National Show Management
 

I was at the World of Quilts Show in Manchester, NH (Mancusco/Quilt Fest). Quite a few of us (the attendees) noticed that there were many quilts made from patterns/kits and books, yet not one person gave credit to the designer. (Nor where there many credits given to the people who longarm quilted the quilts). I spoke with David Mancusco and he basically blew me off with "we can't regulate what people write for their entry forms". Oh yes they can!

I've seen entry blanks for other shows that state clearly that the quilter MUST give credit to the designer. Many don't allow kit quilts to be entered. Others state that if the quilt pattern comes from a book or magazine, it must be listed as such. If the judges find out that the quilt is not original and no credit is given, it is disqualified from the show.

What do you think? Thanks!

I am surprised to hear of this. At our local quilt show, there are forms to fill out that ask the pattern name, if it is an original design, and who quilted it. I thought all quilt shows did that. I honestly had not thought of a quilter not giving credit to the designer...

Dina

Seems to me it was most of the quilters that entered weren't interested in listing the designer, pattern or who did the quilting. Many feel if they made the quilt that is all the matters. Each show has different rules. I go to a show to look at quilts and like you most of us can tell what designer or pattern was used, I don't need to look for the acknowledgment of it. Rarely are quilt shows limited to original designs only. I've see Bonnie Hunter pattern quilts at Paducah, quilts made from kit won Best in Show at one show I attended last year.

Was there a category for original quilts?

I definitely think that the longarmer and pattern designer should be recognized in the information about the quilt, and shame on Mancusco for not requiring that information. I'm iffy about quilts from kits, since they are generally just as much work to put together as quilts from stash (other than fabric selection, that is). I seldom look at the credits unless I'm particularly interested in a quilt, and then I want to know the name of the pattern, if there is one. If the quilting is exceptional then I also want to know who quilted it. They may have books, videos, or classes that I can learn from.

The largest shows I've attended have been in Lakeland, FL and Raleigh, NC so I wouldn't readily recognize many designers or even kits. However, as a former English teacher and current school media specialist plagarism and proper citing of sources is a constant part of my instructional time. I really don't understand someone being comfortable taking credit for someone else's work. It's not about just giving viewers the proper information; the real issue is honesty.

I was in a lot of competition with my quilts in the 90s and none of the entry forms every requested who the designer was.

I'm one of the "unwashed and uneducated ones" that would not know who the designer was or what pattern was used.

It's easy to spot most popular pattern designers, their works are all over the the quilt world, in magazines, tv quilt shows, you tube, emails from shops, blogs, forums, facebook, and books. It's rare not to know a few designers by their style and patterns. Eleanor Burns, Jenny Beyer, Bonnie Hunter? Now I'm seeing a lot of Jenny Doan's patterns from her tutorials at quilt shows. The last show I went to, everyone walked by and said Oh it's a Jenny Doan pattern! Hard not to know hers.

I didn't know Jenny Doan had any original patterns. Everything I've seen her demo has been around for a long time, but she generally uses pre-cuts and sometimes changes the method used to make it.

I am surprised, too. I think that info should be shared. Like the old expression says, give credit where it is due. I also like to know where I can find a pattern used.

I think many of the new quilters don't know about old patterns. If they see someone do a you tube video then it sticks to being that person's pattern. Jenny always says it's an old pattern not her design.

Even in our local guild show we require the designer name. We also require the quilter name and have judging categories for both hand and machine quilting. I don't have a problem with kits---since many of us see those in catelogs, sure we recognize them. I figure in shows that jury in quilts, kits may not fare well anyway.

When I belonged to a quilt guild, and we were having a quilt show, right on the entry form was a space for the name of the pattern, where it came from and who quilted it, it was mandatory. Now if a small guild, about 125 then, can do that, there's no excuse why Mancuso couldn't do the same.

It could be the show management didn't put that information on the label. Labels used to have more information at the show in Paducah there is very little info and I know they used to put in much more because I enjoyed reading it.

I agree that if a quilt is not an original design, the name of the pattern and designer should be indicated, and certainly whoever worked on the quilt should be given credit.

Certainly a kit should be acknowledged. I know ladies that change out one or two fabrics to claim it isn't a kit. Wrong, wrong, wrong. A kit is a kit. What I can't stand in today's times is everyone renames their patterns so they can sell them as unique to them. Often it is the setting that is unique the patterns have been around for ages. Good designers acknowledge the common block names in their settings. Everyone should be acknowledged for their creativity. The show rules can't keep out dishonest people. They can try but there will always be people who justify a quilt as their own.

Who is "most of us"? I've been quilting for more than 10 years, and couldn't recognize very many designs by the designer. I may know that I have seen that one before, but probably don't know who designed it.
If you have entry forms, the name of the designer, piecer, quilter, and whether it is a kit or not is easy to check off. Our show had a "Best of Show" that was a kit. I've seen it many times now, but still couldn't tell you who designed it.

I would prefer to see all this information on the tag for the quilt at the show. By having this information available, we are "educating" the public, and next time they may be able to recognize a designer.

IMHO every quilt in every show - large or small - should have the name of the pattern, designer, who made the top and who quilted it. If the quilter found it in a magazine, then say so. If it was made from a pattern, then recognize the company name/name of designer. If the quilt was quilted by the top maker, say so; if it was quilted by someone else then name them. Unless the quilter absolutely started from her/his personal design, all people should be given credit. To me it's the only fair way. I cringe when I see the info cards that do not include such info - which may lead me or others to "assume" that the person's name in th card did everything. Come I people, even if it's a small local show be reasonable. Plus it helps viewers know where the pattern came from and who quilted it should they be interested in locating the pattern or use the quilter's services.

I hope you all don't think I'm being too stringent about this - just think about all this info and how it can really help. I also think this info should be on the quilt label, too. How often do we wish we knew the name and location of a quilter on an old quilt. Thanks for letting me write about something I believe in.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

Oh, and I forgot to mention how appalled I am to the response from Mr. Mancuso about this. A friend of mine has always been unhappy with their shows - not sure why - but with this attitude, it might change my mind about ever going to one his shows.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

I think there is a happy medium. Lately there have been a lot of discussions on the Modern Quilt Guild Blog and spinoffs regarding influenced and derivative works. Unfortunately in the quilting world it is very hard to draw a standard line. And the shows don't want to do so because they might have some liability if they do. If they don't ask, then the liability probably rests on the entrant (i.e. they dont' have to do any verifying). Is it right? Not if you are someone other than the entrant.

That said, I do agree with the OP that quilt shows should request all the information - designer/inspiration, piecer, quilter, etc.

When I enter a quilt in a show, I list the pattern or designer on the entry form (if it's not my own design). I've been kind of stewing about what's going on with the national modern guild and their talk of "derivatives" and the hoops you need to go through in getting permission to use a design idea. I can understand if you've obviously used a particular pattern or a readily identifiable design. But much of what I do is based on things I've seen somewhere but I'm not intentionally copying something that I can refer back to. For instance, according to the modern guild, if you place your HST's in a certain way that some designer already used, you'd have to get permission. It's enough to not want to enter shows.

I will say, though, I am irritated when I go to a show and see a quilt that is obviously a copy of something and there is no reference on the quilt's info sheet of the original designer. A few months ago there was a quilt with cute little birdies that was from a birdie-a-month thing I saw on a blog. There was no mention of the blog. I'm sure that the person who made the quilt knew the blog since they used it every month for their birdie block.

From the perspective of a beginner quilter, I see a quilt as being a collective of talent. If it is an original design by the person who made the quilt, then I am even more in awe of their skill and talent. If someone else quilted it, that is part of the history of the quilt. If it is hand quited, then I see that as a different set of skills. A quilt takes a lot of work and effort to make. I want to know the story behind it so that I can appreciate what I am looking at. There is a big difference between the "Mona Lisa" and a reproduction of the "Mona Lisa." Right now, I have three quilt kit projects that I will be working on in the coming months. Each one will teach me a different skill. I am grateful to the designers that I am able to make something so beautiful while I learn from them. The day will probably come that I will design my own quilt. I know that if I entered my own design into a competition, then I would want that to be distinguished from other quilts where kits were used. Also, if a designer is trying to make a name for themselves, quilters are able to acknowledge and promote the designer. Many people will see a design that they like and want to purchase a copy of the pattern. Knowing the name of the pattern and the designer is extremely helpful. I personally would like to see as much information as possible when I am looking at a quilt. I mean no offense when I say this, but a kit is more like a paint-by-numbers reproduction of an original masterpiece, or a knock-off vs. a Vera Wang. While there is still skill involved in making the quilt, and some choose to make their own interpretation of the original--there can still be only one original. It is my opinion that show promoters have an obligation to recognize everyone involved in the making of a quilt. It's a matter of integrity. In a perfect world, a quilt made using a kit should only be competing against another quilt made using a kit, just as hand quilters should only be competing against other hand quilters, all things being equal. The show in Manchester charged $12.00 for tickets. Somebody is making a profit. They owe it to the public to list complete information about the quilts they are showing.

There are two quilt shows in my general area next month. The entry forms do not ask for name of pattern or designer, just the name of the quilt, size of the quilt, machine or hand pieced by, machine or hand quilted by, name or names. That's all. Most have the pattern or designer info in the general comment about your quilt section of the entry form. Just about half the quilts are made from classes held at shops or guilds in the last two years, the others from patterns or books or from online. Maybe one or two original designs if any. I read where some designers do not want their designs shown at shows made by others. I think it's a matter of liability for the show owner for a big show. Bigger show better chance of a lawsuit.

This discussion can get very intense....I have personal thoughts on it, but will keep them to myself. But I will say, having entered several competitions, albeit, local, the info requested was minimal and up to each entrant's discretion as to how much. But, it has been several yrs since I entered anything, anywhere. This same kind of discussion was raised when longarm and dsm quilting became acceptable and more prevelant. Now with modern quilting being so "free form" so to speak, it is another point of contention.

if one wants to distinguish between a kit entry and a pick your own fabric, then will precut vs. you cut be the next
delineation?

All the comments have been most welcome. I guess I am basically saying, if someone makes a quilt, granted they made it. However, if they copied a quilt pattern from a book/magazine/pattern, the original designer should get credit. Nothing wrong with making quilts from books/magazines/patterns, I do it all the time (I am not talented enough to design my own yet). But to me, fair is fair. I am currently working on a variation of the Bento Box pattern and if I ever enter it somewhere (which I doubt...I am not that good), I will certainly give credit to the designer of the Bento Box pattern. I guess the one quilt which really irked me was a Sunbonnet Sue quilt - made from a book (perhaps the blocks were in a different order) using her own choice of fabrics. No where was it mentioned that it was from the book.(It was even titled the same name as the book). Yes, I know, Sunbonnet Sue patterns are public domain, but this particular quilt was "specific" - not the traditional SBS patterns. (Note: if you were at the show, you probably know which quilt I am talking about).

Maybe I am just being too picky. All the quilts were absolutely stunning, regardless of where the patterns originated!!! I am blown away with how talented people are and hope someday to be able to make a quilt worthy of an international or national show.

Thanks for listening to my rant. I truly hope no one takes offense, as this is just my opinion.

AQS rules dictate you must get written permission from the designer if the quilt is not original. From their 2017 rules:
"Any quilt that cannot bedefined as an original piece requires written designpermission from the inspiration source(s)."
But they do not have any place to list if the quilt was professionally quilted by another. For that, the entrant must enter the quilt with the longarmer listed as co-entrant but that is up to the discretion of the quilt owner. Many professionally longarmed quilts are entered as a solo artist and the longarmer has no idea unless the owner tells them or they happen to attend the show.

MQX does ask about pattern and I believe they also require written permission. They also have a place to list who quilted it if the entrant is not also the quilter. Many patterns have the permission printed right on the pattern.

But what is a person to do if there is no way to contact the designer. Say you entered a quilt that Pam Bono designed. She has passed away. How do you get written permission, contact her estate? It seems to me it should be enough to credit the designer. I would think designers would want people to enter their quilts into shows.

I know quiltworx (Judy Neimeyer) asks you to send them pictures if you ribboned. But when I tried to do that with Agave Garden my email bounced. I cited the pattern and Judy as the designer but did not supply any kind of written permission. I took at as given that their website wants to see pics of ribboning quilts. MQX did not question it.

Bonnie Hunter got inundated with emails a few years ago when McCalls published the article about copyright and shows and more shows started putting in the rule about written permission. She had to blog a blanket "Permission" and begged people to stop flooding her in box with requests.

I agree with the OP that it is the right thing to do to cite your pattern or source but it has gotten overboard with having to ask permission to show the quilt. And there have been debates here ad-nausiam about it (where copyright falls in such a circumstance). I am in the camp that copyright DOES allow you to show the end product you made from a purchased pattern but certain articles beg to differ. I would think the free publicity would help them to sell patterns and they would want that. It is the smart designer that puts permission right on the pattern to avoid the debacle when trying to enter a quilt made from one in a show that demands written permission.

I think a lot of this has lead to the popularity of EQ. You can design you own quilts even with public domain blocks. The MQG is taking it to the extreme and I think it will hurt them in the long run.

I have seen quite a few long-armers on this board, post quilts that they have quilted. They didn't make the tops. Do they have permission to do that? What does the one who pieced the top think about that? They are not given credit a lot of times.

Maviskw - I must agree with you about long-arm Quilter's - how about when they win ribbons for their quilting but the maker of the quilt top is not even mentioned. The quilt needs piecing, appliqué, etc. plus quilting to win that ribbon. New and experienced Quilter's should become aware of citing all that goes into their quilts - for now and for the future. It's just like making a label for your quilt and adding a label that might say: "Made for Bobby on his 10th birthday by Grandma Jean". Unfortunately I do not have any family quilts labeled like this but I do have other family pieces that my paternal Grandma labeled - with a piece of adhesive tape on the bottom that says over 100"years old - from Gramdna ***". My grandma died in 1974 and I'm not sure which one of my great or great-great grandmas she's refering to and have no clue when she made this miserable label. I am raising my hand to say that yes, I'm a believer in citing as much info as you can. Future Quilter's will be dancing with joy. Oh, and I forgot - I purchased an antique coxcomb appliqués quilt a few months ago. It kmow it came from 1868 because the quilter actually quilted the date into the quilt - but only added her initial. The sellers had no other info.

Thanks so much for letting me vent. Sometimes I really jump on that soapbox - I appreciate your patience.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

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