i get that all the time on my art pieces. i really think that the judges don't know how to judge art quilts. they look at them as regular bed quilts not art. Don't stop and keep on going, I'm not :thumbup:

Judges are just people who have their own ideas of what is right and wrong even when they have rules to go by. Anything you enter to be judged can have the same thing happen and it does.

I hope they gave you ways to "fix" binding. I would never have courage to enter contest lol My binding skills need alot of help so if they start there I would be in alot of trouble lol

Keep your chin up and continue on. I am sure your quilt was great!!!

quilt police. I'm sure your quilts were beautiful-don't let them undermine your confidence-I would get zip at a show because my mitered corners are not up to quilt police standards-who cares!!!

I enter pur guild quilt show almost every year. We get a juddge from National Quilt Association. The judge is always picky about bindings. I went to help at judging this year. She said she could tell that we have been told before about our bindings. The corners where you miter needs to be 90 degrees, a nice square corner. Even tough I have heard that straiht of grain binding is ok if you don't have curves it wasn't ok with this judge. She wanted bias binding. The corners should have a stitch in the to hold the little flap shut on the front and back. She checked ever quilt for that. Another thing she didn't want the back to have one seam down the middle. She said it is too much stress on the seam. Make two xams if you back isn't one piece. I learned a lot by going to judging.

I looked at your quilts at the link you provided and let me just say, I hope to someday be half as talented as you are! Jamie

The judge we had for our show said that if the binding isn't full she will cut small strips of batting to add in when she is hand stitching down to the back of quilt. She said that the edge of the quilt will last longer if it is full and round. I would never take the time to do that but, that is what she said.

Oh Wow, another of those little quilting secrets. I'd have never thought of that.....lol so cool! ! !

I entered everything that came down the pike if it concerned one of my interests. Horse shows, dog shows, bird shows, County and State fairs (for needlework and plants), judged quilt shows, etc.. I value the comments from the judges as it helps me become a better "whatever". Occasionally a judge will really mess up but because I know my chosen fields well I can smile and still feel good even though the comments might sting bigtime. If all they commented on was the binding, that is what you should concentrate on. Don't let one set of opinions color your world - but - do learn from it!

You could show us a picture and we could make all kinds of nice comments!!

I haven't had that to happen to me , but I know judges really like nice bindings, front and back. I have worked really hard to get mine to a 1/4 inch on fron and back and have the binding full. They really want a full binding. Better luck next time, just work harder next time.

There are a lot of reasons for people to wish to enter a quilt contest....one is professional validation that can be a selling point. But for me, I validate my own work. I really don't need someone else to do that. Most people do not understand how your creativity has been influenced and have a shallow background in art, design and color at best. Binding does set the quilt off, but it is not the most important part of the quilt. I really can't imagine someone going on and on admiring binding!

Glassnquilts, Thanks for sharing your heartfelt emotions on the less than favorable side of a show. This mnoth was the first time I even attended any shows. Two in the "big town, and our own guild show in the little town. I worked at our show, before, during and after, but chose not to enter anything, although I had been asked to enter at least one particular quilt. Others, I was advised to enter under the display only category. The person who recommended this reasoned that the judges could be harsh. By having it on display only, critiques could still be had, by experienced quilters and admirers, but without hard feelings. Further reasoning was for experience on my part of show procedures. My first reason for not entering was that I didn't want to bother putting sleeves and extra labels on the quilts. Most were already finished, they are bed quilts, and I don't want to remove the sleeves.

As it turns out, this was also County Fair time. I volunteered to help the coordinator fill up space, by displaying some vintage machines. I was also asked to display machines at the quilt show. There was an Oops, as I didn't realize that the two overlapped. (see my post athttp://www.quiltingboard.com/t-43881-1694.htm#4470024 ) I put most of my available quilts in what turned out to be a one man booth at the fair. The coordinator of the exhibits is the Extension FCS/4-H agent. (FCS degreeded, 4-H by default.) She is also a quilter. She admired and praised my workmanship, so I felt "judged." The biggest complement was when she studied my quilting, then asked if I had a (gesturing with her hands - long arm). I admitted the fact, but explained that I hadn't had it long, and didn't yet consider myself a long arm quilter, and no, I didn't do work for other people. After studying my quilts, and further discussion, she talked me into working a queen size for her. Now that was the highest complement I could get.

Our next show isn't for another couple of years. Perhaps I'll have the fortitude to enter the show, thanks to the vote from the Extension Agent and comments such as I've read on this post. Perhaps there will be many posts on judging criteria by the time show season is over. We could all learn and grow from such treads.

Remember that a judge is only one person's opinion on that day. That same judge might judge it differently on a different day. It is really a great accomplishment to even have the talent to make a quilt good enough to be judged. I'm sure I'll never get there!

I have enterd a few quilt shows, in different cities and even in another state. I appreciate constructive criticisum (sorry spelling)but almost always they say something positive about the quilt also. Oh and I never won anything till last year. The quilt I entered won Best In Catagory. Boy was I surprised!!

I used to watch the judging in our county fair for many years, and look at the comments....when I was a quilter wannabe. I am talking about 15 years of being involved with the fair. There was a group of older women that mostly brougt traditional quilts and the ribbons and awards really favored those. They were just too set in their ways. It finally started to shift when the younger quilters started bringing art quilts, but it took a while. With that being said, I know binding or finishing is one of the biggest things that they will examine, and it usually can make or break an award winning quilt.
I would bet your art quilts are gorgeous! Keep improving always and dont get too discouraged. Can we see pictures?
I wanna be an art quilter too!
( I was in Extension for 15 years, but not in FCS area..I was the hortuculturist, so I can definitly tell you what they look for when judging the fruits, flowers and veggies....lol!)

My friend put several of her quilts in our local county fair and the judges were very critical of her binding also! Said she did not "fill" it so don't feel like you are the only one! The quilt that won was not near as pretty to me!!! It's all in the judges eye, we don't have to agree. :wink:

Wow, I just realized I did the binding on my (first) quilt backwards. I machine stitched to the back andhandstitched the front. My stitching doesn't show but I thought "seeing" those even, tiny stitches added appeal to the quilt. Oops. I prefer the look of my method. I have to wonder what it was about your bindings that brought such criticism. Bet they're wonderful quilts!

Let me start out with "I hate to be judged"...that said, it's only the opinion of the judge. It doesn't mean yours was not worthy of a blue ribbon....At the last Fair, I helped the Garden Club clean the area and put out plants to be picked up. There was one plant (Red Ivy) that was wonderful....best plant there. It only got a red ribbon. I told the owner that it should have gotten 2 blue ribbons and that made her very happy. I don't see myself ever entering something to be judged.

Lynn

At our recent show the judges were critical of lot of bindings so our guild is offering a "How to sew binding" workshop. Find someone who can teach you how to bind. National Quilter's Association certified judges now accept machine binding as long as it is done well. Pat Sloan may have a tutorial on her website. There may be other tutorials out there too. And remember the judge is only one opinion. They often look at just the detail and miss the big picture. I am all about the big picture!!!

I had a similar experience when I entered a quilt at the State Fair.They didn't give any constructive criticism( which I was looking for). Instead they said something like "good color choice" but no hints for improving my work. I too, was disappointed. I know they have many,many quilts to judge but I did expect something that would point me to improvement.

Sorry they didn't find anything to compliment you on. Your avitar is beautiful and obviously you a talented quilter. Take no offense, just critically look at your binding and ask questions at LQS on what they think is wrong and how you can improve it.

As an art quilter, I respectively disagree. In the shows using certified judges, I find I use their criticism as a starting point to imporove my work. I make mostly art quilts, but traditionally piece too. IMHO, art quilting is not "just too subjective." What ever your subject or composition, you still need to use color, scale, pattern and design effectively. You still need to achieve this "art" by some sewing method that will involve sewing, piecing, quilting etc that can also be judged in terms of the quality and creativity of the stitching.

To many quilt cops at those judging shows.

Just an FYI, there have already been several excellent threads about judging criteria here on the board. Many of them have comments by several of our qualified quilt show judge members. This is one of the best threads on the subject.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-107050-1.htm

glassnquilts, was the local show the one in Blairsville? This years show was the first one I'd been able to attend in years and I am impressed by the set up and everything else about it. I am saddened by the fact that there is so little said about the lovely color choices and innovative design technics. Yes, the binding can make or break the overall appearanc, but, come on let's give some encouragement.

this is exactly what I was going to write...I have a friend that just won big at a show...and several of her judges comments were about how PERFECT her binding was...things like, even width, nice narrow binding, perfect corners, etc....it was good to learn from!

Take the comments and go forward...even if it means removing those bindings and doing them over so you can enter those quilts again!

This friends quilts were entered in different shows around the state..it is amazing how a quilt can get an honorable mention at one show and a blue ribbon at another....

I've heard that binding was a biggie as far as judging and if several quilts are tied for a ribbon it's the binding that may decide the winner. I've had quilts in two fairly large shows (all different)...one year I got a ribbon, one year I got a criticism. Just have to remember that since judges all have different likes and dislikes, they're going to have different opinions. Don't be discouraged!

yes, in a judged show, they are paid to be...NOT necessarily the "quilt police", but the quilt judges! and the quilts that are entered to be judged expect to be JUDGED...that is what it is all about. If you really want to find out if your workmanship is worthy making to the BIG SHOWS...you have to start with the little ones and take the critiques and learn from them.

SHould a person NOT want their work judged, then perhaps a judged show is not for them. Instead there are churches/groups that do Quilt SHOWINGS...nothing is judged, no critiquing is done (beyond what the general public says about it), and no hurt feelings come out of it.

You make a very brave decision to step into the world of competition. You have received a lot of very good advise from other quilters. Since you did not receive any comments about the quilt itself, then take that as a compliment that you are right on target in that area and concentrate on the binding aspect. I just started quilting and from what I understand the binding is the first thing most judges zero in on first. However having said that I also know that each judge is an individual with their own biases and opinions. Each judge will judge differently. That's the world of competition. Don't get down on yourself. Be proud of the quilt. Next time you will be better prepared. Good luck. You have a blue ribbon to win next year so get sewing.

The very reason I don't enter anything anywhere. I enjoy what I do and I don't need quilt judging criticism.

Fons and Porter had a show about binding and said if you entend to enter a quilt, sew a strand of yarn in the binding. That makes it full and round.
I think if I were a judge of all the quilts I so anxiously look for on this forum you all would have blue ribbons.

I was reluctant to let my quilts be judged in the beginning. The judges usually say what is wrong, but not too much on what is right or great. But, the comments after I calmed down and put some time between the first reading and the later reading were helpful to improved what I could improve. I often tend to be a little too non-traditional and so some judges do not have a frame of reference to put my work into a neat category. But, I still have them judged and try to use the comments for constructive improvement. At our last show in Sept 2010, I got a over all show ribbon for my quilting on a small quilt! I could see for use of color, for design (original design) for most anything, but quilting! I have not considered my quilting to be the thing that I do best, but I have been working on it. So, the bottom line is to take what the judges say (if it is helpful toward improvement) ignore comments that do not assist is in improvement and remember that the judges are human and have bias of their own that they bring to do the judging. Also, I have heard that judges are sometimes unsure of what is required by the form that they are asked to fill out with their comments. What seems obvious to the guild when they designed the form may not be so obvious to the judge and they seem compelled to put something in each space.

We just had our show here as well. I know in the past bindings were always a subject many had comments included in the judges comments. Generally positvie comments will also be there. Your judge sounds like a critical person not someone we would like to be around. Hopefully you will be one that suggests another judge for next years show.

I've never entered anything but have been told some of these groups can be quite cliquish. This from a top name quilter now retired. Have heard this also about a fabulous Garden Competition here. Having said that I have to admit a couple of the girls I use to attend a class with entered quilts in a country show and went quite well. Several firsts and special mentions as well as people's choice.

I believe nice full bindings are of special interests to quilt judges.

Yes it has happened to me. The judge's were very critical with the hand quilting. It was almost like they had a ruler measuring each stitch. I would like to see the hand stitching on their quilts. Don't lose you self confidence...keep quilting...I would never let anyone do that to me. I love making quilts, and if there is a little mistake or my stitches are off a bit well then I just say.."It's hand made, no two are alike."

In light of the critique, were there other Art quilts that yours actually competed against?
I ask because some small quilt shows don't get enough of some kinds so they are thrown with others.
One show had all art quilts in one catagory. You might think that is fair until I tell you that it did not matter what size it was. A small wall hanging isn't going to over take a queen sized quilt, unless the bigger one is hideous.

Thinking of this, and your critque on binding, you will see perspective of how your quilt was judged. It might still be disappointing to you, but think of ways to improve on your binding and you will see a change in the judging.

Good Luck! And I agree with another, if your avatar is any idea of how you quilt, you make beautiful quilts. :thumbup:

After the initial hurt I would try and improve my binding. I would also enter some other shows. I think all negative feedback is no fun. I am sorry that is all they said. The quilt in your avatar looks awesome. Keep going and don't be too discouraged.

Take it as a compliment. Sometimes if the category is full of excellent quilts, the judge needs to eliminate a quilt to narrow down the field. If all the quilts have good workmanship, good design, good quilting but some have better binding, it's a way to find the very best. Should you improve your binding? Yes because it might have been the deciding factor in awarding the ribbons. Good Luck next time and enter it again. A different venue or judge make can make a defference too.

Judi,
It was the Blairsville show. I did not attend because I was in Florida.
I will post pictures of the quilts I entered. I was hoping for some constructive criticism. My friends and family all like my quilts so I thought a small town show might be a good way to start. I do know the binding on the beach quilt is not good. It is the first art quilt I did and I brought the binding over from the backing.
Here are the 3 quilts.