Thread: Question on Judge's Comments

Originally Posted by Shelbie

Some judges really have built in quilt bias. I worked with a judge at our local fair where there were some outstanding quilts entered.............

Shelbie ... Unfortunately many of our local Fair Judges are far from qualified to do such. Yes, they take the OAAS training. However, many know nothing else beyond that and I am not even sure they even remember what they were trained about at the schools. I know one "respected" OAAS Judge, who has never made a quilt!! And another one who admits her specialty and true interest is towards preserves, and yet she judges quilts. Interesting eh? I'm not saying these Judges are good ... or not so. Though, from some of the comments I have had on my entries, I sure wonder!!!!! I surely have a full jar of salt as a result!! ...... I won't even get into the politics of the of it all.

Sometimes I think that the name of the Judge(s) should be posted for some accountability!!
So often, we never have a clue as to whom it was.
Sometimes I have asked and been told. Most times, I know they know, and just go cold and clam up! L)


AudreyB ... as already said, take what you wish from any Judges' comments. Despite their supposed neutralities, personal opinions definitely do come into play ... they can't help but! After all these Judges are human! Were there no other comments made, other than the need for more quilting? Unfortunately, we never get a chance to talk to the Judge ... or to ask the questions that are left unanswered ... or to defend our rationale or trainings on such. Don't let it defeat you, quilt on and keep showing!!!!!!!!!!



One comment that was said to me by oneoof the Judge's helpers at a show, was that unfortunately, we never get to see the backs of the quilts ... they often tell you why a quilt wins, or does not! Apparently some at that show were outright horrid on the back, yet the fronts were impeccable!

Originally Posted by QuiltE

Shelbie ... Unfortunately many of our local Fair Judges are far from qualified to do such. Yes, they take the OAAS training. However, many know nothing else beyond that and I am not even sure they even remember what they were trained about at the schools. I know one "respected" OAAS Judge, who has never made a quilt!! And another one who admits her specialty and true interest is towards preserves, and yet she judges quilts. Interesting eh? I'm not saying these Judges are good ... or not so. Though, from some of the comments I have had on my entries, I sure wonder!!!!! I surely have a full jar of salt as a result!! ...... I won't even get into the politics of the of it all.

Sometimes I think that the name of the Judge(s) should be posted for some accountability!!
So often, we never have a clue as to whom it was.
Sometimes I have asked and been told. Most times, I know they know, and just go cold and clam up! L)


AudreyB ... as already said, take what you wish from any Judges' comments. Despite their supposed neutralities, personal opinions definitely do come into play ... they can't help but! After all these Judges are human! Were there no other comments made, other than the need for more quilting? Unfortunately, we never get a chance to talk to the Judge ... or to ask the questions that are left unanswered ... or to defend our rationale or trainings on such. Don't let it defeat you, quilt on and keep showing!!!!!!!!!!



One comment that was said to me by oneoof the Judge's helpers at a show, was that unfortunately, we never get to see the backs of the quilts ... they often tell you why a quilt wins, or does not! Apparently some at that show were outright horrid on the back, yet the fronts were impeccable!

Thank you QuiltE! And thanks to pumpkinpatchquilter and nana-up-north! This had been so educational, really! I had no idea of all the intricacies, politics,etc, having never entered any of my quilts. I think about it off and on and then never do. Although I know that was not your intentions here but I think it has convinced me not to, lol! But I also understand and agree with the comments regarding the difficulties for the judges and trying to please everyone. I have no doubt it could be a thankless job. I am too sensitive and think I will continue to quilt for my own pleasure and enjoy seeing all of the beautiful competition quilts.

Judges are just human. I've judged sewing shows and county fairs. If a judge doesn't write enough, people are upset. They want to know how to improve their work. If a judge puts too much people think they are being picked on. And every judge has their own ideas about what and how something should look. It sounds like this judge thought a quilt should have more dense quilting and kept that standard the same for all the quilts. Another judge might think there was too much quilting. At least the judge was consistent.

Judging is not as easy as most think it would be. As someone else said, they have to find things wrong in order to decide which item should be marked as 'best'. Which 'wrong' thing is worse than another 'wrong' thing? The audience needs to feel that the one selected as 'best' is reasonable as well. Sometimes the reason one quilt ranked higher than another is because of something that isn't glaringly obvious.

Don't let this experience stop you from entering another judged event. Every experience is a learning one and your quilt is a loved one. Isn't that the reason we all quilt? We want a loved item that will give warmth and comfort. Every quilt is a winner when that criteria is remembered.

Judges have their own prejudices just as we do. Fortunately, the same judge does NOT judge all quilt shows. Look at your quilt and see if your spacing may have been a factor.

I just take it as fact now. If you expect to win at a bigger show you have to quilt the #$#% out of the piece.

Originally Posted by MaryKatherine

I just take it as fact now. If you expect to win at a bigger show you have to quilt the #$#% out of the piece.

Haha! I haven't entered before but I do keep in touch with the trends.......exactly what I have noticed!

A different view that you might consider.... Personally, I would take the "needs more quilting" comment as a suggestion that perhaps a different panto would have been more appripriate for your quilt(s). Some pantos are extremely open and not suitable for all quilts from a design and/or construction standpoint. The pairing of quilting and piecing is an art in itself and a skill that takes practice.

I wouldn't dismiss the comment as mere opinion or bias on the part of the judge. Good judges select an area for constructive comment that will help the entrant improve and grow their skills. Whether you local judge followed that standard is only a guess, but the comment has value regardless.

The 'norm' for judge's comments is several good remarks and one 'room for improvement' remark, so without knowing what other comments you received, we can't tell at all why you feel you were 'penalized unfairly and not judged on the quality of the quilting'.

Originally Posted by ghostrider

I would take the "needs more quilting" comment as a suggestion that perhaps a different panto would have been more appripriate for your quilt(s).

Exactly what I was thinking.

having a quilt critiqued should be a learning experience. Judges are not out to dis you or make you feel bad or incompetent.

Do some research on the category you were in and ask to have your concerns explained. This should make the judging clear for you.

One time, when doing a panto, I mis aligned the repeat and the following run was a few inches out of place. It made a small but noticeable gap between the runs and thus, I learned to check twice, quilt once!

Don't give up on entering quilts, there is so much to learn and enjoy and create. It is all good.
peace