Local quilter named semifinalist for annual international show

~ Lynne Taylor of Cape Girardeau created a quilt with some flowers measuring only a quarter-inch wide.

Lynne Taylor of Cape Girardeau has been chosen as a semifinalist for her miniature "Blue Star Flower" quilt in the 22nd annual American Quilter's Society Quilt Show and Contest in Paducah, Ky.

The annual exhibit brings more than 35,000 quilters, collectors, enthusiasts and vendors to the show. American Quilt Society has members in all 50 states and 80 other countries. Taylor's entry represented about 200 hours of labor and was chosen from a field of 806 quilts.

The entire miniature quilt measures only 15 by 15 inches. Taylor said some of the appliqued flowers along the quilt's perimeter measure only a quarter inch. Taylor will compete for the Benartex Best Miniature Award, which comes with a $3,000 prize.

AQS executive show director Bonnie Browning said there are a lot of significantly small pieces in Taylor's design.

Taylor assembled the quilt using stab stitching because there were too many seams and thick places for any other method to be used. Taylor said the applique flowers were a challenge but that stab stitching was particularly challenging.

"This method requires making only one stitch at a time," she said. "It's hard to get the stitches straight and even on the back, but I've embroidered before, so I've had some experience at stab stitching."

It's the third time Taylor, an elementary art teacher at Scott City for 29 years, has entered the AQS show. In 2000 and 2001, she was a semifinalist in the miniature category, and said her previous entries were original machine-quilted designs. "This time," she said, "I took my inspiration from a traditional quilt and handstitched it."

Taylor added that she believes this entry's craftsmanship will be of significant value to the judges and the idea of a new twist on an original pattern will be a winner. She's sewn clothing since about seventh grade and learned quilting in 1986 as a final project in art while working on her master's degree. Taylor plans to dedicate more time to the hobby after retiring this year.

This year's entries are from 46 states and 12 countries, including France, Israel, Korea and Australia. The show has grown since 1985, when the expected 800 people swelled to 5,000. This year, 37,000 will attend the international quilting event held April 26 to 29 at the Paducah Expo Center.

For more information, visit www.AmericanQuilter.com, or call (270) 898-7903.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133