19 April, 2010

What Do The Judges Look For?

A few of you asked what quilt judges are looking for; in response to that, and as a follow up to my last post, I thought I would give you a 'top ten' list. If you are entering your quilt into any judged show or competition keep these points in mind:
1. Enter you quilt into the correct category, read the show rules and be respectful of the parameters.
2. Your quilt should be clean and show-ready. No pet hair, stains, or odors.
3. Visual impact is the first impression, a visually striking quilt stands out from the others.
4. Piecing technique is very important. Points should be sharp, corners should match, etc.
5. Applique technique is judged equally to piecing, curves should be smooth and pointed leaf tips should be sharp and not blunted.
6. Workmanship should be neat and tidy.
7. All threads tails should be buried and shadow-through from darker seam allowances should be trimmed before the quilt is layered for quilting, judges really dislike shadow-through!
8. Long, straight seams should be straight.
9. Quilting should be evenly distributed across the body of the quilt.
10. Finishing is your last area to impress. Be sure that your mitered corners are sharp and square and that the batting fills the binding all the way out to the edges. Long straight edges should be just that, no waves or ripples!

Those are (what I can remember) to be the finer points that can make a difference in placing your quilt into ribbon consideration. Of those listed above I probably heard numbers 8 and 10 dictated to judging sheets the most often.

Personally, the most important bit of advice that I can offer is to make quilts that you love and enjoy every step of the process; do your best work and the rest will take care of itself.

Life is Good!

12 comments:

quiltkeemosabe said...

Thanks for posting this. After being close the judging I'm thinking I should rethink my usual philosophy--"could you see this on a galloping horse???" At a judging there are no galloping horses!! Time to clean up my act just a tad!

LauraQuilts said...

I could not have said it better myself!

Zlaty said...

Thank you a lot for the list. I will keep that in mind for my every day sewing!

Happy sewing!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes...Scott tells our guild all the time about judging....
You summed it up nicely

Nane said...

did you hear the comment about the quilting on Fannye's quilt.....It said "Stunning" I couldn't agree more!

Heritage Quilter said...

Very well said. Great summation of what was being judged. I agree with quiltkeemosabe. I've always used the 10 foot rule. Not anymore.

Karen Newman Fridy said...

I kind of like that last bit of advice the best :)

Crafty Chookie said...

Thanks for the tips...One day I might be brave enough to enter a quilt...Q: Does the quilt have to be an original to enter?

julieQ said...

Very good list...I will try! I think visual impact, that special something, ranks very high on most judge's list.

Salem Stitcher said...

Great summation! That last piece of advise is the most important. Do what you love and do your best.

Cheryl said...

All good points to know!!

Cheryl said...

All good points to know!!