It took five months for Lynette Koelzer of Wood River to complete this quilt, which was named Best of Show at the Nebraska State Fair.
GRAND ISLAND – More than 500 quilts are displayed in the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center at the Nebraska State Fair.
Lynette Koelzer of Wood River made the Best of Show quilt.
“I used over 6,000 feet of thread,” she said.
Koelzer used state patterns from Ohio and Oklahoma in her quilt. The quilting was done on a non-computerized sewing machine. It took Koelzer five months to design, piece and quilt this piece.
Janice Stuhmer of Central City is the White Glove chairman for quilting. She organizes a group of volunteers who walk around the exhibit area to answer questions. They wear white gloves for when they touch quilts.
Stuhmer said there are 537 quilts exhibited this year.
“There are many classes,” she said. “There are five places in each class.”
The largest quilt displayed is 114 inches by 114 inches. The smallest quilt is 9 inches by 11 inches.
There are some competition classes for juniors. One is for youth 12 and under, and another is for youth 18 and under. There are also classes for quilters 75 and older. The oldest quilter this year is 96 years old. The youngest quilter is four years old.
Susan Minchow of Pleasant Dale won Best Overall of All County Quilts. Her quilt also won the best commercial quilt and was named Reserve Best of Show. Leanna Smith quilted the quilt.