I have never entered any quilts for judging but I did three of my knitted tams at a fiber show. They were all three on display, right in front, but I got nothing but negative comments from the judge. People who were walking around loved them but the judge found fault in my stitches and said that I should not have entered three of them. Although mine were displayed in front for all to see, I didn't win anything and was humbled by the fact that she ( the judge) really zeroed in on my decreased stitches, while saying nothing about the design or pattern they produced. I do think that if that was the pantograph you followed then you should not have been penalized for it. But I am only a quilter and not a judge and thankfully never will be.