If you're interested in checking out some of the quilts on display - go to our Cotton Club Facebook page. Below are a sample. The first quilt, by Carol Lohrenz (sp?) won Best of Show. Most people were quite pleased to see that an "art quilt" took the top prize. The second one by Patty Henry won Best Appliqué as well as some other top awards, such as from the National Quilting Society so she can enter this quilt into national quilt shows. In fact we're told she would have won Best of Show, however this quilt was made from a kit and kits do not qualify for Best of Show. The next quilt did not win in the category, but the technique is called "shatter and sew." The border around the piece is the actual fabric used as the main focus of the quilt that was "shattered and sewn." The final piece did win in its category, though sadly I don't recall the category. The piecing was quite small and made up of courthouse steps and log cabin blocks.
Now the question remains what do Judges actually look for in a quilt when judged. Morna McEver Golletz tells us:
You have just finished your latest quilt, are proud of your accomplishment and want to show it off. You first share it with your family, then with your small quilting “bee” and finally take it to show and tell at your next guild meeting. For some quilters, this is enough. For others, it is not. Many quilters and fiber artists want to see how their work stacks up against the competition, whether that is hanging it in a local, non-judged show or entering it in a major juried and judged competition. In addition to gaining recognition for your quilts, you also educate other quilters and the general public about quilting and its standards. For local guild shows, this is often a primary reason for holding a show. Additionally, if your quilt is entered in a judged show, you can set goals for improvement based on feedback from the judges or your own comparison with winning quilts. And, of course, you might just win a prize, either a ribbon, cash, or merchandise.
Impartiality in judging is important and one way this is done is through use of a panel of independent judges, usually three. Quilt judges may have been trained and certified by the National Quilting Association, or they can be trained through experience. They all adhere to similar standards of judging, although final results will be varied based on the individual judges.
Impartiality in judging is important and one way this is done is through use of a panel of independent judges, usually three. Quilt judges may have been trained and certified by the National Quilting Association, or they can be trained through experience. They all adhere to similar standards of judging, although final results will be varied based on the individual judges.
Judging can take place either before or after the quilts are hung, and each method has advantages. Judging quilts after they are hung allows the visual impact of the quilt to be better appreciated. Judging quilts before they are hung is usually faster, but visual impact takes second place to the ability to view the workmanship.
Judges often use scorecards or evaluation forms and either a point system, an elimination system or a combination of the two to evaluate the individual entries. The point system uses a predetermined maximum number of points to judge specific areas, for example, up to 20 points for the color and design, up to 20 points for construction, up to 15 points for finishing, etc., with the total equaling 100 points. Each quilt is judged on its own merits, and the quilt with the highest total number of points is awarded the first place.
The elimination system, on the other hand, allows each judge to evaluate a quilt, make comments on its technique and offer feedback for improvement. If the judge feels the quilt should be held for ribbon/award consideration, it is put aside. If not, it is released from the competition portion. After the quilts are judged in this preliminary fashion, the held quilts are compared to others in its category and the winners are determined.
Neither system is perfect. Regardless, judges evaluate quilts against the same standards. Here are just a few of the commonly held standards that quilt judges use:
General Appearance
- The quilt makes an overall positive statement upon viewing
- The quilt is clean and “ready to show,” i.e., no visible marks, no loose threads, no pet hair, no bearding, no offensive odors.
- The quilt’s edges are not distorted. This is easier to gauge when the quilt is hung.
Design and Composition
- All the individual design elements of the quilt – top, quilting, choice of fabric, sashes, borders, embellishments, finishing – are unified.
- The design is in proportion and balanced.
- Borders or other edge treatments enhance the quilt appearance.
Workmanship
- Piecing is precise, corners match and points are sharp.
- Seams, including those of sashing and borders, are secure, straight and flat.
- Quilting stitches are straight where intended and curved where intended.
As noted, judges consider certain “standards” when evaluating quilts – and the list is really quite extensive – but how do they decide which quilts are the prizewinners? And what is more important, design or workmanship? In the end I think it comes down to design, the quilt with the greater visual impact. But even the quilt with the greatest visual impact cannot rescue poor workmanship.
ICAP offers three resources recommended for those in judging programs. You can learn more about The Challenge of Judging by Jeannie Spears, Judging Quilts by Katy Christopherson, and a audio recording of a conversation on “The Judge’s Perspective” between Morna McEver Golletz and judges Jane Hall and Scott Murkin on our resources page. We also offer a package with all three of the resources. See the Resources for Judges page on our website.
Perhaps you have a different perspective about quilt shows and judging. Your thoughts and experiences are always welcome. You are also welcome to leave a comment on the ICAP Facebook or Google+ pages.
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Morna McEver is the founder and CEO of the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals where creative arts entrepreneurs craft business success. Her weekly e-zine offers tips, techniques and inspiration to help you craft business success from your creative arts passion. You can sign up for a FREE subscription at http://www.creativeartsprofessional.com.
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