Every July there is an East Tennessee Shop Hop that runs for 3 weeks and in 2024 I decided to participate. That old saying, “if I knew then what I know now” I wouldn’t have gone. Seeing parts of Tennessee that I had never seen was good and the fact that I got to get away for an overnight was good as well, but the experience with the quilt stores was disappointing.

The whole purpose of a shop hope is to visit the stores and purchase the fabrics for a block that each store creates based on a theme for the shop hop. The pattern for the block is always free, but not the chosen fabric. I always like to purchase the fabric each shop has chosen to make the block as to commemorate the theme created for the shop hop and to patronize each store that I visit.

I decided to drive to Johnson City, which was the farthest away, for my first store and then make my way back home. I would visit half the stores one day, do an overnight at a hotel and then the remaining stores the next day before returning home.

The first shop was Bernina in Stitches. This was a cute shop and sold fabrics by some of my favorite designers. This shop was one of two that provided two blocks to give people an option to have a total of 12 blocks to create their quilt with or other options that might interest you.

One block was called the Star Block, and the other was called Duck Tracks Block. I made both.

Duck Tracks Block

Star Block

There was another shop in Johnson City called, The Sewing Bee. Parking was a little complicated and had they not been part of the shop hop, I wouldn’t have visited them as the parking alone was a discouragement from going in. The only reason I would visit again would be if I were in the area and needed Aurifil thread.

The block for this store was called, “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight” block. No idea why they named it that, but it was simple to make, and I liked how it turned out.

Fifty-four Forty or Fight

From Johnson City I traveled to Jonesboro, which was only about 10 minutes away, to visit Tennessee Quilts. The building was two story and although they had a lot of stuff, I would not go back there. The staff was the most unfriendly I have ever encountered. Not to mention I did not see any Lori Holt related items, nor the thread I like to use. It would not be worth the drive for me to go here.

Even though I purchased the block, I did not add it to my quilt as it did not appear to match any of the other blocks in the series.

From Johnson City I traveled to Taswell. I should have gone to Taswell first and then Johnson City and on, but another hindsight 20-20 situation.

The shop in Taswell is called Beckie’s Sewing Center. They carry lots of fabrics and notions. They also sale HandiQuilter, which is what I have so it was nice to know they are here if I need something right away as I have had a hard time finding a dealer nearer to me.

This shop was also selling two blocks, which I purchased, but did not receive. I got directions for both blocks, but only received fabric for one block. The fabric provided was not cut correctly based on the pattern, so I only made Star #2.

From here I was headed to The Cherry Pit in Sevierville. There is no parking at the actual shop. Instead, you must park in a nearby community parking area and walk to the shop in a downtown area.

This was a nice shop, but overcrowded with stuff. I ended up buying a stripology ruler, book, and some fabric. This store did carry Lori Holt’s current line, but no precuts or fat quarters. There block did not have a name on the pattern, but it is a star block.

Next stop was Iva’s and Company Studio. I do not remember much about this shop and have nothing about it in my notes from this day. The block they provided was called Friendship block. It was a little difficult to follow the instructions, but luckily, I was able to figure it out.

Friendship Block

At this point I am done with day one and it is time for some much-needed rest. This day took a toll on me, but after some sleep I should be ready for tomorrow.

I started my morning at Twisted Sister ‘s Quilt shop in Alcoa arriving right before they opened. They have quiet a bit of fabric as well as lots of notions. Unfortunately, they do not sale my thread of choice and only have a small selection of Lori Holt fabric. I did purchase several 1-yard pieces of the fabric that matches the theme of the blocks so I will have borders, backing, binding, etc. to complete my quilt.

There was no name on their block either, but it was also a star block.

Next up was Gina’s Bernina Sewing Center in Knoxville. I was disappointed that they were out of kits for the block. They took my name and called when it was in, but wanted me to pay shipping, so I refused to accept the kit. I was not going to pay shipping for something that they should have still had in stock to provide customers. They had a suitable selection of fabrics and threads, but their prices are too high for me. I did like their block, so I ended up making it using some of the fabric I bought from one of the other stores.

Next shop was Loose Threads Quilt Shop in Harriman. I did not use their block for two reasons, one it was a butterfly, which did not match any of the other star blocks that all the other shops provided and two, Nancy didn’t give me the block kit I paid for. She did give me the free binder she was giving out which included the pattern, but no fabric kit with the other stuff I purchased. It’s very disappointing to spend money on something, only to get home and find out they didn’t put everything in the bag. Another lesson learned. Some of their stuff was pricey, which would keep me from going back.

The last shop on the hop was Little Blessings Quilt Shop in Crossville. Although the store is quite big, it did not carry the type of stuff I like, and I would not go back. They had very few notions and no thread I use. They were offering two different color combinations of their “Circle of Friends” block which I bought both as there was nothing else in the store that interested me, but I still wanted to contribute to them. I only made one of the two I purchased.

Since I was missing blocks and/or didn’t like what was provided, I only made 9 of the blocks. As each block is a finished 12” block, it would make the quilt around 36”; however, I decided to add sashing and borders, so my finished quilt is 45” square.

This shop hop was definitely a learning experience and one that I will not repeat. There is too much time, money, and effort into doing a shop hop and I will only repeat ones that provide a wonderful time and lots of goodies that I like.

My finished quilt…