Blog / cross-stitch

retro flowers baby quilt

retro flowers baby quilt

Retro Flowers Quilt by Salty Oat

While getting ready to write this post, I looked back at my email to try and figure out when I first started making this quilt. It turns out I won a copy of this pattern---Retro Flowers by Sometimes Crafter---back in 2012 (!), and I believe I started working on it not long after that. 

Retro Flowers Quilt by Salty Oat

I worked on it here and there over the years, practicing my curves, assembling the blocks, and then piecing the quilt top, which is how it sat until a dear college friend gave birth to a baby girl this summer. I thought it would be the perfect gift for her new daughter, so I finally set to work finishing it.

I opted not to add the additional borders that the pattern called for, since it was already plenty large for a baby quilt. 

Retro Flowers Quilt by Salty Oat

I put together a backing using coordinating teal and pink fabrics from my stash, including a super soft Nani Iro double gauze---one of my fabric types of fabrics for quilt backings!---and finally quilted and bound this long-outstanding work-in-progress.

Retro Flowers Quilt by Salty Oat

For the finishing touch, I added a cross-stitch label with the baby's name and birth date on it. Baby quilts are my favorite things to gift, and receiving a photo of Ms. Emilia on her quilt not long after I sent it her way, completely made my day. 

Cross-Stitch Quilt Label by Salty Oat

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on the move + a big sale


So here's some news for you: my little family is moving to New England! While our four years in North Carolina have been amazing (and filled with barbeque, biscuits, and great friends), we're ready for new adventures and are looking forward to relocating to the greater Boston area.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be making the thrilling/scary transition from a full-time Spoonflower employee, to a...
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spotted: cross-stitch dog bandanna

A few years ago, after being contacted by an editor at Brides.com for a story on wedding accessories for dogs, I made custom cross-stitch dog bandannas for a few customers. Recently, one of my customers shared these adorable photos of her dog, Mindy, wearing the bandanna I had stitched up for her.



It's so fun to see the things that I make in my little studio out in the real world. Both engagement...
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giveaway day!


Welcome to everyone visiting as part of Sew Mama Sew's giveaway day! If this is your first time at Salty Oat, here's a mini round-up of some of my most popular posts over the past few years, to get you up to speed:
  • One of my first quilts was made from the bunting I hung up at my wedding. 
  • When learning to embroider, I stitched a sampler using a doily as my inspiration. 
  • I think napkins are fun to...
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do. Good Stitches swap + a cross-stitch heart quilt


After sending off my set of coasters to my swap partner Erica, I received the most amazing gift from my swap partner Alyssa, who blogs over at Pile O' Fabric. Using fabrics from some of my favorite designers, Leah Duncan and Lotta Jansdotter, Alyssa created a wall quilt featuring a cross-stitch heart, based on the original Salty Oat logo.


Isn't it amazing!? She hand-quilted the entire thing and then hand-stitched the Salty Oat logo in the bottom right corner of the quilt.



Also in the package were two wide-mouth zipper pouches (made from Anna's tutorial, which I've been meaning to try out myself) featuring more of Leah's fabric and linen. They arrived just in time for my trip to Houston and were perfect for holding travel essentials and Quilt Market goodies.



Alyssa put together a great tutorial for the cross-stitch quilt block, if you're interested in making your own.


Thank you, Alyssa!
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