A Butterfly Milton Pinafore | Peppermint Magazine x Just Patterns

Delphine from Just Patterns has done it again! The Milton Pinafore, produced for Peppermint Magazine, has all of the luxe details and pristine finishes that Just Patterns is known for (and I first experienced with her Helena Wrap dress). But the best part is the Milton Pinafore pattern is available for free!

Peppermint Magazine teamed up with Spoonflower to present this pattern and invited me to show off the collaboration. In case you’re unfamiliar, Spoonflower is a print-on-demand business that creates an outlet for surface designers to sell their artwork as fabric and wallpaper. Their fabrics are available on a number of substrates and when you order you can see how they print exact yardage and then print a barcode at the end with your order details. Pros: you can get a very unique pattern on very specific fabric and its never out of stock. Cons: it can be a bit pricey, $29/yard for this lightweight cotton twill, and the print method doesn’t penetrate the dyes to the reverse side of the fabric. The potential for white insides to show does make the finished garment look a bit less professional, unless you’re using a full lining.

This fabric is called ‘Ellewood Butterflies‘ and it was designed by @mint_tulips on Spoonflower. This abstract butterfly print, with its teal and orange accents, was the perfect look to recreate the oversized ikat effect in Ulla Johnson’s FW ’22 collection. I just love the print on print look of this dress and turtleneck design from the collection. Since the pinafore is too revealing (for me) to wear without a layer beneath, it felt like the right look for me to copy with this ensemble. I’m super pleased with how it came out but I am still hoping to find the perfect print to sew into the turtleneck.

When I sat down to take these pictures I thought, “Wow, this is really the kind of style I dreamed of wearing those years ago when I had my first person branding photoshoot.” Bold prints, vibrant colors, unique design – those are the style notes that feel most true to how I want to be seen in the world. Add onto that the slight wink of novelty with the butterfly print and my Milton Pinafore has the perfect nod of whimsy that brings me a smile. I hope it brings you a smile too!

Pattern

• Milton Pinafore designed by Just Patterns for Peppermint Magazine
• This pattern is available for free
• Sewing Difficulty – 2/5
  • Just Pattern’s instructions are super clear with finishing details that take away the guesswork.
• Fit Difficulty – 2/5
  • Overall this was easy to fit but it took some thinking to get a FBA into the tiny bodice straps
• I’d like to see this pattern as a shorter dress one day
• Double duty – if you tuck the straps down you can wear the dress as a skirt + you can turn it around to show the buttons in the front.

Fabric

• Ellewood Butterflies by mint_tulips on Spoonflower
• Lightweight cotton twill
• The fabric was gifted in exchange for my post on Instagram

Fit & Modifications

• Based on my waist measurement, I cut a size 42
• To the bodice, I added 1.5″ in length above the bust
• I added 3/4″ with a full bust adjustment. It was my first time adjusting on such a small bodice piece but I learned a ton about dart manipulation.
• Added 1.5″ to the straps in the back
• Maybe should have graded up in the hips a bit for a little more ease, but the A-line skirt fits just fine

Tips for sewing the milton pinafore

• Be sure to measure the position of the bust apex and compare to your own measurements. I found this pattern to be a bit high and close together for me.
• Press, press, press – that makes the difference with the darts, the double-layered straps, and the layered waistband.