. A nod to the 80’s, this baby has three levels to it, with a zip and elastic closure at the back, it is a comfy, comfy wear. I made mine up in thrifted vintage yellow gingham and went with a size H, based on my waist measurement of 87cm.

My tip with this, due to the all the pattern pieces- is to keep the paper pattern pinned the fabric and flat lay it all out.

Now no Ra Ra skirt would be complete without a matching top- and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want an all-over yellow gingham aesthetic. Peppermint Pattern released these together, obviously they necessitated a matchy ensemb!! I made the size H for my versions, with my given bust size of 110cm.

I have now sewn up quite a few of the Valentine Ruffle Top, including a Christmas version!! And with no buttons or zippers, the flounce and elastic giving a fun silhouette, this is a fairly quick sew up and… you can easily turn it into a dress. That’s right! With either pattern there is of course so much creative potential.

I made two Pasadena Ra Ra skirts, five Valentine Ruffle Tops and one Valentine Ruffle Dress. I've put up for re-sale one of the skirts and one of the tops in at The Full Circle Collective on Hunter Street, Newcastle- I just wasn’t reaching for them.

It happens.

I really enjoyed sewing up both of these patterns, using thrifted fabrics, an old tablecloth, some lace curtain, a gorgeous gold thread fabric for the dress that I won in a Christmas advent countdown the year before, run by @sewtogrow, the fabric is from @Dahlia_sewciety. My fun Santa face fabric I purchased new, shopping locally at Zig Zag Sewing in Waratah. (Think Newcastle region which is North of Sydney, Australia)

Peppermint Magazine have released their latest Autumn sewing pattern- but my review will have to wait, I will catch upon my writing, buy yikes… when you don’t write for 7 months. It kind of piles up. If you're looking for sewing inspiration, you can't look past Peppermint Magazines sewing patterns.