Originally Posted by gaigai
The BIG MONEY winners are all machine quilted because they are sponsored by the different machine companies. I don't know of anyone who sponsors big-money prizes for hand-quilting, but there may be someone.
Actually, the quilt that won the Founders Award ($7500 in prize money) is a hand-quilted Baltimore Album quilt by Nancy Kerns. She uses a 14 inch hoop, and she quilts at her dining room table. The table supports the weight of the quilt - and the quilt is HUGE!
Colonial Needle sponsored the Handmade category this year, and John Flynn sponsored the hand quilting category.
The Paducah quilt show has also honored hand quilted quilts, and their purchase prizes are big money if you want to give them your quilt. One of the major winners last show is Linda Roy, whose quilt "Vintage Button Bouquet" is hand quilted. That quilt won first place in Traditional Applique at Houston. :)