I've been using a lot of prints in my sewing for me and recently even pushing my comfort zone to using prints for trousers as well.  It's been great for my wardrobe in livening and brightening it all up but it created a problem I'd never had before when on several occasions now I realised I was pretty bad at print matching and didn't have many plain coloured or simple styled tops to pair with them and give me multiple ways of wearing each.  

So I'm working on a bit of a 'basics' project to fill the gaps whilst keeping a capsule idea in mind.  Looking at my wardrobe, most of my clothes are in the pink to purple colour range so I need to look at co-ordinating and contrasting colours which fit with those so that each 'basic' I make can be teamed with as many things I've already made as possible.  

With that in mind, I went looking for patterns full of options, patterns which I could make lots from but all be different and very quickly came across the Dublin Dolman pattern by New Horizons. Literally PACKED with options, it was the perfect start!

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! 

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you've probably already realised I love Itch to Stitch* patterns {and if you're not, continue reading to find out why I do!} so when I saw a tester call for these cute shorts and skort, I had no hesitation and immediately applied with my fingers crossed in hope! I made 2 pairs during testing although the pattern was spot on from the start and even the weather seemed to like them as a rainbow appeared just as I was giving up hope of photos that day!!

A tester call for a beautiful tailored style shorts pattern for stretch wovens from one of my favourite designers? count me in! I love the style of these and because they were from Wardrobe by Me, I knew the pattern was going to be perfectly finished too, and I wasn't wrong, the inside is super pretty! Here's my first pair, there were a few adjustments to the final pattern after these were made which I'll mention a little later.

I first saw the childrens version of these shorts when they released a week or so ago and was hoping I could squeeze into them myself, unfortunately, although I fit into many childrens patterns, this one didn't go quite big enough....until.....a tester call for the ladies version appeared!  They're perfect for that little extra coverage on the beach, in or around the swimming pool, water sports or athletics and nice and practical if, like me, you have energetic young children to run around after!  The correct fabrics were tricky to find in the UK but I did manage to source some and even though my 'pretty' ones didn't arrive in time, I think these turned out pretty cute with a little embroidery added and.....if you make it to the bottom of the post, there's a chance to win yourself a copy of the pattern ;)

My boys are all about the pockets, so these shorts with their kangaroo style pocket really appealed to them both! I had a quick rummage through my fabric stash and soon found something suitable.  I only had time during testing to make a pair for one, not both but luckily, there is only half an inch difference in their waist measurements and because they have an elasticated waistband, they can both wear the same ones until I can sew some more up! I teamed the shorts up with a digger 'On Your Marks' t-shirt for these photos.