To All award Winning Quilters...What Are Your Tricks of the Trade?
 

Have you ever won a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize at a fair or quilt show? If so, what are some of the techniques that you believe have put you over the top to win? Do you always bury your threads? Do you have some trick to make sure that every single point is perfect? Do you quilt it yourself? Do you do a lot of planning, as far as the pattern and color scheme goes? Please give us some tips!

Thanks mucho lotto!

~ C

Enter something unique. A new technique or unusual application of the tried and true.
Be sure your quilt is absolutely spotless. Go over each block and the back looking for stray threads etc. Then use a lint pickup roller to go over the whole thing again.
Pay special attention to your binding and corners. Sew in your miters.
Be sure to follow all the directions and instructions from the show.
Hang your quilt after you put the sleeve on to see if anything needs blocking to get it to hang flat.
Watson

some great advice. I took a class from an award winner on "big" show quilting--she said the binding is the first thing judges look at--is it even both front and back and "filled--she used a glue stick & her ruler to attach before sewing. Ditto on sewing down the corners (front & back).I would add that you also need to remember that even if you do an excellent quilt, the judge(s) may be partial to a different style (our county fair judge basically told me she hates modern quilts--well dang!) or the competition may be amazing. I know several people that enter quilts into big shows and they say a quilt may not do well at one show, but another show it may win.

I'd add that one of the trick I learned from the award winner is to make rounded corners if you are not excellent with mitered corners!

Nice even, full binding with good meters sewn down, straight seams, eye appeal ( if it is stunning- grabs attention, people gasp when it is shown - you probably have a winner) :)
workmanship is essential. Balanced quilting that compliments the design. And entering it in the correct category is important too.

nice, sharp mitered corners, full even binding.

Wow, this is a great post. I've learned a few things.

Question: I have a problem getting a "full/filled" binding, and I am wondering how I could use the "glue stick and ruler" as described above to achieve my objective. Could you elaborate?

You tube has an extensive tutorial on this, right now I can't remember the name of the woman.

Notice how many emphasize the binding? Yup, it's that important to winning. "Wow" factor: very large, high value contrast, complicated piecing, beautiful/unusual quilting, balanced piecing and quilting. Something out of the ordinary: if the common color combination is pink/blue, do something different. If the current pattern is stack n whack, have an unusual arrangement or do a different pattern

The "wow" factor will get you're quilt into the final cut. Then it's mostly about technique. If any of the techniques are poor it could still get thrown out.

My quilt designs are art quilting. My passion is the design, not the technique. I use any technique that'll get the quilt made. My techniques are very good. But once the designing is complete (the binding), I just push my way to the end. I don't enter competitions anymore. Back before art, I did win 1/2/3 places.

I think it takes a detail perfectionist (and that's not me) to consistently win. OK, prove me wrong.......

Sew in your miters ?
 

[QUOTE=Watson;7903215]Enter something unique. A new technique or unusual application of the tried and true.
Be sure your quilt is absolutely spotless. Go over each block and the back looking for stray threads etc. Then use a lint pickup roller to go over the whole thing again.
Pay special attention to your binding and corners. Sew in your miters.
Be sure to follow all the directions and instructions from the show.
Hang your quilt after you put the sleeve on to see if anything needs blocking to get it to hang flat.


I always sew in the miter corners on the back of the quilt. Do you also sew the miter corners on the Front of the quilt?
Thank you!

If your binding is not 'full', it may be too wide. When you turn the binding to the back to hand stitch it, it should just cover the line of stitches where you sewed it on the front. I usually sew a few inches with a basting stitch and then double check before sewing on the whole binding.

Copycat, sewing in the miter corners means hand stitching the corner fold front and back. I usually start at the back where the corner meets the quilt, and use small stitches to sew the fold. Then I push my needle from the back to the front at the point, sew down the front fold, knot and bury.

I belong to a sewing group that includes several past and present judges. When they started discussing judging at current local shows, I admit that I blatantly eavesdropped and then started asking questions. I am thankful that most of them were very happy to explain the rules and suggest ways of improving my skills.

The binding video mentioned above is Sharon Schambers - Binding the Angel. I followed that religiously on my first few quilts

If your binding isn't full - cut little slivers/stripes of batting scraps and insert as you do the hand stitching.

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.

If you ever get the opportunity to help in the judges room, be it a scribe or simply staging quilts, it will be an eye opening experience for you. If you really want to know how to win, take the opportunity to volunteer at a show and ask to help in the judges room. You will learn a LOT! Also, enter shows that give you judges comments. It is an invaluable resource to let you know where you need to improve. And don't be afraid to get those comments because they are always worded to mix in compliments along with the critique. Judge comments, probably more than anything will help you to know where you need improvement.

So much depends on the type of show and the judges. Large international shows like Houston, AQS quilt weeks, Road To California, MQX etc are highly competitive. It is a major accomplishment just to get juried into these shows. Some of them are so difficult to get into, it is like winning a ribbon to just be a finalist. At least to me.

The BOS grand prize can reach $10,000 in some of these shows so the competition is stiff. Quilters from around the world enter but you will often see the same names appearing in the top winners circles. Anyone who is an AQS member will recognize the winners in the magazine as it publishes the pictures and names from one venue to the next. It is in these shows that binding can be the difference between winning and not. In fact the competition has gotten so insane many show quilters don't think a regular binding can win any more so many finishing edges are embellished with piping (up to triple pipes!!), beading, unique and unusual variations on prairie points and so much more. The heavy hitters are constantly coming up with finishing techniques to make their quilts stand out from the rest. If it isn't done impeccably well with absolutely no mistakes the quilt won't win. And just because it is fancy and complicated doesn't mean it makes it to the winners circle. Often, something not so fancy is selected because it is done as close to perfect as possible. But finishing edges (binding etc) are just one stage of many in the process of elimination. The first stage is initial visual impact. The judges go through this phase so quickly that any quilt with intricate details in the binding or a perfect finished edge won't even get looked at as the initial visual impact has already eliminated their quilt. All entries have already gone through one round of elimination by the time the judge starts examining the details of the quilt such as binding, construction, chopped points etc. And make no mistake, the judges are going through 100s of quilts in only a few hours but once they get to the detailed inspection they are looking at stitches with a magnifying glass!

Common criteria in these types of shows are use of color, complexity of design, workmanship, stitch length (which must be uniform in both hand and machine quilting), in the case of machine quilted quilts stitch tension, quilting motifs compliment the piecing, quilting density is uniform throughout the quilt (no large areas left unquilted or super dense quilting mixed with really open quilting), no loose threads or compromised seams. Is the quilt free of pet hair, dirt and stains? I once read an article by a quilt judge who was astounded by the number of quilts submitted that had pet hair on them or were dirty.

Smaller, local shows are much less stringent and Peoples choice awards are the least stringent of all. I have seen poorly constructed quilts take peoples choice awards because they make such a great visual impact, or the viewers realize the amount of work in the quilt so even if it isn't perfect they cast their vote because it has such great initial visual impact and a large percentage of viewers realize how much work is involved.

Fairs can also vary so vastly from venue to venue. It all depends on the judges. Many fairs do not use certified quilt judges some of the judges at smaller county fairs are the same judges that are tasting home canned goods and judging other crafts like painting, knitting, etc. They may have absolutely no knowledge of quilting at all. They just give it a cursory look to ensure it is constructed well and is pretty to look at.

This brings up the caliber of judges used at different venues. Again, smaller venues may not be able to afford a certified quilt judge. Many call in quilters who have won at other events or professional longarmers and some even use "guest" judges that again, have basically no quilting expertise at all.

Then it comes down to subjective vs objective. Judging is supposed to be objective. The judge has a list of criteria to rate the quilt but it is impossible for any human being not to let their own hidden bias or subjectivity come into play. If a judge loathes the color orange with all their fiber and being they are more likely to not award as many points to a quilt that is predominantly orange. They may not even realize they are penalizing it because it is orange. This is just one of many reasons why one quilt may not do anything at one show and take major ribbons at another.

Seeing your quilt hanging in a show is super fun to many of us. If it has a ribbon on it when you get there, there is nothing quite like the feeling of accomplishment and happiness it gives you. I get that rush even if it is a quilt I longarmed for someone else and my name doesn't appear anywhere. Yes some have had bad experiences. I have had nothing but good. Yes there are times I could not figure for the life of me why one quilt won a ribbon and another in the same category did not but that won't stop me from participating and entering quilt shows. My best advice to you is to do the very best you can and enter shows where you will get either judges comments or a score sheet so you know where you need to improve and know where you are on solid ground.

Thanks, Feline Fanatic. I don't intend to enter any quilt shows, but I enjoy attending. Thanks for taking the time to tell us about it in detail.

bkay

My goal in quilting is to do the very best I can do, and entering in quilt shows is one way for me to know what my weaknesses are. I love the sheet that has all the plus and minus listed, and I have won may ribbons, 1-2 and 3 place. But I always have the option to learn from the comments. One of the things I had a problem with was not having square corners, and then I found that the judges often use their clipboard to see if the corners are square..... so I do the same before I finish my binding!

my goal in life is to win a ribbon - I figure I have 10 years to retirement to figure out how to make a nice quilt, and once I'm retired, I'll have time to do hand bindings and get good at that part.

Thanks to all who provided input especially feline fanatic. The info provided was so helpful and I like the idea of
volunteering in the judges room!

I recently entered several items in the local county fair. There was a quilt (not mine) which had received a yellow ribbon. Ribbons are blue, red, white, yellow. The center blocks were well done, I think. It was hung so high that one could not see the center very well. What could be seen was about 20" of six borders. Yes, six borders. To me, it appeared to be a "hurry up, get it done and get it to the fair on time". Yes, I think the judge was correct in awarding yellow.

Thank you feline for sharing the information on judging. Well done!

another tip - if you are stitching in the ditch and you jump out of the ditch you can sometimes just use a marker to get the stitches to blend in with the fabric rather than rip the stitches out.

Oh....I've never heard of that trick before...very clever! Will the binding get lumpy later on, after the quilt is washed a few times?

~ C

I LOVE that idea! we have a fair coming up next week. It's probably too late to get involved, but I'm still going to see if they need any help. Thanks for that wonderful tip!

~ C

When I enter in a quilt show I aim for Viewer's Choice award. I don't care what the judges think of my work. If they like it that's great but not important to me to have that recognition. I love it when I make a quilt that appeals to quilters. Lots of color, good workmanship, good design, and it has to have that WOW factor for viewer's to stop and give it a good look. I have won 9 Viewer's Choice in local and surrounding area shows.

Another tip is to consider how the back of your quilt looks.
At a quilt show, I was chatting with the Chair of the Show, and commented that I was shocked that some of the incredible quilts had not placed. She agreed, and then told me, that I did not see the backs of the quilts. She had been a helper during the judging and told me that if I had seen the backs, I would understand why some did not place. As show spectators, we generally do not see the backs ... and have no clue as to what secrets they hold!

........ exactly the concern I would have in doing that.
With it being narrow pieces, whether short or long, and without any quilting to stabilize, I would think they just might start shifting around. Even for a non-laundered quilt, I would think that it would be difficult to get pieces set in place evenly.


...... a good tactic, that does work.
However, a discerning judge would probably not look at that as a favourable technique and most likely score against it.

no, I haven't had any shifting after multiple washings. It is a pretty narrow channel.

I wonder what a bad back looks like. :(

Question: Are judges looking for an original design, or are some of the winning quilts made from patterns?

~ C

This is a great question. I will be entering something for the first time this fall.

Many comments here on binding...How wide should you cut it.... 2 1/4, 2 3/8, or 2 /2?

some great advice in this thread! Thanks for sharing everyone. my Guild hung quilts at the KC REgional Quilt Fest and the judge was turning them out about 12 every 20 minutes--so they make some quick decisions on the first go round.. Then when she got down to the last 4-5 things slowed down because she was really inspecting them closely. All the big winners had original designs, and a couple, like Feline said, had finish treatments that were amazing! I'm glad that the "bling" trend seems to be fading a little. what I've noticed is that the quilting must be eye-catching, and really contribute to the design.

All sorts of things could show up ....
...... tension issues, stitching problems, threads not buried or buried poorly, puckers and bubbles, binding, etc.

Sometimes irregular stitching shows better when looking at the back than on a pieced front where it can get camouflaged.

If the backing has been pieced, is it pieced as nicely as the front?
or if it is a print, has it been matched?

Just a few of the problems that can show on the back ......

Clair123--about the width of the binding--your choice really as long as front and back are the same. But you also have to look at the pattern of the piecing. Will the binding be sewn to a border or does the piecing go to the very edge of the quilt. If it is the latter, then you have to keep the binding narrow enough so that the pieces on the edge are the same size as thru the rest of the design.

All the above are good pieces of advice. I just won a blue and a champion on a wall hanging. I had expected the judges to pick it apart. The only negative comment I got was something I totally agreed with them on. I say enter it if YOU love it. Even if you don't win, it will be a learning experience. Also the advice to enter the quilt in another show/ fair is good. Where I've done poorly in one show, I've gotten a ribbon on the same quilt in another.

Judges are not looking for original designs. But if a pattern is used, all the major shows are requiring written consent from the pattern designer to enter the quilt in the show so there is no question of copyright infringement. Smaller local guild shows are not so stringent and I have never seen that requirement on a fair entry. But it is good show etiquette to credit the designer on the entry paperwork or in the little writeup card that usually appears with the quilt in the show.

I have seen quilts made from published patterns win at major shows. Especially very intense patterns like some of Sue Garman's applique quilts "Ladies of the Sea" and "Friends of Baltimore". But more and more show quilts are original designs. And with design programs like EQ it is much easier to design your own quilt. Some feel an original design gives them an edge. Others don't want the hassle of tracking down the designer and getting the necessary written permission to use the pattern in a show quilt. Especially when racing against an entry deadline.

can anyone estimate the percentage of washed and not washed show quilts?

I stopped showing about 10 years ago, it was fun then, trying all kinds of new techniques and color mixes, now I just sew for my own pleasure.

One of the reasons for the binding problems often starts with the first patch. When the flimsey is finished, if the top edge is 39.50 inches the bottom should be identical, same with the two side measurements. A quilt is the result of all it's parts.

We love to go to quilt shows, I thank everyone here for entering your quilt somewhere, anywhere. That first time you just have to put your heart in a box of batting...it gets easier over time ;)

Keep in mind that the judges opinion is just that....an opinion. That being said, full binding with sharp corners is a must. Always trim all threads and make sure your stitching is neat. Having an original design is great too. Judges looks for something out of the ordinary.

Thank you for all of these great tips. I went to our county fair yesterday and headed straight for the quilts. I now had a fresh eye on what to look for in a winning quilt. It's funny, a gentleman standing next to me, walked around to take a careful look at the back of the quilt. After talking to him for a moment, I found out that he was a quilter too. He agreed that the back was just as important as the front.

I scrutinized all of the borders on all of the quilts and I could definitely see a difference in the winning quilts compared with the others. A sloppy corner did not make for a winning quilt. Some borders were rather wide and did not look filled out, but they won anyway. Perhaps that was attributed to using a different style of border.

One viewer lamented to me that there were no hand quilted entries. The machine quilting was all excellent...way beyond my own capabilities. They usually credit the longarmer that helps with the project but they were not listed on the entry information this time. :( I think that they should be noted and also, I wanted to find a local longarmer to hire.

The piecing work on each entry was also excellent, but there was nothing too complicated, except for a New York Beauty that was hung so high, you could not get a close up view of the details. Too bad.

Most of the designs were patterns that I recognized, which surprised me. I thought that there would be more original designs.

Overall, going to see the quilts and chatting with all of you on this post has encouraged me to try to enter something next year. It now seems doable. Thanks!

~ C