Tara Miller Designs

Making for baby!

I have been feeling the 2nd trimester energy surge and thus have been making all kinds of goodies for babe #2. First, we watch a good bit of Bones here so when I saw those cute top knot knit baby hats on Brennen's baby, I had to make some for my own little one. I need to invest in some funky knits so I just started off with a really great heather blue so see how the pattern from Prudent Baby worked out.

Umm, the hat turned out Amazing and I am really pumped to make some more. The hat took maybe 10 min to make and it is exactly what I am looking for. 

I have started what I hope will be a collection of chevron stripe hand towels for the girls bathroom. First up is green and I hope to follow with blue, teal, red and maybe a yellow. 

Then I created a knit hat inspired by the Chickadee Hat found on Land of Nod but based on the Kim's Hat of LMKG. I am pretty sure this will look awesome on the new baby. 

 

Lastly, I was inspired by some pricey muslin baby blankets I saw at a boutique in Charleston so I set out on the Fabric.com blog to make some of my own. Needless to say I can wait to swaddle my new baby in these new blankets!

Baby Tutorial Contest

I am looking to serious "make" for baby number #2 so I am in need of some baby project recommendations. Leave me a comment with your favorite baby project tutorial link and why you love it and the winner (picked randomly, not just which project I love the most) will win a $5 off coupon for Fabric.com! I cannot wait to see the goodies you come up with and especially to start working on these baby projects. 

*Toddler and Preschool projects are also encouraged since Devon will want a little something for playing nice while mommy sews or knits for #2*

Published- Updated with Sew News Tank Tops

I have been busy y'all and I want to share my projects that have been published lately (by lately I mean since I stopped seriously blogging here):

Stitch Magazine Summer 2012 was great to work with and I love the layout in which they featured my drawstring linen summer shorts. I am seriously in love with these shorts and still wear them even though I am getting big with babe #2. I am planning a modification coming soon to turn them into maternity shorts with a knit band and all but I am still wishy-washy over the pockets. So hopefully next week. 

2 of my tank top modifications were published in Sew New June/July 2012 and I love the model they choose. She is gorgeous and her skin really works well with both tops. These were both fun to make and I wore them all last summer before I had to send them in. Super comfy and they look great on many body types. I stole my inspiration from J.Crew summer catalog 2007. 

Lastly, My knit shawlette pattern, Ironwork Lace Shawl was published in Interweave Knits in Spring 2012. I could not believe it when I received my acceptance. I was over the moon. Interweave Knits has been my goal for a LONG time and when I first started knitting back in 2004ish I never would have believed it was possible. I remember driving 45 min during my lunch break to purchase my first copy and have been a subscriber ever since!

 

Getting ready for baby...

If you don't read me over at Fabric.com's Blog, you may not know that I am expecting baby #2 in Sept so I am busy getting everything ready for our new little girl! I have been washing and folding, sewing and knitting for the new babe and made some time to share 2 of my finished onesies so far. I found a whole pile of tiny white tees that never made it onto Devon so I am working hard to revamp them for #2. First, I appliqued my favorite apple design from Jen at BeeBee Mod (no longer available) in some Heather Bailey Nicey Jane and micro dot Red. The letters were too tiny to cut out the centers of some of the letters so I embroidered the letters in green to give definition and highlight the little letters. I love it!

My second is 12 mo tee that I tried a reverse applique by cutting a 4 in circle from heat n bond and then cut a 3 in. circle out of the middle, leaving just a ring of transfer paper. I applied this to the RS of the cotton and ironed it onto the WS of the tee. Then I stitched around the circle and then cut out the knit fabric from the front. lastly, I wrote "Love" with tailors chalk in the circle and embroidered it. It is just perfect for my soon-to-be cutie and can't wait for her to wear it! I included a shot of the shirt inside out to give you a better idea.