Spring Sewing Inspiration ~ What to Sew with Liberty Floral Rebellion Fabrics

Spring is most definitely springing and there's no better time to get inspired with ideas for new pieces to sew for the Spring Wardrobe. I always head to Liberty London and spend a leisurely few hours wandering around this iconic store, finding things that spark my imagination.

Their Spring fabric collection, Floral Rebellion positively lit a fuse and so I thought I'd share some of my favourite prints and exciting ideas that came to mind!

Divided into 3 main themed groups within the collection, I took each one and developed my own inspiration boards and selected fabrics and patterns that most appealed to me.

The first collection of fabrics is Dandies & Diva's and I immediately thought of David Bowie, Glam Rock and those fashionista's of the Sixties that hung around with the bands.

Fabric 1 ~ Clifford 'Hand-painted in the Liberty design studio, Clifford is a vibrant and eclectic artwork inspired by the highly patterned prints favoured by dandies in the 1970s. This all-over climbing floral pattern combines bold aesthetics and artistic expression, drawing from traditional Arts and Crafts layouts.'

Fabric 2 ~ Mr Paisley 'Drawing on the ecstatic energy of the stylised paisleys of the ‘60s and ‘70s, this print, originally dating from 1966, was meticulously redrawn and recoloured in the Liberty design studio. Once donned by the extravagant musicians of the day, its expressive style mirrors the era’s unconventional idealisations.'

Fabric 3 Summers In The Sun 'Brimming with a nostalgic sense of playfulness and joy, Summers in the Sun is a celebration of the 1960s Flower Power movement, paying homage to the era’s spirit of freedom, love, and creativity. Inspired by festivals like Woodstock, this large-scale, stylised floral was hand-drawn in the design studio and captures the essence of a carefree summer in full bloom.'

Think clashing and bright prints and that 1970's does 1930's style. The great starman himself, David Bowie is THE muse for this look.

Match bright, blowsy florals with smaller scale paisley, huge pussy bows and opulent sleeve detailing. A head scarf is never a bad idea!

Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithful have always been total style icons and their je ne sais quoi zeitgeist 60's style is key to this look. I'm going with fabulolus shirts with neck detailing like jabots, ties and cravats. Any of the shirt patterns I suggest could easily be turned into dresses, either short or long. Pair with knee high kinky boots or platform Mary Janes to really amp up the 60's flower power glamour.

Pattern Suggestions for Dandies & Diva's ~

1. Simplicity S3018 1970’s vintage trouser suit

2. Nina Lee Portobello Trousers

3. Nina Lee Bloomsbury Blouse

4. Liberty London Bertie Shift Dress

5. Liberty London Thea Shirt

6. Simplicity S9646 Button Down Top

The Second little collection was Club Culture and this was probably my favourite and the one that had the most legs as far as aligning with my personal style. This collection was all about going OUT OUT and dancing the night away.

I went with my love of the 1930's garden party and all those glorious ladies in floral frocks and pretending they're drinking tea, when really they're drinking Champagne or Absinthe!

Fabric 1 ~ Flower Crown 'Originally hand-painted in 1990 and printed for Liberty’s seasonal collections in 1992 and 1995, Flower Crown has been reimagined for the 21st century. Inspired by the legendary artist, Frida Kahlo, this design celebrates the vibrant floral crowns she often wore in her self-portraits. These remarkable bouquets showcase roses, daisies, geraniums, and lilies among many other flowers.'

Fabric 2 ~ Betsey Check 'Inspired by elements of the Punk movement aesthetic, Betsy Check transforms Liberty’s beloved classic Betsy. Originally created in 1933, the small, stylised floral pattern is now layered with a vibrant summery plaid, creating a striking and playful clash of styles.'

Fabric 3 ~ Sequin Sparkle 'Embracing freedom from traditional constraints during the 1910s and 1920s, young women known as flappers bobbed their hair and wore short dresses adorned with sequins, beads, and tassels. Hand-painted in gouache, this star-studded pattern features sequined flower heads scattered across dark-coloured grounds, evoking the luxurious allure of glamorous flapper dresses.'

Inspired by photo's from the 1930's the Tea Dress is very much the star of this show. Perfect with all those beautiful Liberty silks!

You could also go for separates here. Why not draft your own A line skirt? It's a perfect beginner friendly pattern cutting project! Then you can wear it with any of the shirt and blouse patterns suggestions. A co-ord goes a long way in a wardrobe as it has so many mix and match opportunities.

Draft Your Own A-Line Skirt | Easy Step-by-Step Pattern Cutting Tutorial

£7.50

Buy Now

Fabric 4 ~ 'Originally hand-painted in 1990, Flower Festoon has been reimagined as part of the Floral Rebellion design group. Inspired by the legendary artist Frida Kahlo, this design celebrates the vibrant floral crowns she often wore in her self-portraits. These stunning, showstopping bouquets feature roses, daisies, geraniums and lilies among many others.'

Fabric 5 ~ Dorothy Rose 'In celebration of the eccentric fashion personas depicted in the hip-hop industry, Dorothy Rose reflects the bold and original style expressed in the genre’s music and fashion scene. Inspired by the predominantly African American heritage of hip-hop, this design features bold, abstract roses that evoke the geometric shapes found within traditional African wax cloths.'

I'm a HUGE fan of Ossie Clark and have always loved this image included on my inspo board! I'd love to replicate this for my Spring Wardrobe in a plain crepe fabric, but it would also look gorgeous in any of these prints.

Pattern Suggestions for Club Culture ~

1. Maison Fauve Rosalie Dress

2. Simplicity S9606 Blouses

3. Simplicity S8637 Wrap dress

4. Butterick B6380 Ossie Dress ~ Hard to get hold of now! Check out Ebay or Etsy.

5. Simplicity S9642 puff sleeve dress

6. Liberty London Bella Tea Dress

The third and final collection was Rebellion and this was ALL about Debbie Harry for me! Her outfit on the cover of Parallel Lines, little slip dresses and Riot Girls who followed her lead, Pretty clashing with Punk. ATTITUDE! But a Romantic Attitude for 2026.

Fabric 1 and 3 Inked Rose 'Hand-drawn in Liberty design studio using fine liner pen, Inked Rose is a tattoo-style trailing floral print. Evocative of the intricate needle impressions in tattoo art, its rose and peony bouquets appear to float across the fabric, beautifully scattered in a multi-directional repeat.'

Fabric 2 Punk Posey 'In an expression of dissent, the Liberty design team has reimagined an original hand-painted Liberty scarf, transforming it into a striking statement pattern. Featuring bold, dynamic paint splatters over a traditional floral, Punk Posy blurs the boundaries between order and chaos, merging Liberty’s rich heritage with a rebellious contemporary edge.'

Think slip dresses with a little 70's bolero or very well loved jeans jacket.

I liked the idea that this little Tea Dress had dolman sleeves and was a bit less flouncy than the other Tea dresses I suggested here. Good to have options for different moods!

I'm pretty sure I meant to include another image on this inspo board but somehow didn't! I shall leave it up to you to fill in the blank and add your own inspo here!

Pattern Suggestions for Rebellion ~

1. Trend Patterns TPC19 Slip Dress and Top

2. Tessuti Fabrics Lois Dress

3. Les Perlines Cove Slip Dress

4. Sew Over It Ultimate Wrap Skirt

5. By Masin Sicily Slip Dress

My video all about Sewing with Liberty London Fabrics can be found here, if you'd like to hear more inspiration!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWj1dmb0vHs

I thought I'd finish with my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE fabric from the Floral Rebellion Collection and share what I'd make with it.

I fell in love with this stunning fabric Sequin Scatter, although I think my favourite colour way has sold out! It really was stunning irl!

It probably comes as no surprise that I'd make the iconic {and one of my favourite dress moments!} Vampires Wife Falconetti Dress. I haven't suggested a pattern for this as I draft my own and have a very simple pattern cutting tutorial that you can follow. You really do get the exact VW experience with my simple step by step instructions! I promise you, pattern cutting is MUCH easier than you think it will be!

Draft Your Own Vampires Wife Style Dress| Step-by-Step Pattern Cutting Tutorial

£24.95

Buy Now

There's so much sewing deliciousness here which I hope you find inspiring and useful?! Do let me know if you give any of these projects a go!

Wherever you are, I hope you find the skies and seas calm and the buds coming into bloom around you! Happy Sewing!

Tara x