Many years ago, I won the vendors award for my "Shakespeare in the Park". Yes, it was from a pattern, but was done in scraps of blue. I did it, had it quilted and I bound it and I won of or it. I did name the pattern and maker and who quilted it. I later was told, by a judge, that it would have won third place had I changed the design slightly and not named the pattern or the designer. That did it for me. None of my quilts that I enter into competition come from anything other than my head. No patterns! That being said, I have never won in another major quilt show. But the fun is seeing your quilt hanging, not in the winning, and the wonderful advice given by really great judging that helps you to become a better quilter.