27 Different Ways to Wear Spoonflower

Me Made May with Spoonflower Employees

Edited: May 18, 2022

Sydney and Savvy stand in the Spoonflower factory in Durham wearing jackets that they made for Me Made May. Savvy wears a jacket with a zipper front. The jacket has small repeating columns of various zodiac signs in turquoise and teal blocks. Sydney is wearing jean shorts, a black shirt and jacket with black cuffs, a black zipper front and an orange, red and green butterfly design with a cream background.

Featured designs: BUTT-erflies by cecilia_granata and Zodiac Symbols in Teal by spookishdelight

This year for Me Made May, a celebration of self-made clothes started in 2010 by Zoe Edwards, 27 Spoonflower employees chose a pattern from either Seamwork or Peppermint magazine’s Sewing School to make. Both companies offer cost-effective sewing patterns and are dedicated to helping sewists learn and create through their tutorials and expert advice. We work with them both regularly in various capacities and can’t recommend them enough!

We also asked each participant why they chose their fabric and design and what they changed, learned or thought along the way. This post is chock full of Spoonflower insider details, tips on how sewing can improve your confidence and reminders on how we’re all just learning as we go. Click a garment type to see the tops, skirts, pants, dresses, pinafores, jumpsuits and jackets or just scroll down to read more!

Spoonflower’s 2022 Me Made May Makes

Tops

Jessie G. (she/her)
Artist Community Manager

Pattern: Jersey Top from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I have only sewn two garments before, one of which was a jersey t-shirt, so I was confident I could use Modern Jersey to make a comfortable top I’d love to wear.

Design choice: I was drawn to Spectacular Koi among Water Lilies on a Kraft Paper Background by silver_steer_design because I love the way it is both bright and colorful, but muted and natural thanks to the kraft background. Plus, there are so many details hidden in each koi!

What she learned: This was only the second time I’ve sewn sleeves, or anything with a neck binding, so I just learned to be more confident with that process.

essie stands in front of a red brick building smiling, wearing a three-quarter-length-sleeve top with black sleeves. A print of rainbow koi swimming all over a peach background is all over the rest of the t-shirt except for a small bit of black fabric around the neck.

Featured Designs: Spectacular Koi among Water Lilies on a Kraft Paper Background by silver_steer_design and Blackest Black Solid by peacoquettedesigns

Jessie stands in front of a red brick building smiling, wearing a three-quarter-length-sleeve top with black sleeves and dark teal pants. A print of rainbow koi swimming all over a peach background is all over the rest of the t-shirt except for a small bit of black fabric around the neck.

Paula A. (she/her)
Operations Technical Manager

Pattern: Natalie from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I chose Cotton Lawn—it’s so soft and dreamy. I love using it for shirts and summer dresses; it’s definitely a favorite fabric of mine for garments!!

Design choice: I was picking out the design, Blue Tulip by spellstone, right as it was starting to look like spring at my house—so I had bunnies on my mind! I wanted something that was a medium scale-scattered print for the shirt. This led me to looking at some of my personal favorite designers—I’ve always loved spellstone’s unique designs and I was excited to see a perfect bunny design waiting for me!

What she learned: I actually made a bit of a hasty mistake while sewing this… I knew I was working on a time crunch and I didn’t make a muslin. I thought that my choice of a boxy fit top would mean my shoulders would fit well, so I charged ahead. Silly me—my shoulders are constantly too big and broad for most woven shirts. Even though the shirt fits nicely everywhere else, I can’t move my arms very well. Thankfully, I am pretty sure what modification I need to make AND I still have enough fabric left over that I’m going to try a second attempt!!

Paula looks to the left with her left hand up by her shoulder and her right hand behind her right hip. She is wearing a white short-sleeve shirt with buttons up the front featuring a design with blue bunnies and blue tulips floating through it.

Featured design: Blue Tulip by spellstone

A close up of the top of a white short-sleeve shirt with buttons up the front featuring a design with blue bunnies and blue tulips floating through it.

Kevin M. (he/him)
Senior Developer

Pattern: Negroni from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I chose Cotton Lawn because I hadn’t used it previously but had heard it was light and soft and perfect for a shirt!

Design choice: I love the color in (Micro Scale) Fern – Block Print Fern on Dark Jade by littlearrowdecor! The design is understated but not too serious.

What he learned and changed: It was my first time using interfacing and sewing felled seams. I slightly modified the pocket design and increased the torso length.

Kevin sits cross legged in a grassy park with his hands on his knees. He is wearing a teal button-up shirt and black pants and looking up and to the left. The shirt has repeating rows of small white block print ferns. There are tall trees behind him.

Featured design: (Micro Scale) Fern – Block Print Fern on Dark Jade by littlearrowdecor

A close up of the neck and pocket at the top of a button-up shirt. The shirt has repeating rows of small white block print ferns.

Katherine J.
Account Manager

Pattern: Ruffle Sleeve Top from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I chose Organic Sweet Pea Gauze™ because it is highly textured but also very breathable. As we gear up for North Carolina summers (humidity!), I knew I wanted a piece with sleeves that would also be comfortable in warmer weather. Organic Sweet Pea Gauze gets softer with each wash, so that is an added bonus!

Design choice: Artist Kate Zaremba just launched her Spoonflower shop—what perfect timing! I have been a fan of her bold abstract designs and freeform organic shapes, and I knew that a little design like her Reef would go a long way in creating a statement piece.

What she learned:I had never sewn with Organic Sweet Pea Gauze before, and, wow, I loved it! I learned so much throughout this process: I am revisiting sewing after many years, so everything feels new but accessible/approachable. I had never actually sewn darts before and it’s a wonderful feeling to realize that everything is learnable. From darts to French seams to working with gauze, there were many learning moments. The process itself is so rewarding and it left me energized to take on my next project. (Organic Cotton Knit, here I come!)

Katherine looks to the left and smiles, sitting on the arm of a white sofa. She wears a white top with ruffle sleeves and a black geometric pattern and black pants. Two large windows are to her left.

Featured Design: Reef by katezarembatextiles

A close up of a ruffle sleeve sewn from a fabric with a white background and a black geometric pattern.

Skirts

Sharon D. (she/her)
Ecommerce Paid Search Manager

Pattern: Laura from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I’m a new sewist and Petal Signature Cotton® is easy to sew. I also wanted a fabric thick enough that the wrap of my skirt wouldn’t blow open with a breeze.

Design choice: I chose Charming Starflowers, Large – Hand-Drawn Florals by red_swatch because I liked the hand-drawn look of the flowers that aren’t perfectly symmetrical, which makes it a more unique piece. I have a lot of purple and blue tops that will match well with it. And I don’t have very much green-based clothing and that background color is very spring/summer feeling.

What she learned: I chose to do the angled hem hack, and angled it up even more than they suggested. I shortened the length of the skirt as well. In this project, I learned how to do a waistband with fusible interfacing, which took me hours to do properly, but sparked some ideas of some shortcuts I could take in the future with a waistband like this.

Sharon smiles and holds out a hot pink rose toward the camera. She is wearing a purple crochet top and tank top as well as a wrap skirt featuring a design with large purple, white and blue starflowers. The skirt has a strip of purple fabric along the hem and on the wrapped section part of the fabric, which goes diagonally down the front of the skirt.

Featured design: Charming Starflowers, Large – Hand-Drawn Florals by red_swatch

A close up of a wrap skirt featuring a design with large purple, white and blue starflowers. The skirt has a strip of purple fabric on the wrapped section part of the fabric, which goes diagonally down the front of the skirt.

Pants

Ace (she/they)
Sewing Team Zone Lead

Pattern: Nolan from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I chose to use our Lightweight Cotton Twill because it met all of my needs for making cute, comfortable workwear. It is thick and durable enough to be practical for building and woodworking, and stretchy enough that it is comfortable to climb ladders and get in tight spaces. It is a breathable cotton and washes well. The yardage itself is also pretty wide, so there was plenty of room to lay out my pants on grain (I have a long waist and long legs). This twill is also very forgiving to sew; it does not retain punch holes, thank goodness.

Design choice: When I decided I wanted to make workwear, I was inspired to choose a surface design that was as practical as the garment design. I looked up “ruler grid” on the Spoonflower Marketplace hoping to find something resembling a cutting mat, and I found Quarter Inch, Inch, Foot by keweenawchris and I really liked these colors. The design measurements are exactly true on the final product. This will help me measure something in a pinch, but the design in garment form shouts “I make things!” more than doing anything else. My identity is tied to being a maker, so I can say the design really expresses that part of who I am.

What she changed: I hacked Seamwork’s Nolan pants pattern to make them into workwear overalls! I also added a hammer loop, an attached belt onto which I can clip things, and detachable pouches I can clip onto that belt to hold screws and such. I always felt like my framer’s tool belt was overkill for a lot of my home improvement projects, so this workwear hack was a sleek solution. I also genuinely like the Nolan pant pattern. I dreaded doing a full belly adjustment and leg extension to match my body, but the instructions made it easy.

Ace stands smiling in front of a red brick house in a grass yard wearing a pair of overalls in a print featuring a checkerboard design that also doubles as a ruler. The checkerboard is white and small-blue-and-navy blocks with all blocks outlined in red. A black dog with white accents is standing by their right foot.

Featured design: Quarter Inch, Inch, Foot by keweenawchris

A close up of the back a pair of overalls in a print featuring a checkerboard design that also doubles as a ruler. The checkerboard is white and small-blue-and-navy blocks with all blocks outlined in red. A hammer hangs from a hammer loop under their right. Measuring tape in a metal case hangs up higher on the right side from a tool belt added to the garment.

Nikki L. (she/her)
Order Expeditor

Pattern: Nolan from Seamwork

Fabric choice: Dogwood Denim™ is one of my faves! It softens up so nicely with every wash and wear, but still remains very structured.

Design choice: I picked Pastel Abstract by vagabond_folk_art because I loved the colors and textures in it! I love dressing in bright, blobby colors; this design is a lovely blend of both! I’m also super into collage right now so it’s also a nod to my current fixation.

What she changed: I had to pretty severely alter my pattern to make them fit. I cut my recommended size, but they ended up about 5 sizes too big. I did a lot of guesswork and said “I hope this works!” more times than I can count. I ended up taking off about 5″ (12.7 cm) from the waist, 2″ (5.1 cm) from the rise, and 4″ (10.2 cm) off the legs. I would like to try to make these again with a smaller size and really perfect the fit for me!

Nikki stands in front of the camera and is laughing. She is wearing a shirt for the band Knightmare and wearing pants featuring a design that looks like patchwork. Small squares and rectangles in varied sizes cover the design in yellow, red, blue, green and more Some blocks have stripes, others have dots. Both of her arms are held up in the air over her head. Her left leg is slightly in the air.

Featured design: Pastel Abstract by vagabond_folk_art

Dresses

Gina S. (she/her)
Senior Product Specialist

Pattern: Mina from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I LOVE Cotton Lawn so much. When Spoonflower brought it back to our lineup last year, I was thrilled—our sourcing director knocked it out of the park. It’s buttery soft, easy to work with and it prints beautifully! It’s the perfect summer woven.

Design choice: Lately I’ve been making updates to my 1960’s house and have been immersed in a world of mid-century modern design. The sweet cherries in Cherry Gingham Pink – Medium Scale by miraparadies are the perfect mix of retro and modern, and the bright colors felt so summery and fun.

What she changed: I made a few modifications to this pattern—some planned, some last-minute bursts of inspiration. First and foremost, most of my patterns get a full bust adjustment. Seamwork’s “Four Essential Bust Adjustments” post is my go-to guide! I also decided to try out a tulip sleeve using the slash-and-spread method for a more delicate sleeve. I had every intention of making the rest of the dress as-is but realized halfway through sewing that I have so very many dresses and zero matching sets—so, a set it became. I plan to make some matching high-waisted shorts with my remaining fabric so I can change up my look all summer long!

Gina stands in front of a light brown wall smiling and wearing a matching top and skirt set in a print with a white-and-pink gingham and red and pink cherries floating throughout.

Featured design: Cherry Gingham Pink – Medium Scale by miraparadies

A close up of a tulip sleeve in a print with a white-and-pink gingham and red and pink cherries floating throughout.

Emily Lynne K. (she/her)
Graphic Designer

Pattern: Mina from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I love using our Cotton Lawn for anything summery; it’s a perfect choice for a light dress. The pattern I used has a lot of gathering so I knew I wanted a light substrate with a good drape, so it didn’t get too bulky.

Design choice: Miniature Beach Surfing by printfrill screams beach trip to me, especially with its beautiful blue wavy lines, and the little pops of orange make it sing. I’ve been saving this design in my favorites for a while, just waiting for the perfect project, and think this pattern was a great match.

What she changed: I used French seams for most of the bodice, something I enjoy being able to do when the fabric is thin enough. Also, because this pattern is intended to fit a little looser, I sized down farther than I normally would after double-checking with a mockup to get the shoulders to fit me correctly.

Emily smiles at the camera and stands in front of a peach wall wearing a knee-length dress with a print with long vertical strips in various shades of blue, gray and white and small horizontal lines running down the vertical strips in a differing blue, gray or white.

Featured design: Miniature Beach Surfing by printfrill

dress with a print with long vertical strips in various shades of blue, gray and white and small horizontal lines running down the vertical strips in a differing blue, gray or white shade hangs on a wooden hanger in front of a peach wall.

Sarah B. (she/her)
Lead Machine Operator, Home Decor

Pattern: Benning from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I have worked with our Perennial Sateen Grand a lot while being on Spoonflower’s home decor sewing team, but have never used it in apparel! It’s such a lovely fabric!

Design choice: I am used to working with smaller prints, but decided to go bigger for this dress since it was long and chose 18-08P Floral Anemone Black Indigo Large Scale Flower Botannical by misschiffdesigns!

What she changed: I normally don’t go for V-neck shaped necklines, so I rounded out the front and lowered the back. The weight of the fabric ended up making the dress drape a little funny after that, so I turned it around and using the back as the front worked out better!

Sarah stands in the grass, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a light brown sunhat and a long dress with a black belt at the waist. The dress has a white background and a watercolor blue flower design. The flowers have black centers.

Featured design: 18-08P Floral Anemone Black Indigo Large Scale Flower Botannical by misschiffdesigns

A look at Sarah’s dress from the side and the middle section of the dress. There is a black belt at her waist. The dress has a white background and a watercolor blue flower design. The flowers have black centers. Her left hand is in her pocket.

Angela B. (she/her)
Manager, Product Sourcing

Pattern: Killian from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I was super excited to try the Cotton Lawn because it’s newer to Spoonflower and it’s the perfect weight for spring/summer dresses.

Design choice: I have been inspired by the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer which has really reconnected me to gardening and playing in the dirt. I wanted a farmer’s market dress and this print worked out perfectly!

What she thought: It was a straight forward and quick pattern and I really enjoyed making it! I will definitely be making some more dresses with it and next time will play around with pop color buttons, contrasted thread and maybe even color block some panels.

Angela stands looking at the camera and smiling and holding a small furry tan dog. She is wearing a dress with a cream background and small rainbow vegetables all over it. She is wearing the dress over pants and standing in the mulch as if in a backyard near a brown wooden fence.

Featured design: Vegetable Harvest (Cream) Med by nouveau_bohemian

Angela stands to the side, looking down. A small furry tan dog is standing behind her. She is wearing a dress with a cream background and small rainbow vegetables all over it. She is wearing the dress over pants and standing in the mulch as if in a backyard near a brown wooden fence.

Jessica G. (she/her)
Customer Service Advocate

Pattern: Lane from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I love the flow and fit of Modern Jersey. It’s also so forgiving in the way it fits to your body.

Design choice: I love florals and I so rarely sew for myself anymore that it was a great opportunity to use one of my favorite designs, Botanical Cloisonne Garden by ceciliamok.

Jessica stands smiling at the camera wearing a dress that has two thin fabric strips that tie in the front. The fabric has a black background and a floral print with orange, yellow and pink poppies and green flowers around them. She is standing in a patch of grass near a tall wooden fence.

Featured design: Botanical Cloisonne Garden by ceciliamok

A close up of the mid-section of a dress with two thin fabric strips that tie in the front. The fabric has a black background and a floral print with orange, yellow and pink poppies and green flowers around them.

Sarah B. (she/her)
Marketing Associate, Social Media

Pattern: Benning from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I love using the Organic Cotton Sateen—the colors are just so vibrant and lush, and the fabric washes and wears so nicely! I wanted something that would hold a little bit of shape but still move a bit. It’s definitely one of my top picks for apparel making!

Design choice: I loved the trompe l’oeil effect and fancy feeling of Lace Romance {Divine} by ceciliamok, and I thought it would be a fun look with the tiered skirt on this pattern. I used one of the lace elements at the bottom, and cut the hem into a scalloped raw edge, which came out really nicely! During voting for the Pockets Design Challenge, I ran across the adorable This Dress Has Pockets – Small Scale – Pocket Lining Fabric Pocket Liner design by ambergibbsdesigns and knew I needed to use it as a fun little touch!

What she changed: For this pattern, I graded from a 14 at the shoulders to a 16 in the waist/hips. I added an inch to the length of the bodice, but I don’t think I really needed to, and may take this apart to remove some of that length. The method for adding the pockets was very simple and easy, and something I will definitely use in the future. This would be a fun dress to make in Organic Sweet Pea Gauze as well!

Sarah stands with her left hand on her hip and her right hand in her pocket in the mulch in a backyard around some trees. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a long turquoise dress with a hot pink lace design.

Featured design: Lace Romance {Divine} by ceciliamok

A close up of where a long turquoise dress with a hot pink lace design meets the pocket fabric. The pocket fabric design has a white background and small repeating text that says “This dress has pockets!” in turquoise, orange, yellow and blue with small yellow sunflowers between each repeating sentence.

Featured design: This Dress Has Pockets – Small Scale – Pocket Lining Fabric Pocket Liner by ambergibbsdesigns

Bri G. (she/her)
Customer Service Team Lead

Pattern: Lito from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I chose Cotton Spandex Jersey because I love how soft it is. I have a shirt made from CSJ that was sewn by my fellow Customer Service team member James! The pattern also called for a jersey fabric.

Design choice: I love how bold and green The Cactus & The Moth by ruth_robson is. The colors are layered in a way that reminds me of risograph prints.

What she learned: I have never sewn using the double-needle method but I used it for this dress. I love how neat it looks. I also sized the pattern pieces bigger than they needed to be so I had to gradually bring the sides of the dress in smaller after the pieces were sewn together. I found the Seamwork instructions to be very clear and easy to follow. I also used YouTube to get more guidance on different techniques.

Bri stands in the middle of a dirt path going through the woods behind her. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a short-sleeved dress with a white background and a repeating green cactus design. The cacti have red blossoms and green-and-yellow moths floats near some of the blossoms. The sleeves and neckline have been ringed with red bias tape that has white dots.

Featured design: The Cactus & The Moth by ruth_robson

A close up of the back neckline of a dress with a white background and a repeating green cactus design. The cacti have red blossoms and green-and-yellow moths floats near some of the blossoms. The neckline has been ringed with red bias tape that has white dots.

Nisha B. (she/her)
Machine Operator Home Decor

Pattern: Summer Sundress from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I chose Chiffon with a lining of Performance Piqué. I was drawn to these substrates because of their unique, summer-like colors and thought they would suit me best. Our Chiffon has a light, airy drape and our Performance Piqué is lightweight and good for activewear, making this combination perfect for a summer beach outing.

Design choice: I also picked this pattern Underwater Emerald Forest – Large Scale by ceciliamok because of its seaweed theme and rich emerald color, which reflects the mood I would like to convey.

Pattern choice: I thought a dress like this would be perfect for the upcoming summer months.

What she learned and changed: Working with sheer chiffon was a challenge that I was able to overcome. I had to change needle and thread settings when sewing this dress, and, in turn, I was able to gain more knowledge of how to work with unique fabrics. Similarly, using performance piqué as a lining wasn’t easy either. While serging this fabric, I needed to change the settings of the differential feed because of its stretchy characteristics. I also needed to alter the pattern according to my figure, reduce the length of the bodice by an inch, and added an inch to increase the bust size and belt width.

Nisha stands in the sand by a riverbank wearing a light brown sun hat and a sleeveless green dress featuring a design with black and green seaweed flowing in all directions. She is holding a brown floral purse and her left hand is in her pocket.

Featured design: Underwater Emerald Forest – Large Scale by ceciliamok

A close up of the midsection of a green dress Nisha is wearing featuring a design with black and green seaweed flowing in all directions. Her left hand is in her pocket and a bracelet with small brown round beads is on her wrist.

Kelley O. (she/her)
Customer Service & Operations Associate

Pattern: Taylor from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I chose Cotton Lawn, which is not an option I’ve worked with before. My go-to substrate for apparel is usually Organic Cotton Sateen, but I really wanted to mix it up this time and had a sample swatch of Cotton Lawn that I really liked.

Design choice: As much as I try to diversify the colors in my wardrobe, I will always love wearing blue and so I stayed true to that. I wanted a design that was bold, but still versatile enough that I could wear anytime. I love the mix of blues in Shibori Indigo by juliaschumacher and it immediately caught my eye.

What she learned: This was my first time making a wrap dress and I was surprised how easy it was! It’s always nice to not have to worry about zippers or buttons. I didn’t end up making any modifications, but I think it would also be really simple to add some set-in pockets!

Kelley looks at the camera and smiles, wearing a blue wrap dress with an indigo shibori design. Her left hand is on her hip. She is standing in pine needles in a group of trees.

Featured design: Shibori Indigo by juliaschumacher

A close up of the midsection of the blue wrap dress Kelley is wearing with an indigo shibori design. Her hands are by the fabric bow tie at the waist which closes the dress.

MaryAshlyn T. (she/her)
Category Manager, Fabric by the Yard

Pattern: Taylor from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I typically like to switch up my fabric choice each year, but I loved working with Cotton Lawn so much last May that I knew I wanted to use it again! This fabric is lightweight and breezy, but without being too translucent. It’s the perfect choice for spring and summer apparel!

Design choice: I did a color analysis this year to find out which colors help me look my best, and I wanted to try picking a design that fits within my palette. I’ve always loved Julia Schumacher’s abstract floral designs, and I remembered seeing a variation that would fit perfectly! I love the brushed texture and that Indigo Flowers Small Scale by juliaschumacher is abstract but still unmistakably floral.

What she thought and changed: When working with Cotton Lawn, it’s definitely important to make sure you have the optimal sewing needles and thread! Through some trial and error last year, I learned that Microtex needles (I used the 60/8 size) and 60 weight thread worked perfectly. I kept my modifications simple. I really liked the pattern as-is, so I didn’t want to change too much and ended up switching out the skirt panels for a basic gathered skirt. I skipped making a muslin this year (sacrilege, I know!), and there are a few things I know I’ll tweak if I decide to make this dress again. (Raising the decline just a hair and lengthening the sleeves an inch or so.) Overall, though, I was really pleased with how it turned out!

MaryAshlyn stands smiling at the camera holding both of her arms out straight. She is standing in the grass in front of a wooden fence and is wearing a dress with repeating white and blue flowers on a navy background.

Featured design: Indigo Flowers Small Scale by juliaschumacher

A close up of MaryAshlyn’s dress at the shoulder. The dress has repeating white and blue flowers on a navy background.

Lizard H. (they/them)
Machine Operator, Naturals

Pattern: Wide-Strap Maxi Dress from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I love the feel of our Linen Cotton Canvas, and the pattern I chose suggested that for the substrate, so that’s what I went with! Linen is so nice and breathable, I knew it would make for a great summery dress.

Design choice: I’m really inspired by bright colors and clowny fashion, so I knew I wanted something bold and fun, and I envisioned a checkerboard print pretty early on. I’ve also been reconnecting with my childhood love of the color pink, so Medium // Retro Checker Checkerboard in Orchid Mauve by erin__kendal felt like the perfect fit!

What they learned: I had never made inset pockets like this before. They were a real challenge, but once I figured it out (with some help from my mom over Facetime) I was so pleased with the result! I had some difficulty with the initial pattern piecing, and I think that may have caused my garment to be a little bigger than I wanted, but I’m still happy with the result, and if I make it again, I’ll be much better prepared.

Lizard stands on a front porch with white walls, ceiling and railing and a wooden floor and is smiling at the camera. They are wearing a long maxi dress down to their ankles featuring a white-and-pink checkerboard design.

Featured design: Medium // Retro Checker Checkerboard in Orchid Mauve by erin__kendal

Lizard stands on a front porch with white walls, ceiling and railing and a wooden floor with their back to the camera. Their long maxi dress is down to their ankles and features a white-and-pink checkerboard design.

Theresa R. (she/her)
Senior Manager, Brand Marketing

Pattern: Wide-Strap Maxi Dress from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I chose Petal Signature Cotton because my dress is long and shapeless, so it was important for it to have drape and not feel too stiff. Petal is a breathable cotton woven, and the perfect weight for a dress like this.

Design choice: I’m always looking for designs in that perfect shade of what I like to call “Castelvetrano Olive” green. It’s a color that signifies growth to me, and I always gravitate towards clothing in this color. One of my favorite artists is louisemargaret for her joyful, organic, abstract approach to design, so I chose her Abstract Lines – Olive Fabric. This isn’t my first Louise Margaret garment and I’m sure it won’t be my last!

What she thought: My first time making a new (to me) pattern, I try not to make any modifications, and that was the case for this dress. Unlike many patterns I’m used to, this dress calls for enclosed French seams for almost the entire garment, so while I didn’t necessarily learn anything brand new, it was nice to brush up on my French seam skills!

Theresa stands in a living room near a large monstera plant and smiles at the camera. She is wearing a long maxi dress with an olive green background and short wavy white lines running through the design in all directions.

Featured design: Abstract Lines – Olive Fabric by louisemargaret

A close up of the inside neckline and top of a maxi dress laying on a white-and-gray surface with an olive green background and short wavy white lines running through the design in all directions. The neckline has a small tag that says “Made with Love.” A pink-and-white measuring tape and small pink scissors are on the table slightly above the dress.

Like the designs in this post?

Shop the Me Made May 2022 Collection

Pinafores

Maike T. (she/her)
Customer Service Advocate

Pattern: Milton Pinafore from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I went with Lightweight Cotton Twill because it drapes nicely without being too stiff. I also liked the twill texture, especially for a dress like this.

Design choice: I was drawn to the idea of a sunflower dress, so I browsed through the Support Ukraine Artists collection and found Sunflower Seamless Pattern by ilonitta in the shop of a featured Ukrainian artist.

What she changed: I shortened the skirt a lot. Additionally, I had to shorten the straps and followed the instructions in Time to Sew’s post on sewing this pinafore.

Maike stands looking at the camera with her left hand in her pocket. She is wearing a pinafore with a white background and sunflower design and a short-sleeve white shirt underneath.

Featured design: Sunflower Seamless Pattern by ilonitta

Maike stands with her back to the camera with her left hand in her pocket. She is wearing a pinafore with a white background and sunflower design and a short-sleeve white shirt underneath.

Anna F. (she/her)
Content Marketing Associate

Pattern: Milton Pinafore from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: Lightweight Cotton Twill, because this pattern called for something thick-ish but still comfortable.

Design choice: My favorite animal is a ring-tailed lemur! However, I rarely find fun apparel with lemurs on it like you might see with dogs, cats or even frogs. So, for my pinafore, I picked Lemurs in Madagascar Night by nadyabasos, which I’ve had in my Spoonflower favorites folder since the Nocturnal Animals Design Challenge. I love all the little details and the color palette!

What she changed and learned: The pattern called for buttons as the closure, but I went with some leftover black snaps from a past project. A little easier to install in my opinion, plus I imagined myself struggling to close the buttons together as I’m putting the dress on since they would be located in the back where I can’t see them. This project taught me a lot about understitching and French seams, which are two techniques that make your sewing look quite clean and professional!

Anna stands smiling in front of the camera wearing a pinafore with a white t-shirt underneath. The design on the pinafore has a black background and a repeating design with lemurs roaming around large green leaves with small white and yellow flowers. A stuffed animal lemur is in the tree to Anna’s right.

Featured design: Lemurs in Madagascar Night by nadyabasos

A close up of a pocket of the pinafore Anna is wearing with a black background and a repeating design with lemurs roaming around large green leaves with small white and yellow flowers. Her left hand is in her pocket.

Betsy G. (she/her)
Senior Content Associate

Pattern: Knox from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I chose Lightweight Cotton Twill because I wanted something structured, but not quite as structured as denim. It was a dream to work with and the finished pinafore is so lovely to wear, the fabric feels rugged yet totally comfy!

Design choice: I wanted something fun and cheerful and this design hit the mark and initially came across Cacti Mood by solmariart while looking through our Support Ukraine Artists collection. As a bonus, it reminds me of a week I spent in Joshua Tree a few years ago, as I’m all for making clothes that make you happy when you wear them!

What she learned: As this was the first thing I’ve ever sewn on my own; mistakes were made. Watching the Seamwork class for this pattern was helpful! But, spoiler alert, I now have big secret inside pockets inside of big secret outside pockets, because I was forged ahead when I should have given myself a hot minute to play around the cut out pieces. I’ll eventually redo them, but, for now, I’m just excited that I can wear a pinafore I made and that (and this design!) makes me happy! So if you see me in this before I fix it, know that I am just dang proud that I made this, even if not perfectly!

Betsy smiles and is wearing a pinafore with a gray background and repeating design of differing types of cacti. She is standing in a backyard full of green plants. Her hands are held up straight over her head.

Featured design: Cacti Mood by solmariart

Sue M. (she/her)
Machine Operator, Home Decor

Pattern: Knox from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I really like the weight of the Dogwood Denim. I wanted to make an item that was durable for work. I also enjoy sewing denim, get the right needle and you are good to go.

Design choice: I wanted to use a design from one the featured Ukrainian designers and I also wanted to use one of the pocket designs from the recent pockets’ design challenge. I favorited a bunch of designs and then eyeballed the two I thought would work best, Pockets on Denim by marina-grau and Blue, Red and Brown Watercolor Retro Stripes by olgersart.

What she thought: I found the pattern to be simple and easy to size down after being cut and sewn. I would make again and cut out a couple sizes smaller. I did add 2” (5.1 cm) to the length. I made it and it has pockets, big book pockets.

Sue stands in pine needles among a bunch of tall trees. She is wearing a red, blue and white vertical striped pinafore with large side pockets that have a design with a blue background and drawings of pockets on them. She is turning to the left and putting books in the leftside pocket.

Featured designs: Pockets on Denim by marina-grau and Blue, Red and Brown Watercolor Retro Stripes by olgersart

A close up of Sue’s red, blue and white vertical striped pinafore with large side pockets that have a design with a blue background and drawings of pockets on them. Her left arm is in the left pocket which has a book peeking out of that says “Nature Guide to the Carolina Coasts.”

Jumpsuits

Allie T. (she/her)
Senior Manager, Category Management

Pattern: Jumpsuit from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I chose Modern Jersey as I wanted to use a knit for my jumpsuit to create a garment that I hoped would stretch to accommodate my growing pregnant belly that will still hopefully work once the baby is here as well! I also love the richness of the colors on Modern Jersey and knew I wanted to use a darker print and am thrilled with the print quality!

Design choice: When selecting a design I looked for something that was a larger scale, not too complex and with a dark background that I knew I’d pull from my closet time and time again to wear. Large Berry Botanical – Black Gold by booboo_collective checked all those boxes and I’ve already found myself reaching for this garment more times that I’d like to admit!

What she learned: I have made this pattern once before using a lovely 100% linen fabric. While woven fabrics are recommended, I wondered how it would turn out if stitched up using a knit. Since Modern Jersey has a good amount of stretch and recovery I opted to leave out the zipper and hoped I would be able to pull the garment on without it having a way to make the opening larger. I was pleased to find that it works as expected and I’m in love with how comfortable it is! I can’t wait to add a few more knit versions to my wardrobe.

Allie is wearing a black jumpsuit with white stems and gold berries. She is standing in a green grassy field, looking at the camera and smiling.

Featured design: Large Berry Botanical – Black Gold by booboo_collective

A close up of the left shoulder of a black jumpsuit with white stems and gold berries.

Danielle M. (she/her)
Sewing, Operations

Pattern: Jumpsuit from Peppermint Sewing School

Fabric choice: I chose Cotton Poplin because I wanted the jumpsuit to have some structure/stiffness while still staying cool in the warmer weather.

Design choice: I loved the colors in Hand Drawn Seed Raindrops by patternsbymes and the tribal raindrop pattern is one of my favorite types of print. It’s a nice design without being an overwhelming print.

What she changed: I wish that I had more experience with altering the patterns more as this size is a little too big in some areas. I’ve worked with the fabric and supplies before. I added a hook and eye closure that I wish was a little smaller. I had a little trouble with the instructions as it was unclear in some of the sewing process.

Danielle is wearing a purple jumpsuit and looking at the camera and smiling. Her left hand is on her hip. She is standing in a bunch of grass near a wooden fence. The jumpsuit features a small repeating pattern of cream hand drawn wavy raindrops.

Featured design: Hand Drawn Seed Raindrops by patternsbymes

Danielle is wearing a purple jumpsuit and turned away from the camera showing off the back of the jumpsuit. The jumpsuit features a small repeating pattern of cream hand drawn wavy raindrops and is tied in the back with two pieces of fabric that extend from the waist.

Jackets

Sydney B. (she/her)
Lead Machine Operator, Home Decor

Pattern: Larkin from Seamwork

Fabric choice: I decided to make my jacket out of Longleaf Sateen Grand™️ for the outside and Satin on the inside. The reason I decided to use this substrate is because I wanted something that would be light enough to wear in spring and fall.

Design choice: I picked BUTT-erflies by cecilia_granata because I thought it was a fun and different butterfly print. I love all of this artist’s prints and thought it would look great as a jacket! I used Blue Butterflies by jenfur as a fun pop for when I open my jacket.

What she thought: Seamwork has some videos that help you through the welt pocket which were very helpful!

Sydney stands on a patch of grass in front of a beige building, looking at the camera and smiling. Her right leg is bent and her left hand is held out by her waist. She is wearing jean shorts, a black shirt and jacket with black cuffs, a black zipper front and an orange, red and green butterfly design with a cream background. The middle sections of the butterflies are the lower half of human bodies as seen from behind.

Featured designs: BUTT-erflies by cecilia_granata and Blue Butterflies by jenfur

Sydney is wearing jean shorts, a black shirt and jacket with black cuffs and an orange, red and green butterfly design with a cream background. The middle sections of the butterflies are the lower half of human bodies as seen from behind. She is holding the jacket open to show a lining featuring a design filled with blue butterflies.

Savvy S. (she/her)
Machine Operator, Home Decor

Pattern: Larkin from Seamwork

Fabric choice: NC is very warm all year round, so I wanted to go with a breathable material to combat that. Belgian Linen™ was the best fit for that reason, not to mention the fun texture it gives to the main body of the garment!

Design choice: To put it simply; it’s a stary balance! The teals and blues in Zodiac Symbols in Teal by spookishdelight play into a cool relaxing galaxy while the astrology signs create a striking pattern throughout. It is both parts calming and bold; it really drew me in when I saw it. The Belgian Linen that the design is printed on gives an almost 3D effect to play off the vibrant galaxy “swirling” around the print! True balance; the Libra way.

What she learned and changed: I have been sewing for many moons now, so I was very delighted in learning new techniques with the Larkin pattern. The lower ribbing of the jacket was particularly exciting; finishing it off was even a fun challenge! I quite enjoyed using the base of the original pattern to build off of! I took the attributes of the classic bomber jacket and threw in a letterman twist; I call it the bombshell. I gave the jacket extra pockets (still following the welt style), cut the body of the jacket in a more bell shape (to make it more voluminous), and gave the sleeves A LOT more gathers/poof (life is too short without flounce). I had such a wonderful time making this jacket! I hope it shows in my photos.

Savvy wears a jacket with a zipper front. She is looking at the camera and smiling with her hands crossed underneath her chin. The jacket has small repeating columns of various zodiac signs in turquoise and teal blocks. She is standing in front of a white panels linked together by a black frame.

Featured design: Zodiac Symbols in Teal by spookishdelight

Savvy wears a jacket with a zipper front. She is looking at the camera and smiling with her left hand held up to her chin and her right arm bent and hand up. She is seated sideways on a cream chair with repeating rows of black, red, yellow and green eyeglasses. The jacket has small repeating columns of various zodiac signs in turquoise and teal blocks.

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About the Author

Alexa Terry Wilde

Shop some of Alexa's favorite flora and fauna designs for apparel

Alexa Terry Wilde is on the Brand Marketing team and is Spoonflower’s Maker Community Manager. While in the past she’s been a performing musician (in an a cappella group that, yes, was exactly like Pitch Perfect), these days she loves scouring antique malls for the perfect find, digging in the dirt and collecting all the things. She also runs a vintage clothing business called Antlers and Astronauts.

How wonderful to see the creative faces and their creations behind the Spoonflower label❣️I so enjoyed seeing each design and reading the designers thoughts behind each one. AND learning why they chose the fabric type for their creations, that was very helpful as well. I always knew there had to be terrifically fun and creative people behind all the great designs you show online. It’s nice now to put the great faces behind them. Thank you all, for what you do every day to make our world more beautiful . Forever Grateful, Holly
Larson❤️😘

Holly M Larson | May 24, 2022 at 1:58 pm

Reply
- Cheers, Holly!
  
  So glad to hear you loved this post too!
  
  Best,
  Betsy
  Spoonflower
  
  Spoonflower | May 24, 2022 at 2:25 pm
  
  Reply
These creations are all fabulous!!
It’s fun to see the different fabric choices made into these garments.

Shannon | May 21, 2022 at 9:46 pm

Reply
- Glad you liked them, Shannon!
  
  Best,
  Betsy
  Spoonflower
  
  Betsy Greer | May 23, 2022 at 2:12 pm
  
  Reply
nice collection! Thank You

Kayla Kennington | May 21, 2022 at 4:42 pm

Reply

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