I'm really enjoying taking part in blog tours this year, they are pushing me to create and try sewing some things I probably wouldn't have thought about before.

​Today I'm excited to be included in the Lulu & Celeste, Sprouting JubeJube Productions Back to School Tour now I hear you saying, "but don't you home educate?!" and yes, yes I do but we still have several groups which take a break over the summer and restart in Autumn time along with the need to change wardrobes for the new seasons weather.

Here in the UK, the Autumnal weather is wind, intermittent and unpredictable rain and temperatures. We spend a LOT of time outdoors so waterproofs and layers feature heavily for us.

I'm super excited by this outfit, It's just perfect for going to his forest group, walking through the countryside or even just playing out in the garden and I can't hide it from you any longer so here it is!

Ever since I made my boys their first Elevation Hoodies (click for original blogpost) almost 18 months ago, my Husband has been pestering for one too!  In the beginning I had the excuse that the pattern only came in ages 6-12 months to 16 years, however a few of months ago, the mens version was released which took the available sizes right up to 3XL (up to 57" chest!) so I could no longer use that one! Then I had the excuse of it being Summertime soon so there wouldn't be any need for hoodies for a few months which seemed to pacify him a few more months, THEN, a couple of weeks ago, he saw me looking at this blogpost for a zipper front hack and I really couldn't think of any more excuses so figured it was about time I just made it for him, and what's a good outfit without matching mini versions for the boys? After all, they have both grown significantly since their original ones and could do with some bigger, warmer clothes too.

This Summer one of my sons broke his arm and needed it cast almost to his shoulder, this made getting tees on and off very tricky.  Inspired by the port access placket of the Pickle Toes Pattern Hope, I added a snap up placket to the shoulders of some of his tees.  I hope you never need it but I've put together a little tutorial for you just in case! A snap placket can either be done on ready made tees or as you are making a new one, this tutorial covers adding one to a new tee and I used the Pickle Toes Patterns Fried Pickles which is FREE with the code from their Facebook Group 

 ​Thank you for joining me on my stop of the Swimsuit Edition blog tour, I'm really excited to be in my first Lulu & Celeste, Sprouting JubeJube Productions blogtour! This one is full of fantastic seamstresses and bloggers focused on inspiring you with all things swimwear, be sure to check out all the stops and enter the giveaways as well for your chances to win some fab prizes from our blogtour sponsors! 

For those of you who read my last swim post, you'll have seen I was making a swim capsule for my boys, not long after the tour we went camping during a mini heatwave and they wore their swimming suits so much that I quickly realised they were both missing a few things from their capsules.  They both needed a hat which could go in the water with them and a complete spare swim outfit which they could switch into after the sand and forest debris had become to much in the first suit or for when they didn't want to be in a wet suit any longer! So here, I've tried to fill those gaps!

Some of you may have already seen these, especially if you read my Suit up for Summer blogpost from last week but I wanted to take a closer look at them and tell you a bit more about them.  So here is an entire post dedicated to these fab  patterns from New Horizons! PS.  Did you see there is a code for 30% off sitewide until the end of the day?! quickkk! 

Earlier this week, I shared some photos of these tees I made my boys with the amazing custom Fire Scales Fabric from Rumpled Stitchings flash preorder (Closes 15th April 2017, be quick!) and had so many requests for the pattern name that I agreed to upload the templates I used along with instructions to my blog so you can make your own! My boys have literally worn these solidly since the photos were taken and I'm pretty sure your little people will love them too ;)

It's the boys turn again with these super cute tees, with options for plain or colour blocked fronts, they have gained themselves 3 tops each during testing and have already chosen and pointed out fabrics for more of them so they must get their approval! The pattern went through almost 10 version during testing to ensure the fit of the end pattern was absolutely SPOT ON.  It's a great scrap buster, perfect for panels and also an all round classic essentials pattern. I loved how quickly even the colour blocked version went together.  Only the pink tees are from the final version of the pattern but I wanted to show you the awesome colour blocked versions as well.

It was my Husband's turn for a MeMade sew this time with a raglan style tshirt from Wardrobe by Me*.  I love Wardrobe by Me patterns as they produce comfortable stylish patterns which are very well drafted as they are made by a very experienced pattern designer.  I hadn't made my Husband anything in a while so it was about time I did really! Being a classic raglan, it lends itself to using more that 1 fabric to achieve the look so it's easy to use panels, large scraps which aren't big enough for entire tees or even custom fabrics with co-ords! I decided to make a new football shirt for him this time but it'll be a pattern I go to time and again for him due to the sleeve options and easy construction.

Following the ladies Swim & Surf shorts, the designer wanted a quick refresh of her Jasper Joggers pattern for woven fabrics.  I knew these would be great for my boys for the Summer and they looked so versatile so I went for it and here they are, my first but certainly not last pair of Jasper Joggers!  PS....read all the way to the end for a chance to win yourself a copy!