Is it frowned on if the back is pieced together? I'm talking big hunks of fabric fit together to make a piece big enough--nothing pretty. :lol:

I'm trying to decide which five quilts to put in a local show--it's put on by a guild. And of the five, which I should decide to have judged. I have six in mind, Kayak on the Lake being one, but the back is flannel and um... well, my daughter likes it. :wink: And it shows more work than the ones I just bought a wide back for.... :thumbup:

My Barn Quilt is another.... its back is fine, but I wonder about the pieces I had to add to the side of one row to get everything to fit--seems that one is fun to look at but no one should look TOO closely. :shock:

Give me some tips on this whole new world of judging (to me), please!

That's one of those things that will probably depend on the judge. Some will like it and some won't.

I say put them all in and see what happens....

Look on the entry form. Sometimes the entry materials will give you a good indication of the judging criteria. I found it helpful to show my quilts early on because the feedback, both from judges, and casual viewers, really helped me. Quilt police may pose as judges, so be forewarned.

I am not a great technical sewer - anything I make will have sewing errors, but I create my own designs and most have an artistic likability. If I was judged solely on execution, I'd be disappointed.

Hmm--that's what I'm wondering. Let me check the entry sheets....

I work with the local county fair quilt judges every year. They look at binding first, then the piecing, then the quilting. The only thing they judge on back is the quilting stitching. None has ever knocked off points for a pieced backing. I've seen some judges at smaller quilt shows get all hung up on being judges and nick pick the quilts to death. I had one quilt get rejected by a judge and it won Viewer's Choice! So enter your quilt, you never know!

There's nothing on the forms to give a clue about the judging, so I think I'll just have some of them judged. The Barn Quilt is fun to look at, especially the quilting--not done by me! :wink: Maybe I'll include the Kayak one then... thanks BellaBoo!! And everyone else for your replies.

Go for it barnbum, what have you to loose? Your quilts are too nice not to enter them and let folks enjoy.

If you Google Judging Criteria at Quilt Shows you will get PDF files for the criteria used at numerous shows all over the place...just to give you a general idea of who does what and where. In my experience, the back is definitely considered as an integral part of the whole.

the one thing I was marked down for was not stitching down the miter at the corner of the binding. Never thought of it

I don't think the backing matters just so it looks good. Sometimes they ask about 'art' on the backing. Mostly quilts are judged on workmanship, quilting, binding - thick enough and are the miters stitched down. I've found that the judges for my Guild's shows usually offer a little critical feedback and also include something to praise. If you didn't quilt it yourself make sure you indicate who did.

May in Jersey who should be working hard on her quilt for her Guild's show in May instead of hanging out online, LOL!

Thanks for all the feedback. There are only two quilters to credit--and I'd definitely do that--the quilting is such a big part of the quilt and no way can I take credit.
I've always stitch down the miters--although I've often wondered why and hate it. :lol:

Now to make final decisions. Then I have to baste forms to each quilt back and put each in a pillowcase with a form basted on each of those. It seems odd to stitch paper onto things, but I appreciate the fact they're trying to be careful.

May in Jersey--I hope you got your work done! :-D

Within our Guild of 40 women, those that entered quilts at the county fair were marked down for bindings more than anything else. Keep them full and naturally use double fabric folded, never single. The other thing was a small unclipped thread showing. Of course there was a judge once say the fabric design chosen was not conclusive with the pattern but what the hey---it was a beautiful quilt we all thought. Good Luck. Enter and learn. There is no shame in that.

Go ahead and enter them. Your quilts are beautiful. I think you will do great.

Not to interrupt or be too pushy or anything, but, last year at a local fair, my Sister in Law entered her quilt and took best of show. (Purple Ribbon) Her quilt back was pieced together with extra blocks to mimic the front in some places. So I guess that like others have said, it really is the discretion of the judges.

I have been to guild shows that have been open to the public where most all the quilts had different fabrics on the backs pieced together. In fact one quilt was "double sided". It was actually 2 quilts in one and it took the highest honors of the guild and peoples' choice.

Do what you think is best and in my opinion, may be pleasantly surprised. Good luck and keep us posted on how things go?

Oh I definitely will let you know what happens. The show is April 23-24th... and I have the week before off, so it works well, timing wise. And I'll have to take pictures of the other quilts there so you all can come! :wink:

HI Barn bum,
Good subjestions. And I agree the first thing is the full french binding. That is the double fab binding. Never a single layer.
The pieced backs are very popular and maybe an extra block worked in and a lable always. Some shows want a sleve on the back a certain way to hang them.
I would just go for it and learn. That is how we grow.
Best wishes.
Connie

Oops--I've never put a label on my quilts. I wrote my name and the date on one with a perm quilting marker once..I'm willing to do that. :-D

I think that the back should be your choice and I love pieced backs. Anyone can put on a plain back. My guild members use up the fabric left over from their quilt sometimes if they have enough.

What are quilt police? Thanks

Karla--I entered my chicken quilt in the GA National Fair and won a second place ribbon for it. (My first time ever to enter a quilt in any kind of show) The judges dinged me for not sewing down the miters in my binding corners (I didn't know to or I would have done it--lesson learned).

The back of that quilt is random pieces of leftover chicken fabrics from the front! They are all sizes and shapes and colors. When the quilts were hung for the show most all were hung with two quilts back to back to save space, but my quilt was hung alone so that people could see my back!! I thought it was a great compliment!

Go for it, girl!!!! Your quilts are gorgeous and I think the judges and the viewers would love to see your work. I know I certainly do!! And be sure to let us know how you do!!!!

They are just tacky people who think they are experts at all things quilt and are very critical of everyone else's work.

There are no "quilt police" on this board!!!

i agree, you never know!

Oh, LOL, thanks.

I have always sewn down the miter at the corners of the binding. I read in this thread that both ways were considered no no's by judges. What do you do???

As far as you not doing the quilting, be careful about the category you enter. Sometimes, whena quilt is made by one person and quilted by another, it is judged as a "group" quilt, so be sure to check the rules before you enter it.

Keep in mind that what a judge says is just one persons opinion. Judges look at binding, points being pointed, seams matching, quilting stitches being even and a host of other things. I think personal preference comes in to play some, too. A judge is just one person. The most important thing is that you like your quilt and are happy with your work. I think that we are our own worse critics.

quiltmom--I checked and if someone else quilted it, it can't be in the machine quilted category.

The number one thing to find out is what the rules are for entering the quilt - quilts. If there is a judge there that you can google and check a site to see what the pet peeves are it is in your best interest to do so. If this is just a local entry and more for fun and enjoyment it will still do you good to check out what the requirements are.

Number one rule to remember... make sure your quilts are totally free from pet hair. Its the simple things that will not even get your quilt considered.

Have fun with your contest and wishing you luck on your entries. We have won at juried shows before and it is very rewarding to get the ribbon. I found the judges remarks to be the most helpful.

Make sure you quilt is clean, no dog or cat hairs, no stray threads peeking from the seams or otherwise. Check the back as well.

Fold the quilts and measure to assure they are the same widthwise and lengthwise. I have seen quilts that are off by 1" or more.

Make sure the binding is full, i.e., batting, backing and top all the way to the fold of the binding.

If the quilt is to be hung, make sure there is no "waving" along the sides or bottom.

Good luck and let us know what the judges write in the comments.

Suz

when i enter quilts in a show i put down everone that worked on the quilt for instance my aunt does the machine quilting for me if i hand do part of the quilt i also say that on the entry for instance binding hand sewen ect you will get bett judgsment by doing that rather than just entwering it give yourself credit and also other that worked on the quilt

I guess I just meant that if you personally haven't actually quilted your quilt, you need to be clear when you enter it, so you don't take credit for (or are penalized for) someone else's work. It seems like before professional LAQ became so commonplace, this wasn't as much of an issue.

What do they mean "miters stitched down"? Do you pivot and stitch up to the corner?

on the backing issue:

the new jersey quiltfest showed several great quilts with backing made of pieces left over from the fronts. they were big chunks, not little bits, and they all matched the front. they were haphazard looking, not seemingly planned in any way, like frames or anything.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I wanted to wish you good luck. Penny.D

Go for it!!! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

put as many as you can in just like a few said i think it depends on the judge that day and also i to have learned a few things from the comments they leave on the back of my tagged quilt
i have never heard of sewing your form on the back of your quilt , that is a new one to me at our state fair we are given a 2 piece ticket when we enter both tickets have a number the divsion and your name o them then the ticket stub is pinned on the binding of the quilt and you must have the stub to get your quilt back and we are asked that what ever we bring our quilt in to drop it off that we take it back home because as you check it in the ladies wearing gloves hang them up right then and there while you wait

on french binding you sew the miter in but when you turn it to the back the judge stated that stitches were to be put in the miter itself....hard to explain, but I never do that and still don't

:thumbup: its not going to come apart but then I don't enter anything anymore

They mean that you need to invisibly sew the little bit of overlap on the mitered corner, so it lays flat and exactly a 45 degree angle to the binding, and not have that little pulled-open thing that sometimes happens if it's not stitched down.

thats a better explanation,

:thumbup: