I go to Quilt Shows to enjoy looking at the quilts, I think the name of the Pattern should be included, allowing others to buy this pattern if they desire to go further, it's also nice to see who made & quilted it.

I can't speak for others but I always ask permission from the person who has made the top and I do believe that is common practice for any professional LAQ. Some of my clients don't want to be named and have specifically asked but when they don't want to remain anonymous, I always mention it and you can go back through my picture posts to see I have always named who made the top. If I didn't that was because the person specifically asked that I don't.
All the LAQ that I know ask permission before posting pictures. Their business wouldn't last very long if they went around posting pictures on the web without permission.

ladyinpurple, When a LAQ quilts a quilt for pay it is returned to the maker of the top to be completed with the binding, blocking and hanging sleeve. Once quilting is completed and paid for it is returned to the owner. So it is doubtful that a LAQ has entered a quilt in a show and ribboned without the makers permission let alone without naming the maker. Don't forget that most LAQ also piece, applique, etc and I think it would be fair to say that any quilts they have entered where only their name appears on the label, they also made the top. At many big shows there are collaborations. For example, Ranae Haddaden and Karen Kay Buckley or Jan Hutchison and Gail Stepanek.

I have heard of many cases (from other quilters) where a quilt was professionally longarmed and entered into a show by the maker/owner of the top, wins best quilting ribbon and the ribbon is kept by the owner. This can be viewed two ways, the owner paid for the services of the LAQ, paid the fees and costs to get the quilt into the show and is entitled to keep the ribbon even though it was specifically for the quilting. Others think it would be a nice gesture to send it off to the quilter. Personally, I would be happy for the owner and would like to know but I don't feel the owner is obligated to forward the ribbon to the quilter even if the award was specifically for the quilting. Some shows (like MQX) will give two rosettes. One for the owner to keep and one for the quilter.

Feline Fanatic - we had a situation with my local quilt guild's show several years ago where the long arm quilter won a ribbon for her quilting and the quilt maker didn't even get recognized. She was not a happy person to say the least. The ribbon came from the local long arm group which, to me, made it worse. At the very least the quilt owner should have received some sort of recognition - a great quilt can be made even better with the quilting, but also can be made worse (I've seen that myself). On the other hand a nice but not spectacular quilt can be made mind-bogglingly beautiful with the right kind of quilting. As someone already said, it is a collaboration between the quilt owner and the person who quilted it and both need recognition, especially when a ribbon is involved. This is a subject that has so many aspects and all opinions are worthy. The big shows though should be smart about the whole collaboration. All my own opinions of course.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

This is an interesting discussion. I question why someone who makes a quilt top and then send it out to be quilted, calls themself a quilter.

Making quilt tops is part of quilting and is an art form in itself. Without someone piecing it, the long armer would have nothing to quilt. It's a two way street. I don't much do labels myself. It's too limiting for no apparent reason.

Except for whole cloth quilts, of course. No piecing involved in those. Or "cheater" quilts like panels or a fabulous fabric that can stand on it's own, like this one Charisma did several years ago http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...a-t202692.html . But I do agree that it is a two way street. I know I would not have gotten near as proficient as I am at longarming if people did not entrust me with their tops. With each one I gained experience and sharpened skills.

TCHK, welcome to the board. Many quilters send their quilts out for quilting, some lovingly refer to it as "quilting by checkbook". Some people don't like that part of the process at all but really enjoy creating tops. There is nothing wrong with that and they are still quilters in every sense of the word. Some people aren't physically able to man-handle an oversized quilt through their machine but will happily do smaller things like baby, toddler, lap quilts, wallhangings or other smalls like table runners. Some quilters may have been quite proficient in all aspects of quilting in their lives but age or illness or physical limitations prevent them from making the sandwich or hand quilting but they are still able to piece. And some do all their quilting but have made a masterpiece of a top and have a vision for the quilting they know they can't execute but know a skilled longarmer can. Its all good we are all quilters.

I think the term 'quiltmaker' solves the problem, as it doesn't specifically refer to any one stage of the process, so someone who prefers to piece only can use the term without creating confusion. I can understand the confusion that is sometimes generated when the term 'quilter' is applied to someone who expressly prefers not to quilt (that is, to sew the three layers of a quilt together).

Maybe for the same reason that someone that calls him/herself a builder and has someone else do the plumbing, electrical, roofing, floor coverings, and cabinetry still calls him/her-self a builder.

I began quilting when a " real quilter" hand pieced the quilt top. In addition, "a real quilter" hand quilted the quilt. So much for someone's rules. Quilting has enough parts for everyone. Each part of the quilting process is quilting, requiring creativity and skill. I have seen many changes and innovations in quilting--art quilts, quilt painting, embellishments, machine quilting, etc. Every part of quilting is quilting. Back to the original topic of giving credit at a quilt show. It does seem appropriate that anyone involved in the process of creating a quilt, beginning with pieces of fabric, thread and batting, should receive credit for their part.

I like that, Lisa