Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee to host quilt show
July 10, 2021

KNOXVILLE – More than 200 stunning quilts will be on display July 30-31 in the Knoxville Expo Center. Hosted by the Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee (SMQ), the 40th Anniversary Ruby Jubilee Quilt Show & Competition will take place from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday.

	Sally Sante, Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee Show Co-chair, displays one of her prize-winning quilts.

“Unfortunately, our anniversary show had to be cancelled last year, but we are looking forward to bringing a spectacular show to the Knoxville area again,” said Sally Sante, SMQ Show Co-Chair.

“Quilts are a comfort, and don’t we all need a little bit of that after the many challenging months we’ve had,” added SMQ Show Co-Chair Lynn Sykes. “You can expect to see some spectacular ‘isolation’ quilts this year.”

Many special activities are planned. Merikay Waldvogel, a nationally known quilt collector, researcher, and writer, will present an antique quilt turning on Friday, July 30, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. On Saturday, July 31, Teddy Pruett, a nationally recognized expert in quilt history, will provide a trunk show and lecture at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on differences between quilts of the North and South. Throughout the show, shop some 20 vendors and the SMQ Boutique, which offers a unique selection of items handcrafted by guild members. There will be vendor demos and a scavenger hunt with prizes for the younger attendees. A scissor sharpening service will be available. Certified Appraiser Cindy Stuart will offer quilt appraisals by appointment. Contact her at cynthiakstuart@gmail.com or call (865) 386-0940 to schedule an appraisal.

Admission is $7; $10 for 2-day pass, $6 for veterans with ID and free for children under age 12. The Expo Center is located at 5441 Clinton Highway (at Merchant Drive) in Knoxville. The Expo Center has free parking and is accessible to the disabled. For more information about the show and the guild, please visit www.smokymtnquilters.com, follow us on Facebook, email info@smokymtnquilters.com or call (865) 213-2335.

About Smoky Mountain Quilters
The Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee typically meet on the first Tuesday of each month at Messiah Lutheran Church, at the intersection of Papermill Drive and Kingston Pike in Knoxville. A 6:30 p.m. social time precedes the formal meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Please check the SMQ website, as dates and locations may vary.

SMQ’s primary goals are to promote and encourage the knowledge of quilt making as an art and a craft, to study its history as an integral part of our past, and to promote friendship through shared activities. Guild activities include workshops, block drawings, exhibits, and quilts made for local charities. The guild’s more than 100 members are as diverse as the quilts they love -- traditional and art quilts, complex and minimalist modern designs, miniatures and bed-sized, and hand- or machine-stitched.