(Above: Initial concept drawing of the Persephone top)
When I first began conjuring up this sewing pattern, I had just been gently nudged from my previous job—set adrift and wondering what path the universe wanted me to walk next. I asked myself, “If I could do anything in the world, what would I do?” The answer floated up like a wisp of incense smoke: sewing patterns.
I’ve always adored making my own clothes, weaving a little magic into each stitch, and gifting handmade pieces to friends like enchanted talismans. People often complimented the outfits I crafted, which made me wonder—if others liked what I wore, maybe they’d like to make something similar, too.
So, I picked up my pencil and began to sketch. My tastes are eclectic, but my designs always drift towards the whimsical, the romantic—the kind of garments a forest witch might wear to tea with the fae. While plenty of patterns exist that can be transformed into something dreamy, very few are made with that intention at heart.
(Above: Emily ironing the fabric for the Persephone Top prototype.)
And thus, Belladonna Patterns was born—a pattern company for those who seek a little fantasy in the everyday. A place where practical meets ethereal, and garments feel like spells you can wear.
For my very first pattern, I had several ideas dancing through my mind, but I settled on a top. Since I hadn’t developed a pattern before, a top felt like a good place to begin—a manageable potion to brew. But I didn’t want it to be just simple—I wanted it to offer size inclusivity and playful variations, like different sleeve styles, so sewists could truly make it their own.
The name “Persephone” bloomed quite naturally. She’s my favourite Greek goddess—ruler of springtime, queen of the underworld, goddess of rebirth. It was spring when I began developing the pattern, and the symbolism felt too perfect to pass up. What better name for a fresh beginning?
At first, I attempted to draft the pattern myself, but soon discovered that this was a craft requiring years of spellwork—er, practice—and technical precision. For a time, I felt discouraged. My new venture seemed to hover in limbo, waiting for me to master skills I didn’t yet possess.
Then, a shimmer of possibility appeared—I found a wonderful pattern grader who worked alongside a master pattern maker. With their help, the Persephone top took shape.
Working with them taught me so much about the spellbinding intricacy of technical specs. Every measurement had to be precise, every element captured in the tech pack. My first attempt was a little bare-bones, but each pack since has grown more detailed and intentional.
(Above: Technical specs for the Persephone top sleeves)
We began with a sample size of 2XL—my own size—and once it was ready, I stitched up the first version and made a few final tweaks. From there, I dove into a part of the process I thought I’d dread: writing and illustrating the instructions. But to my surprise, I adored it! Each step was like writing a charm or drawing a sigil—thoughtful, intentional, creative.
Even crafting the Belladonna size charts and fabric consumption guides felt like progress toward turning my dream into something real, something tangible.
When everything was ready, I invited a sewist friend to “beta test” the pattern—essentially downloading it for free to see how the checkout process worked, print it at home, and try it out. Her feedback helped me catch a few final details, and while she sewed, I tested more sizes to make sure the pattern held up in all its incarnations. I created versions in XXS and 5XL for two magical models—whom you can see wearing the tops on the Persephone product page.
With my lovely fiancé/photographer, we ventured out to take dreamy photos, and just like that—after about two moon cycles of development—the Persephone top was ready to meet the world.
(Above: The final photograph of Emily and her lovely models wearing Persephone tops.)
Looking ahead, my goals are clear: I want to expand Belladonna’s size range from nine sizes to eighteen—doubling our inclusivity spell, so to speak. I also hope that with one pattern under my belt (a belt I made myself), future patterns will flow more quickly. I’m already dreaming up ideas for next spring...and yes, even next Mother’s Day.
There’s more magic to come. ✨