Originally Posted by
Macybaby
Wow - sounds like if you can't master binding, you might as well not bother even thinking of entering a show. I suppose judges must feel that the binding is the most basic part and if your quilt does not have that, it's not even worth looking at anything else.
It's a place that they can start ... easily visible and determine who makes the first cut!
Another "first thing" they check is whether the quilt truly is square ....
... is it 75x92? or 75x92x76x94? .... again, easy to verify.
Depending on the Judge(s), they may have their assistants/committee people verify that each quilt meets the requirements per the class specifications. Or they may do it themselves. Sadly, in some cases that is totally ignored ......
Example 1 - Mini Quilt Class, maximum size on any side 24", replicating a full sized bed quilt.
I entered a mini Irish Chain quilt that was only 14" square.
The squares of the 9Ps were 1/4" squares.
There were two others, very similar style/size to mine, along with some other quilts.
The class winner quilt was 24"x30" with blocks that were 3"!
Example 2 - Class for appliqued, hand quilted, child quilts.
I received a 3rd .... but mine was nothing to do with applique, hand quilting or child!
I thought, oh surely, mine has been displayed erroneously.
Nope, on the class card, I was listed with the other two.
Panic ... did I put the wrong class or section # on? Nope!
Panic #2 ... did I reverse the class and section #s? Nope!
Obviously no one had vetted the entries per the prize list.
Then the disappointment .....
.... seeing the winning quilt in the class mine should have been judged with.
It was the only one in the class ... and received a 3rd.
IOW, was not considered of good enough quality to merit 1st or 2nd.
But what could I do in each case? Absolutely NOTHING! .....
Judges are long gone by the time we get to see their results.