Karen Hamilton stands by a large mural that advertises Hamilton, Missouri, as Quilttown, USA.

For 2025 Featured Quilter Karen Hamilton, her journey into the wide world of quilting started in her college years.

“I attempted my first quilt when I was in college, back in the early 1980’s,” Hamilton shares. “I had no clue what I was doing. This was back in the days before all the modern quilting tools – rotary cutters, mats, etc. – were available. It was a twin sized quilt, and believe me, it was a hot mess.”

Through much trial-and-error, Hamilton persisted in her quilt-making endeavors, learning to hand-quilt and creating several quilts for her own children over the years, as well as for her friends’ children. Her love of quilting then followed her to Titonka, Iowa, where she still lives to this day.

“My husband John and I moved from Minnesota to Titonka, Iowa in 1993, where I became friends with Julie Post, who enjoyed quilting as well,” Hamilton recalls. “Our favorite place to shop was Country Threads, which was located just west of Garner, Iowa. A lot of fabric and patterns were purchased in those years, but I can’t say I really completed very many projects.”

Hamilton would soon find a use for all of those patterns and fabric, as her mom would be diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2009. During that time, quilting became an outlet for her grief and a productive project to do while visiting her mother.

“I spent a lot of time at my parents’ house, but felt I needed to do something besides just sit,” Hamilton explains. “I would sit and sew while my mom slept. The quilting was a good outlet for me. She passed away in June of 2009, but I continued buying fabric and patterns – quilting had become a hobby that I really enjoyed.”

Quilting also helped Hamilton work through the unexpected death of her husband, John, who passed away in 2015.

“Thankfully, I had quilting to help me get through some hard days,” Hamilton shares. “It became my therapy. I would work all day, and go home and sew at night.”

Now a member of the Blue Earth Valley Quilters (BEVQ), Hamilton has completed well over 100 quilts in her lifetime, and continues to create beautiful works of fabric art in all shapes and sizes.

“The most common size quilt that I make is a throw size, a bit smaller than a twin-sized quilt,” Hamilton explains. “I used to feel that I needed to make bed-sized quilts, as they are more practical. However, I have found that I don’t really like making big quilts, and I think that’s because I don’t have a design wall, and just use the floor. Without a good place to lay out my quilt blocks, it’s hard to get an idea of the finished product.”

Hamilton’s process for making quilts varies from piece to piece, but her all-time favorite type of quilt to make is what she refers to as a “scrappy” quilt – which, as the name suggests, involves using up fabric scraps left over from other projects to create an entirely unique design.

“In my early quilting years, I would buy a pattern, go pick out the fabrics I’d like to use, and then make that quilt,” Hamilton comments. “Nowadays, I might start with a pattern, then think, “do I have fabric in my stash that would work for this?” and go from there. I might end up using fabric that I had bought for a different project, might end up with random stuff from my stash, or I might go buy something new to make it.”

When asked what her favorite style of quilt to make is, Hamilton shared that she prefers simple quilts over super complicated and elaborate designs.

“I prefer easy quilts, and for the most part I’d say something that does not require any special techniques,” Hamilton admits. “I have completed a few challenging quilts, but I always enjoy coming back and making simple patchwork, just sewing squares together. One of my favorite patterns is called the Crossroads quilt.”

While Hamilton does enjoy hand-sewing her quilts, these days she relies on the help of someone with a long-arm sewing machine to finish her quilts. She also prefers to bind her quilts by hand, which is the final step of the quilt-making process.

“If I am quilting myself, I prefer to hand-quilt,” Hamilton shares. “As you can imagine, this takes much more time, but it is a process I enjoy. I have done a few “quilt as you go” type quilts on my sewing machine as well.”

Outside of quilting, Hamilton serves as the city clerk for Titonka, Iowa, and loves to cook in her spare time. She also enjoys spending time with her many children and grandchildren.

Hamilton also has close connections to the Blue Earth Quilt Expo, as she has been a member of BEVQ for over 10 years, and has been regularly entering her quilts in expos, shows, and competitions for almost as long.

“My friend Julie Post, who I mentioned earlier, and I joined BEVQ together – we are both in the block swappers group, and we both usually participate in the fabric challenge,” Hamilton explains. “I have had quilts on display in the Blue Earth Quilt Expo almost every year since I joined BEVQ, and I have also had some displayed in Titonka at a local quilt show several years ago. One year at the Expo, I won an award for my “Oh My Stars!” quilt – I can’t remember which award it was, maybe Judge’s Choice.”

Hamilton now holds the distinct honor of being the 2025 Featured Quilter, being nominated by fellow BEVQ member Mike Ellingson. A collection of her favorite quilts will be on display at this year’s Blue Earth Quilt Expo on Aug. 16-17, which will be held at the Blue Earth Area High School.

“Mike asked me to be the featured quilter for this year – I was very surprised, humbled, and honored,” Hamilton admits. “I don’t really feel deserving of it. There are so many talented quilters in the Blue Earth Valley Quilters, I wish I had half of their talent!”

When asked if she had any advice for new quilters, Hamilton expressed that she is always happy to see new quilters at the Expo, and encourages them to keep trying.

“Don’t do it, you’ll spend all your money on fabric! That’s a joke, of course,” Hamilton laughs. “I would definitely encourage them to give it a try. I’m hoping to help my own granddaughters with quilting – I have already done a few small sewing projects with my oldest granddaughter, who is eight.”