Fun, Fast, and Free - Fresh Looks for Summer!

When I first saw the information about the "Boys in Summer" Blog Tour hosted by Made for Little Gents, I knew I wanted to participate! My boys are the reason I started sewing! I HAD to participate.

But, what would I sew? I contemplated what I might make for a couple of weeks, and then it hit me... it would be super fun to highlight a couple of great freebies! EVERYONE loves free stuff. Free patterns are a great way to try a new designer out before making a purchase, they're perfect for adding some variety to your pattern stash without spending money, and they're just super fun... because more patterns = more stuff you get to make. 😁

So the freebies I'm going to talk to you about today are from Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop. I love Peek-a-boo patterns. I've made a few of them for my boys and have tested a few as well. I feel like the instructions are mostly geared towards beginners, so any skill level can be successful with her patterns. I've really enjoyed the Peek-a-boo Patterns I've tried. 

Peek-a-boo has a couple of great FREE options for boys, the Day Camp Set and the Romperalls.

The Day Camp Set

I have plenty of other tee shirt and shorts patterns, but sometimes, you're just itching to try something new. Right? Well I've made this freebie a few times now, and we love it! This is a completely free pattern that includes sizes 2T- size 5. It includes both a short sleeve tee shirt with a pocket and a pair of basic, elastic waist shorts. It's the ultimate play outfit for a little boy! So comfy and easy. 

The shirt pattern requires knit fabric. I have made this pattern before using jersey, cotton lycra, and interlock. For the neckband, though, you always need to use something with good recovery so that it won't stretch out. This shirt is made from interlock that I got from Joann's Fabrics. It is their "Doodles" line. The neckband is made from cotton lycra from Purple Seamstress. 

The shorts pattern included in this set can be used with both knit and woven fabrics, and I have sewn it both ways in the past. It's an easy shorts pattern. It has one pattern piece, so you don't have an outer leg seam. I made the shorts for this outfit using 100% cotton woven fabric. 

Daniel's measurements almost line up perfectly with a 4T. I think his chest measurement was a little smaller, but I decided to go with the 4T, because kids grow so fast, and a little growing room is never a bad thing!

The Romperalls

This was my first (and second 😉) time sewing this pattern.  It's definitely a quick sew, and they're SO cute! I made them for my sweet baby boy who just turned a year old and for my eight month old nephew!

This pattern includes sizes preemie to 4T. The romper is partially lined (just the bodice). It has shoulder snaps, but no inseam snaps. I like inseam snaps on tiny babies, but once they get bigger and squirmy, I really prefer just the shoulder snaps. This pattern has long pants or shorts included, so you won't have to decide where to cut the pattern yourself. That's a huge plus for me! It's drafted for knit fabrics, and it's a slim fit, so I'd definitely recommend sticking with knits for this one.

I use the same fabric I used for the tee shirt -- Interlock from Joann's for the body and cotton lycra from Purple Seamstress for the bands.

Why I Love Quick Sews

I love sewing things for my boys that don't take forever. Sure, I'll make them special things for certain occasions that take a little more time, but for everyday and play clothes, I like things that are fast. I try to sew most of their clothes, and I can't keep up with growing kids if I tackle super lengthy projects all the time.

I also tend to plan sewing projects last minute -- like I'll decide they need a themed outfit for something happening two days from now. So, obviously I need speed! 🤣

Finally, I just don't have that much time to sew! I cram it in when I can, but my sweet little reasons to sew take up a lot of my time, so I try to sew during naptime (if possible) and after they go to bed. It just doesn't leave a ton of time, so if I want to finish something in a reasonable amount of time, I need to know about the quick projects.

Reasons You Might Want to Download These Freebies:

1. Who doesn't love free stuff? They're free, and that should be reason enough! 😉
2. You'll have these ready to go when you're looking for something fun and quick to try out!
3. Maybe every now and then you just get ready to try something new... these are the perfect "new" projects for you to try without spending any money on new patterns. 
4. They're "hackable" -- these are the perfect basic patterns for you to use to hack! The options are limitless - add a cute kangaroo pocket to the romper, add cuffs or pockets to the shorts, or colorblock something. So many ideas! I like having basics ready to hack for other looks!
5. They're ADORABLE! 💓We love our little outfits!

Thank you so much for checking out my blog post! I have included my affiliate link to Peek-a-boo Pattern shop, however, these patterns are free if you're a member of the Peek-a-boo Facebook Group!

I hope you've enjoyed my post, and I hope you'll check out the other posts included in this blog tour.

Looking for more summer boy inspiration? Follow along on the Boys in Summer Blog Tour hosted by Made by Little Gents by clicking through the links below. Fri. May 4 Made for Little Gents (Intro to Boys in Summer Blog Tour) Mon. May 7 Elli & Nels in Stitches Tues. May 8 Our Play Palace | Made by Laura! | Beri Bee Designs Wed. May 9 Made for Little Gents | Mamma Newey's Makes Thurs. May 10 Phat Quarters | Dreams & Stitches Fri. May 11 Stylin' Stacy | Tenille's Thread Mon. May 14 Paisley Roots | Fabulous Home Sewn Tues. May 15 Seams Like Style | Kathy's Kwilts and More Wed. May 16