I have been wondering,though- for a show - how would/could one make the categories 'level playing fields'? And with so many styles - some with what appear to have several things going on at one time - where would one enter the item? Or if it didn't 'fit' exactly, would the person just take it back home and not show it?
I have not entered shows - but from what I've read - it seems like an entrant needs to get the rules/guidelines - and THEN make the quilt/item to fit the category.
(Makes me think of 'teaching to the test' - rather than teaching so the students learn how to think and reason on their own.)
And - also - how would/could one verify that an entrant's information is completely factual or a critical fact or two has either been omitted or stated inaccurately?
As far as 'judging fairly' - I would think that workmanship standards would be fairly consistent - how are the bindings put on, are the points pointy, etc. - and that - I would hope - that Judges A, B, and C would be pretty much in agreement on that.
As far as appeal - are judges biased? I've seen some quilts that I thought were very attractive from a distance - and not so well made - and vice-versa.
I would guess that judging a quilt show is a bit like judging figure skating.
Last edited by patricej; 10-08-2013 at 04:04 AM.