Entering a Quilt Competition? Know What Judges Look For!
Welcome Spring!
Yes! There may still be inches of snow on the ground from Blizzard Elsa, but SPRING has officially arrived! It’s rather weird taking a walk wearing an open, lightweight sweatshirt for a jacket while piles of snow edge the walks and streets. Got to love Wisconsin’s variable weather!
BUT with spring comes a calendar dotted with quilt shows. Time to get out and appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of fellow quilters!
Perhaps you’ve considered being one of the quilters sharing your work? Have you ever wondered what goes into the judging of the quilts on display?
Let’s explore the competition side of quilt shows!
Preparing Your Quilt for Competition
Entering your quilt in a competition not only allows you to share your love of quilting, but also your level of skill and craftsmanship. And it’s that level of skill and craftsmanship that the judges will be scrutinizing!
So, what are main things considered when judging a quilt?
To begin with, judges may be given a preview of all the quilts in a category from a distance.
Volunteers hold up smaller quilts one-by-one. Larger quilts may be stacked on a table. A volunteer lifts the top half of a quilt for viewing, then folds it over forward so the top of the next quilt can be lifted and displayed. At some shows, all the quilts are hung first, then judged.
This initial viewing allows the judges to consider the overall design of a quilt.
Does the quilt have visual impact? Is there a “wow” factor?
Are the colors balanced … both in terms of the actual color mix and shade variations?
Do all the components of the quilt work well together?
Are all prominent seam lines straight … assuming they’re meant to be?
Then judges look up-close at each quilt! Here’s where your skill and workmanship come into play.
Judges evaluate:
Piecing
Seam intersections – Do they meet precisely and securely?
Points – Do stars and triangles have complete, precise points?
Appliqued pieces – Are they stitched neatly and securely? Are curves and loops smooth? Are points sharp? Does thread match?
Thread color – Does the thread color blend with the fabric color? (Example: You don’t want to see seams stitched with light thread joining dark fabrics.)
Shadowing – Do dark color seam allowances show through on light color areas of a pieced top?
Quilting
Stitch length – Are stitches appropriately sized and consistent in length (hand or machine)?
Design flow – Are there jumps, skips or glitches in the design line? If the pattern backtracks, does the stitching stay in sync and match?
Stop/Start points – If you have stop/start points that aren’t at the edge of your quilt, have you anchored the stitching and buried the thread tails so the stop/start points aren’t detectable?
Tension – Do stitches lock in the batting? Does tension remain consistent?
Density – Is it consistent over all the quilt?
Binding
Full – Does the binding feel “stuffed,” not flat. Does the same amount show on front and back?
Corners – Are they 90-degree angles? Have they been stitched shut on both sides with tiny, invisible stitches?
Thread color – Does the thread used to stitch the binding match in color?
Stitching – Is your stitching even, consistent and small?
Overall Appearance (In addition to the points noted above)
Flat – Does the quilt lay/hang flat? Are the edges wavy or does the center “balloon?” (If so, consider blocking your quilt.)
Corners – Are they square? (Is your quilt square overall?)
Marking points/lines – Has your quilt top been cleaned of all markings you may have made as reference points for your quilting? Have you checked your marking tools to ensure “disappearing” ink won’t reappear due to cold or damp conditions (e.g. shipping).
Quilt back – If you pieced the back, are seam lines straight and square?
Competition can be exciting, frustrating and scary … maybe all three at once! But here are a few things that other quilters and judges have shared to keep everything in perspective.
There is no right or wrong way to make your quilts for a show. Just enjoy the process and show your best work. Yes, you must follow the show’s rules but create a quilt that’s you.
Don’t get hung up on the degree of difficulty of a quilt. What matters is how well you do at what you’re trying to accomplish.
Most quilt shows provide you with feedback from the judges. Any critique you receive is meant to help you improve as a quilter. Don’t take it negatively!
Quilts will never be 100% perfect!
If you’re interested but feeling nervous, start small. Find out when your local guild is having its next show.
The quilters attending the show just want to see all the beautiful work that fellow quilters have created. They will enjoy your quilt and admire you for completing and entering it!
So, do you have a competition quilt in your future? Then, let’s look at what you need to do to enter it in a competition.
Entering Your Quilt in a Competition
Every quilt show has its own rules and requirements, but here are some general points to follow and/or consider
Read the entry paperwork carefully and complete it accurately.
Be aware of any entry fees that may be required.
Provide all photographs that are requested.
Meet every date and time deadline.
If you must ship your quilt, be aware of packaging requirements, costs, and deadlines. Check out how long your quilt will be at the show. Also consider return shipping expenses.
Many shows require that you add a hanging sleeve to your quilt. Make sure it meets the show’s specifications.
Label your quilt as requested. You may have to cover any personal identifying information you’ve added to your quilt.
Make sure your quilt is “show ready.” It must be clean and free of any lint, threads, or pet hair.
And one final clarification you may find helpful.
What is a Juried Quilt Show?
Many of the larger quilt shows, those at the state, regional or national level, are juried quilt shows. For example, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show held in Madison each September is a juried quilt show.
A juried show requires that each quilter that wants to participate submit an entry form well in advance of the show. (The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show’s entry form is due by June 30th.)
Once the deadline is reached, a group of people selected by the quilt show organizers … the jury … reviews each entry and decides if it’s the right fit for that show for that year. The individuals making up the jury generally remain anonymous.
Judging then occurs once the quilts arrive for the show. The names of the judges are made public. It’s their role to determine which quilts receive the awards and provide feedback on each of the entries.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to enter one of your quilts in a show? Look at it as one of the ways you can stretch yourself as a quilter and continue improving your craft. And if you decide to compete … good luck! A ribbon may be in your future!
Okay, that’s it for this post!
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And please share your thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you!
Angie