Quilt Shows: Kit or original
 

When we quilt, the difference between a quilt derived from a kit and one from original design is the difference between following a kit, and designing a kit. Obviously one is more difficult from another. At a recent judging of a show, the judge clearly was on the fence between first and second place. One was a kit, one was original. The inspiration for a quilt, albeit a photo, an original idea, a pattern, or a kit should be disclosed to judges in order to form a level playing field.

I don't think it should matter for judging if its from a kit, It should matter how well done it is, the person that had the kit might have done a better job, its just a difference in fabric, and I am sure judges know what work is original and whose patterns they are.

I agree I think it should matter how well it is done.

I'd be very surprised if every quilt judge knew every kit put together. Quilt design is as much a factor in judging quilts as the workmanship, and there are shows on the national level that will not accept kit quilts.

It's usually up to the show organizers to indicated the source of the quilt pattern, be it traditional, designed by someone else, inspired by something else or totally original.

Janet

I think transparency is always good. I was pleased that an annual show I enter has now required that you give the name of the quilter if it is not the same person as the maker of the top. If nothing else, it's nice to see what one local longarmer does compared to another so I know who to choose if I need one. And I'd rather be judged for my work if I do my own compared to someone who has a professional do the quilting. The same with an original design, a pattern, or a kit. Isn't it only ethical to disclose the designer of your quilt the way a musician names the composer of the music?

I totally disagree, especially when it's a quilt show (but even when posting it on a forum).

If you've entered a quilt into a show (or posted the picture), you're opening yourself up for or looking for some sort of reaction.

Now, my reaction could be/should be totally meaningless to you, but I'm entitled to it since you put your product out there.

Here's a recent example:
I saw a Moon Glow quilt in a quilt show recently.
What am I to think of it - as a judge or a viewer?
All it tells me is that the person knows how to use a sewing machine.

While I think it's a beautiful quilt, that quilter deserves none of the credit for it - not the coloring, fabrics, design, complexity.
They didn't create any of it.

Now, if someone had used the pattern but did their own coloring, a small kudo to them, because one can appreciate how much work went into creating a successful substitute palette to Jinny's original one.

Sometimes I see a great quilt posted here, and comment accordingly.
Reading subsequent posts, it turns out it was a pattern. And a kit.
Sort of makes me want to take my comment (admittedly meaningless) back, as the OP neglected to mention any of that in the op...it just came out when people asked about.
Silly me, I thought if it were relevant, it would have been posted with the picture.

So, all other things being equal, I'd give credence to the original over a kit any day.

eta: I sometimes chuckle thinking about the MoonGlow quilt that someone's going to find in an attic a hundred years from now, thinking they found a treasure, only to find out there are literally hundreds of them out there. ;-)

MTS, I must agree with your thoughts on this subject. Well said.

Every choice you make in creating a quilt is 'fair game' for judging. The design, the color and fabric selections, the thread, the quilting pattern, all of it. It's far more than simply the workmanship, it's the final combination of correct choices made by the quilter...that's what is rewarded.

If you create a quilt from a kit, the choices have mostly been made for you. Even using a pattern, you are making fewer decisions than someone who creates a quilt of their own design. It's like going through a maze. If you had to make twenty correct turns to reach the end, shouldn't you get a bigger treat than if you only had to make seven?

I've never entered a show but I assumed that there was a scoring scheme for different elements? If there was, clearly you would get nothing for design if you used a kit, but then again, if you scored extra highly on other criteria you might still do better with a kit than someone who designed their own. Is this not the way it works?

I agree with MTS.

DITTO, ditto!

Again, I say, following a kit, or designing a kit....they just aren't the same. Kit quilts and pattern quilts should be stated/declared as such in any quilt show!

...and if this post makes me a captain in the quilt police dept, I wear my badge proudly!

MTS did a good job of expressing my thoughts. I have never entered a quilt anywhere, but it seems there should be different categories. If it were cooking I'm sure a cake from a mix and a cake from scratch would be in separate categories, and a cake from scratch that is also an original recipe would be in its own category. Different levels of creativity should be considered as well as workmanship.

I agree, if we are talking about judged shows, there should be disclosure. And the item should be judged accordingly.

However, I believe if we are talking about sharing quilts on a personal level, for instance posts here on QB, we are getting awful close to "quilt police" territory if we try and dictate what information should be disclosed. Sometimes, it is nice to know. But, if it is omitted, it isn't for any one of us to stand in judgement.

I agree with MTS wholeheartedly. I only enter our small regional show and though it's not required, I always mention in my exhibit tag that my quilt is an original design.

Here on the QB, while I don't think it's something that should be required, it is courteous and proper to give credit to the designer of the quilt when posting it. Generally if you don't do that, and your quilt is admired, someone will ask.

Every show I have entered has a separate category if it is a kit. Also, in my experience originality does count higher with judges, but well done is well done. Even with a kit if the workmanship is exceptional, it should be honored.

I have seen some beautiful patterns from designers in a lot of shows with handwork, hand quilting, that is just gorgeous and I think they should get credit for something that took 3 years to create, orginality is always taken into consideration, but some people do good work that just are not creative in that area of design but they should be able to win prizes and ribbons for their work, their creativity may lie in the quilting and not the pattern design. I think quilts can be admired for their workmanship and skill. If we put limits on what should go into shows, I think that is just ridiculous because I have seen some spectacular quilting on kits in shows and the quilt was beautiful because of the amazing quilting. and most shows do require to disclose the piecer designer and quilter if not all are the same then different names should be listed. I have seen this at quilt shows on the card. I think most judges are familiar with well know patterns. A dwr has been around forever but can be entered for quilting are and other choices made in the quilt, and I have also seen many traditional patterns in quilt shows, are we to penalize them because its not original. Thats why they have different categories LAQ, machine quilted, applique, pictorial

Gosh, some of the replies seem rather harsh to me. I like to buy kits, and patterns too. I don't put any quilts in shows and sew for my own enjoyment. I didn't know there were such strong feelings about using patterns or kits. I thought this place was safe and fun. I guess I have met the quilt police.

I agree! Some of the posts are very harsh.

The original post was about a judged quilt show. The judging is supposed to be harsh in order to find the absolute best. In our own posts, if you do not give credit to the designer and quilter and piecer of a quilt when you post a picture of a quilted piece, then it is assumed that you have done all three. It's naive of us, of course, but we like to think that members would not steal the credit due to others.

At our local quilt show, we don't have judges, but do award 1 st. 2nd and 3rd-viewer's choice. At the last show, the top 2 viewer's choice were both kits. A bit disappointing, but it was what the public voted. Nowhere on the tag was it mentioned that they were kits and I don't think the general viewer would care.

I agree with you completely.

...but in "in my area" they don't have a category for kits and a category for original design. Take whatever category you wish to put a Baltimore Album. They don't have a Kit Baltimore Album category and an Original Baltimore Album category.

I agree this category has gotten rather harsh! tsk! tsp!

I agree that some of the responses here are quite harsh. For example, some of Jinny Beyer's designs and kits are incredibly difficult to do accurately, requiring quite a bit of skill. Her designs tempt me and I know I need her fabrics to carry them out...so why not buy the pattern and the necessary fabric together? Which means, buy the kit...then try to get the matches right and the points pretty!

All the shows I've seen require you to disclose if you use a pattern. I've never seen anything to ask if it was a kit or a pattern, but they do want to know if it wasn't all your original work.

The judges have their own guidelines and that's their business and the business of the entrants to go by the rules. As a quilt show goer, the only requirement I like to see listed is if there is a pattern for the quilt. If I like it, I want to make one too!

I know an NQA certified judge who recused herself from judging a quilt that she knew to be a kit. The judge herself had designed the quilt, had selected the fabrics and had sold the kit...no way was she going to judge it! She did NOT tell the other two judges until AFTER the judging was completed.

This was at a show that, because of copyright concerns, requires you to have written permission from the designer of any quilt you enter that is not your original work...something that is more and more common for shows and even competitive challenges such as the Keepsake Quilting challenges.

[QUOTE=.

This was at a show that, because of copyright concerns, requires you to have written permission from the designer of any quilt you enter that is not your original work...something that is more and more common for shows and even competitive challenges such as the Keepsake Quilting challenges.[/QUOTE]

This seems to be to a step is the right direction. To not have this permission, and to enter a kit without acknowledging the designing is similar to entering a copy of the Mona Lisa in an Art Show. No matter how well it is copied, it isn't an original and shouldn't try to pass for one. Neither should a kit quilt. There is more to making a quilt than good sewing.

I agree with you. I am just proud of what I finish and want to share. Not be judged by the quilt police

If people don't want their quilts judged, it would be best to not enter them into judged shows! Those of us who enter judged shows would be pretty upset if they weren't judged- what did we pay that entry fee for?? :) :)