In a crowd of lift-kits, winches, and loud exhaust pipes, perhaps a yarn cover is the only way to make a Jeep really stand out at Butler's Jeep Invasion.

The Butler County Spinners and Weavers Guild's quilted sheet certainly separated its 2013 Jeep Wrangler from the more than 1,000 Jeeps that lined Main Street Friday night.

“We call it the 'yarn bomb,'” said JoAnn Clark of Boyers.

The quilted pattern featured a variety of patches created by the group's members.

The annual invasion is one of the biggest events of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. Rainy skies throughout the day Friday cleared up by the invasion's 6 p.m. start, making way for the off-road vehicles to be displayed with their tops open.

But the guild's Jeep, which belonged to Clark's husband, Herbert Clark, was intended to be covered, rain or shine.

“He's very supportive of our group,” Clark said of her husband. “A lot of great ladies put a lot of work into this. He's a good sport about it.”

Bob Lanning of West Liberty had his 1962 Willys Jeep on display.

It's a vehicle that has been in the family since it was new.

Lanning said his brother bought the Jeep when he was a teenager.

“My dad refused to buy him a car,” Lanning said. “He said it had to pay for itself.”

Lanning said his brother used the Jeep to plow snow, and he used the earnings to pay for the vehicle.

Lanning did the same thing whenever he bought it from his brother.

He still uses the Jeep to plow snow to this day.

“We've had a lot of wonderful memories with this Jeep,” he said.

Lanning said he will eventually pass the Jeep on to his two sons, Nicholas, 21, and Christian, 17.

“They'll have to share it,” the father joked.

While Lanning hasn't relinquished his ownership yet, the Jeep has already been influential to the next generation.

“I've taught a dozen kids to drive a stick in this Jeep,” Lanning said. “That has been interesting. We've had a number of burnouts trying to master the clutch.”

John Oswald of Summit Township was displaying his 1947 Willys Jeep, which was converted to include modern features and a Ford engine.

Oswald said he spent three years modifying the vehicle.

“It's a pleasure to drive,” he said. “It's got the features of a newer car.”

Oswald's son, Evan, 23, had his Willys Jeep on display as well.

“That originally belonged to my father,” John Oswald said. “It's been in the family.”

Oswald said his son will take it off-roading this weekend at the Jeep festival at Cooper's Lake Campground.

“Tomorrow it won't look this clean,” Oswald joked Friday night.

While Butler County residents took pride in the Jeep Invasion, the event is an opportunity for travelers from all over to visit the city.

Democratic governor hopeful and longtime Jeep enthusiast Tom Wolf was in attendance with his 2006 Golden Eagle.

“I drive it to work every day,” Wolf said. “It's my vehicle. I love it.”

Wolf said he was amazed by the sea of Jeeps lining the city.

“I think it's really neat,” he said. “Butler is a really beautiful town. You can tell the Jeep is a big deal for the community.”

Tanner Maurer, 11, of Cambria County hasn't had the opportunity to fight through a winter snow storm. But he knows what vehicle he'll be driving when he's old enough.

“I want a Jeep,” the boy said.

Tanner said his father, Clinton Maurer, has already promised to pass down the family's 1948 Willys Jeep.

The Jeep had a .30-caliber machine gun mounted on it for the invasion.

“I really like the military Jeeps,” Tanner said.

Tanner was in luck because numerous military Jeeps were on display in the town where the vehicle was invented.

The old Jeeps stand as an important part of Butler's heritage.

“It's one of the most important parts of our history,” said Pat Collins, administrative director for the Butler County Historical Society. “There has never been another American vehicle made that has been as important.”

The fourth annual festival continues at Cooper's Lake throughout Sunday afternoon.