Originally Posted by
sandrab64
Be sure all pet hair is removed and make sure all your remotes are accounted for before you bring it to the fair. Why?....a couple years ago we opened up a large bed quilt to be judged and right there in the middle was a TV remote! The entrant had just quickly flipped up the corners of the quilt off the bed to get it to the fair and we checked it in and put it in the pile to be judged having never fully unfolded it. Her son was more than happy to hear he was going to get his remote back!
Hilarious!
Depending on the size of the fair there may be fierce competition - or none. Tartan's and Sandra's suggestions are good. I've helped the fair judge several times, and quality of construction was the main focus. The difficulty of the piecing (or applique) would factor in when evaluating two quilts that were both well made. She occasionally checked to make sure the sides of a quilt were the same length and noted wavy borders, uneven quilting, etc.. If your quilt is quilted by someone else, make sure to give them credit on the intake form.