Quilt makers and quilt owners, it is time to get those special quilts entered for the Sac County Quilt-A-Fair. The quilt show takes place on Sept. 19-20, but registration forms for quilts to be displayed must be completed in advance. They are due on Aug. 21. Print copies of the registration forms are available in Sac County libraries. Forms can also be downloaded and printed from the barn quilt web site: www.barnquilts.com. Only the registration form is due in August; the quilts themselves do not need to be delivered until September, just prior to Quilt-A-Fair dates. Completed registration forms should be mailed or delivered to the Sac City Library at 1001 W. Main St., Sac City, IA 50583. The quilts are the heart of the show; without entries from the area, there would be no show. The Quilt-A-Fair has an excellent reputation for the amazing quilts that have been displayed in the past, as well as the vendors, demonstrations, and speakers. “We hope that anyone in the area who owns quilts will consider showing his or her quilts for others to enjoy. This is our 10th biennial Sac County Quilt-A-Fair and we want to make it our best ever,” said Linda Sleight, the 2025 chair.

There are many categories of quilts that can be entered in the Sac County Quilt-A-Fair. There will be a special display of Quilts of Valor. These are quilts made especially for a soldier or veteran who has been touched by war or in service to our country. Recipients of Quilts of Valor are encouraged to enter their quilts to be displayed at the show. Other categories include bed size quilts, vintage or antique quilts, baby quilts, miniature quilts, wall hangings, table quilts, wearable quilts, such as jackets or bags, and holiday or seasonal quilts. “There is an opportunity to enter any type of quilted item that people might have,” said Sleight. Entrants do not need to have made the item themselves; quilts that are gifts or were purchased from others are welcome. The only requirements are that the quilts should not have been entered in the Sac County Quilt-A-Fair previously and that they are made individually, not mass produced. Quilt owners do not have to live in Sac County to display their items in the Quilt-A-Fair.

The quilt registration form provides the committee with vital information needed to design the display for the 300+ quilts at the show. “We need to know the measurement of the quilt to plan what size space is needed for display,” said Barb Knight, a Sac City committee member who prepared the registration forms this year. “We use the color information to design a layout that is pleasing to the eye, and we request a photo with the registration form so we can plan to display the quilt in a complementary setting. The photos also help us identify the quilts as they arrive in September,” she added. Entrants have an opportunity to share a brief story about the quilt and visitors have commented that they really enjoy reading information about each quilt as they visit the show. “Anyone who needs help completing a registration form can certainly contact one of the committee members,” said Knight. “We would be happy to help with photos or whatever people need to get the quilts registered.”

The Quilt-A-Fair will once again have Steve Kettering’s Barn Quilt as its welcoming feature. “This is the only quilt that is repeatedly displayed at each Quilt-A-Fair,” said Gloria Bromley of Lake View. Steve Kettering’s quilt was made by a group of Lake View quilters and it includes all blocks that were on the original 55 barn quilts of Sac County. Since the quilt show began as an additional means to publicize the Sac County barn quilts, quilts that have some design element related to barns are especially welcome for the Quilt-A-Fair.

Sac County area quilters who are planning the 2025 Sac County Quilt-A-Fair include the following members. Any of these individuals can be contacted for help with registering quilts for the show.

Early: Judy Hartsell, Vera Thomas

Lake View: Gloria Bromley, Diana Nutt, Deann Buddin, Flo Welch, Gretchen Bromley

Lytton: Laura Orth, Jo Scharn

Odebolt: Linda Sleight

Sac City: Kay Christian, Sue Peyton, Atoya Oliver, Susan Irwin, Bonnie Rahn, Jan Von Ahn, Larrette Kolbe, Sandy Zeman, Barb Knight, Paula Wallerstedt, Lory Volkert, Terri Hardisty, Jan Wiseman, Patty Wirtjers

Schaller: Carolee Franzkowiak

Rockwell City: Marlene Armbrecht

Wall Lake: Cathy Cook, Elaine Cook

Arthur: Carol Thomson

“We encourage everyone in the area who owns quilts to consider entering them to display and share with others,” said Linda Sleight. “Members of the Sac County Area Quilters group will have numerous quilts to display, but we know that there are many others in the area who have beautiful quilts and we would like to have them registered for the show,” she added.