Entering a Quilt question
 

I'll be entering a quilt in our October show this year and was wondering if washing it first is a no-no. It will have a lot of white in it and I don't trust that it will be spotless. I personally like the crinkled look but suppose I could iron it before hand. Thanks, Karen

will watch this for sure

If I'm entering a show, I usually wash my quilts in cold water, then block them while they're damp. That way they hang straight(er) in the show. Washing helps the batting to puff up a bit and removes any marking lines. The quilts don't crinkle unless they go in the dryer.

Janet

is the crinkly look a no-no for a quilt show?

This is what I'm curious about.

To be honest, I don't know if crinklies are a no-no or not. I like how my quilts look when they come off the frame, so it's not an issue for me - crinkles hide the hand quilting design.

Being clean and hanging relatively flat and straight do seem to be important, and if you can accomplish this by washing, then it's a good thing to do. I find that quilts that I wash and dry tend to uncrinkle themselves over time, anyway.

Janet

I have served as a scribe to judges several times at my guild's quilt shows and most of them don't want the "crinkly" look. One even told me she expects quilts entered in shows to hang straight and smooth "like a sheet of paper". Of course much of that depends on basic construction, but sometimes washing a quilt will make it draw up. I wouldn't wash it before the show if you don't have to unless you find dirty areas or something. If you feel you must wash it, be sure and block it as Hinterland suggested to try and get it as smooth as possible.

If it is a judged show then the appearance is important. That is no soil, pet hair or smell. So if washing will assure this then wash it. I don't know about "judges don't like the crinkled look" This is a personal preference on the part of the judge and not a universal requirement. The statement "I don't like" should not be part of the judges comments either expressed aloud in the judging room or written..

You need to find out the "rules" of the quilt show.

Here, your quilt would not allowed to be entered if it had been washed.

to enter a quilt in our State fair that is a requirement that it be washed and clean