Village Quilters: Who are we, what do we do?

As of Dec. 11, Tellico Village Quilters consists of 373 members who come from Tellico Village and as far as Chattanooga, Maryville, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Coker Creek, Townsend and parts in between.

Some members have been published in national magazines, spoken at national conferences and taught nationwide. Others make quilts for grandkids. The scope of talent spans the horizon.

The guild sponsors five to seven national speakers annually who lecture at the monthly meeting and then teach one to three classes in the Chota Recreation Center classroom.

Members also teach workshops to the membership that craft skills or share new techniques. A quilt show is held in October of even-numbered years to show off Quilters’ efforts. As many as 250 quilts of all sizes can be seen at the event.

But most impressive is the philanthropy of this group.

In 2015, 585 quilts have been distributed to 36 organizations in Loudon, Monroe, Blount and Knox counties. From babies to seniors to disadvantaged people and the seriously ill, many lives are touched with a quilt. Additionally, 85 Quilts of Valor have been presented to Smoky Mountain Service Dog recipients, Medal of Honor recipients, veterans of Loudon County, first responders and active duty or veteran service members who received a civilian award.

A Quilt of Valor is a special, tangible way to say, “Thank you for your service.” The Village Quilters Quilts of Valor group is a registered chapter of the Quilt of Valor Foundation.  

Village Quilters are a busy group. Quilting is a lot like engineering, including putting pieces together, measuring and calculating. Quilters even need to know how to calculate the square root of a number to figure out the amount of yardage needed for binding. Quilting is not just stitching. It’s creating, meeting new friends and serving those in need. 

The Village Quilters are fabric artists who live among you and touch the lives of folks around you. If this appeals to you, join them at 9:30 a.m. the second Friday of each month at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 280 Wade Road, Loudon.