Today we’d like to introduce you to Doreen Hammond.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My quilting journey began in 2008 when my mom taught me how to quilt. She did things the old-school way—cutting blocks from cardboard templates and creating mostly baby quilts, often using panels and adding lace or ribbons to make them extra special. Baby quilts weren’t necessarily what I wanted to focus on, but they were where I started.
She left me with several baggies of fabric squares, and I turned to YouTube to learn more. That’s when a whole new world opened up to me, and I quickly fell in love with quilting.
In 2010, after my stepdad passed away, my mom moved closer to me. We spent a lot of time quilting together, learning new patterns and enjoying every part of the process. At that time, we would simply sew decorative stitches along the rows to finish our quilts. But everything changed when I discovered free motion quilting—that’s when I truly found my passion.
Together, my mom and I started a quilting ministry called The Lord’s Quilters. Before each church service, we would spend time in prayer, placing the quilts on the altar while others gathered to lay hands on them and pray. Some would even walk through the sanctuary holding the quilts, asking God to use them to bring comfort, healing, and peace to whoever would receive them. It became something very meaningful, and eventually I established it as a 501(c)(3) so we could raise funds for fabric and supplies.
In 2018, life took a difficult turn when my mom was diagnosed with dementia. Over the next couple of years, I also had both knees replaced. My mom passed away on May 15, 2020, and just one year later, on May 11, 2021, I lost my husband as well.
After several months, when I was finally able to catch my breath, I purchased a sit-down longarm machine. Since I had learned on a domestic machine, it felt like the right next step for me. Around that same time, I met a woman who would become a dear friend and encouragement in my life. She helped me see that my skills had real value and that I could begin building something of my own.
Not long after, we met another quilter, Dorothy, who has since become one of my closest friends. Together, we’ve supported each other, grown in our craft, and even begun selling items side by side.
After my husband passed, I was left with debt and uncertainty. With the help of good friends, faith, and a lot of determination, I began to rebuild. I started taking on quilting clients—many of whom have become repeat customers—and slowly worked my way toward stability.
Today, I’m in a much different place. I’ve paid down debt, simplified my life, and found renewed hope for the future. I truly believe God had a plan for me all along—I just couldn’t see it at the time.
Now, I’m grateful for the opportunities in front of me. I’ve created a website and an Etsy shop where I offer handmade quilts and quilted items, and I continue to take on quilting projects for others who want their quilts finished with care and creativity.
It’s been a journey of loss, healing, friendship, and faith—and quilting has been at the center of it all.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
Losing my mom was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. I always thought my husband would pass first and then it would be me and my mom, running around town buying fabric and enjoying quilting together. Life didn’t turn out that way.
My marriage had its challenges as well. We were never really on the same page, and that carried its own kind of loneliness. We didn’t have children, so when my husband passed shortly after my mom, I found myself completely alone—except for God and my church family, who carried me through more than they probably realize.
Walking through that season felt like being in a valley I didn’t choose and never would have imagined. But somehow, on the other side of it, I found a life that I’m truly grateful for today. It’s not the life I expected—but in many ways, it’s one that fits me better than I ever knew possible.
After my husband passed, I made some big changes. I turned off the TV, got rid of the couch, and completely transformed my home into a creative space—a “quilty house,” as I like to call it. Now it’s a place where friends can come over, sew together, and just enjoy being creative.
These days, it’s me and my little Boston Terrier taking on the world together. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m truly in charge of my life—well…me and Jesus and we are building something meaningful for myself and others.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a custom quilter—I quilt for quilters. My focus is finishing quilt tops with custom, hand-guided designs that bring each piece to life and truly complete the vision the maker started.
I don’t use a computer for my quilting. Everything I do is free-motion and hand-guided on my longarm machine, which means every quilt is one of a kind. That’s one of my favorite parts of the process—it’s creative, personal, and allows me to tailor each design to the quilt itself.
I’m probably best known for my feathers and my use of color. A lot of quilters tend to stay in the safe zone with neutral, but I love rich, saturated color. I’m not afraid to make the quilting stand out instead of disappear.
In fact, my friends like to joke that orange is my neutral.
Using colored thread allows the quilting design itself to become part of the overall look of the quilt, not just something that blends into the background. It adds personality and movement, and it’s something I really enjoy helping others feel more confident about when they send their quilts to me. I will use neutral if they wish but often times people want me to use, “quilters choice”. I haven’t had anyone not like what I’ve done.
I especially love working with quilters who want their finished piece to truly stand out and reflect their personality—not just be another finished quilt, but one they’re truly proud of.
One piece I’m especially proud of is a butterfly quilt I made using a Tula Pink pattern. I used saturated, bright colors on black…big and bold! I actually created that quilt specifically so I could quilt it—and really showcase what custom quilting can do. It pushed my creativity and reminded me why I love what I do.
What sets me apart is that every quilt I work on is treated like it matters—because it does. Whether it’s a gift, a memory quilt, or something someone poured months into, I approach each one with care, creativity, and intention, just like I would my own.
Any big plans?
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue growing in a steady and meaningful way. I’d love to take on a few more consistent quilting clients, especially since my current turnaround time is still quite reasonable.
I offer quilting for quilters—finishing quilt tops with custom designs—as well as starting quilts from scratch. I also create memory quilts and do some repair work, which is especially meaningful to me. There’s something really special about helping preserve memories in a way that can be used and loved every day.
I welcome both new and experienced quilters who are looking for something a little more personal in their finished piece. On my website, I’ve included samples of my work along with simple explanations of the different services I offer, so it’s easy to understand the options and choose what fits best.
In addition to client work, I’ve built a website where I offer a variety of handmade quilted items—many of them ready to ship—so customers don’t always have to wait for something custom.
I’m going to be quilting either way, so it just makes sense to let that work help support everyday life while also creating something meaningful for others.
As far as big changes, I’ve learned to simply keep moving forward and trust the path I’m on. Life brings both good seasons and hard ones, but through it all, I’m incredibly grateful for God’s grace that continues to carry me.
If you’d like to see more of my work or learn more about my services, you can visit me at DoreensQuiltingCreations.com or https://quiltcreatorbydoreen.etsy.com. Whether you’re looking to have a quilt finished, create something meaningful, or find a handmade piece that’s ready to ship, I’d love to work with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DoreensQuiltingCreations.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18UFjftwGJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://quiltcreatorbydoreen.etsy.com/
