Questions about quilt show judges
12-01-2011, 07:53 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
Originally Posted by DogHouseMom
Lori,
From your answers I have two more questions.
In the first paragraph you said that comments (if given) may come as "Judge 1". So presumably the quilts are judges by multiple judges? I knew that there are multiple judges at a given show, but I thought each judge had an assignment of "Bed Quilts" and another "Wall Quilts" - then perhaps they all vote on the Best in Show etc. No?
Comment: Not always some do use a single judge for a "category" but the many do not especially a larger one. And even if there are for example 3 judges for a category , you may only get comments from 1 or 2 or maybe even none at all. The judges comments are typically optional .. not required of the judges.
In another paragraph you mention that some competitions have a reputation for certain things like traditional quilts. This would indicate that either they hire the same judge(s) year after year, OR they are giving the judges instructions as to what they want (or what is preferred). Do you know which it is, or is it both?
Comment: If they do not indicate in advance the judges , you just don't know if they have changed the mix of judges... and the overall "flavor" in favor that year. Some I can almost guess at the ages of the judges as the comments on method are confined to a 'era" of quilting.
So far the only similarity I see between quilt shows and dog shows is that the process of choosing placements for quilts is a subjective matter given to the knowledge, preferences, and whims of the individual judge.
From your answers I have two more questions.
In the first paragraph you said that comments (if given) may come as "Judge 1". So presumably the quilts are judges by multiple judges? I knew that there are multiple judges at a given show, but I thought each judge had an assignment of "Bed Quilts" and another "Wall Quilts" - then perhaps they all vote on the Best in Show etc. No?
Comment: Not always some do use a single judge for a "category" but the many do not especially a larger one. And even if there are for example 3 judges for a category , you may only get comments from 1 or 2 or maybe even none at all. The judges comments are typically optional .. not required of the judges.
In another paragraph you mention that some competitions have a reputation for certain things like traditional quilts. This would indicate that either they hire the same judge(s) year after year, OR they are giving the judges instructions as to what they want (or what is preferred). Do you know which it is, or is it both?
Comment: If they do not indicate in advance the judges , you just don't know if they have changed the mix of judges... and the overall "flavor" in favor that year. Some I can almost guess at the ages of the judges as the comments on method are confined to a 'era" of quilting.
So far the only similarity I see between quilt shows and dog shows is that the process of choosing placements for quilts is a subjective matter given to the knowledge, preferences, and whims of the individual judge.
Last edited by Lori S; 12-01-2011 at 07:56 AM.
12-01-2011, 08:43 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 1,099
My head is spinning with all the questions asked.
I can answer a few for you.
If there are multiple judges, they all judge all the quilts. They tally the scores and the one with the highest wins. I like when there is more than one judge. The main reason I like to have multiple judges is that they all may have something they really look for, another one may really like something else. Having more than one, just seems to level out the
playing field. I LOVE reading the comments. You can learn tons by those comments. Most judges are very kind.
Some judges are announced and others are not. I do know that if they end up with a tie - they can get down to the nitty gritty and do some measuring.
I do keep my comment cards to make sure that when I enter another show, I know what I really have to work on.
It is great fun to enter quilts and see what happens. You never know!
I can answer a few for you.If there are multiple judges, they all judge all the quilts. They tally the scores and the one with the highest wins. I like when there is more than one judge. The main reason I like to have multiple judges is that they all may have something they really look for, another one may really like something else. Having more than one, just seems to level out the
playing field. I LOVE reading the comments. You can learn tons by those comments. Most judges are very kind.
Some judges are announced and others are not. I do know that if they end up with a tie - they can get down to the nitty gritty and do some measuring.
I do keep my comment cards to make sure that when I enter another show, I know what I really have to work on.
It is great fun to enter quilts and see what happens. You never know!
12-01-2011, 09:03 AM
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,460
My only suggestion is to put your best effort in and hope that the judges are fair. If you don't like how you do in this show/competition enter it in another. I am always amazed and sometimes appalled at where ribbons are awarded. I don't take it to heart because you can't see what the judges see. Good luck with your entry and remember judging is so subjective that there are no hard and fast rules.
12-01-2011, 09:11 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CA and MN
Posts: 378
Boy did you open a ball of wax! LOL. That being said I will do my best to answer some of your questions from my experience in both entering shows and judging them.
Quilt shows and the judges vary widely in that some judges are certified (by different institutions like the National Quilting Association) and some are not. In the majority of shows judges are volunteers.
There are specific guidelines that should be followed, some of which include....entered in right category, rules followed (i.e., sleeve attached), squaring of quilts, points matched, uniform stitching, color choices, pattern choices, nice corners, good thread tension, etc.
And yes, a tape measure is routinely used. Not to measure "all" lines but in cases where eyballing doesn't look quite right in an area they measure to make sure. A good example of this is when one side of the binding appears to be larger or smaller than another.
Quilt judges are not supposed to be biased in their choices but they, too, are human. Some judges prefer contemporary, while others are tradidtional die-hards and do not like anything "new".
Most of the larger quilt shows, i.e., state fair competitions, will tell you who the judges are. Sometimes you can contact the entering organization and find out ahead of time. Trying to get a volunteer judge is often hard and they do not know ahead of time who that judge will be.
All this being said, here are some guidelines to follow when entering a quilt for judging: Make sure you have entered quilt in right category and have followed all requirements, i.e., attached sleeves. Entry should be clean and free of all odors. Entry should not be from a kit - most shows specifically disallow this. Color choices and pattern choices are important. Blocks/sashing should be uniform, quilts should be squared. For best results, corners should be mitered. Quilting stitches should be uniform with good tension. And one of the most important rules that judges critique is that the batting should fully fill the binding -- this means if you are sewing a 1/4" seam your batting should extend about 1/8" more so that when it is completely attached you cannot pinch the edges and not encounter batting.
I hope this helps and good luck!
Quilt shows and the judges vary widely in that some judges are certified (by different institutions like the National Quilting Association) and some are not. In the majority of shows judges are volunteers.
There are specific guidelines that should be followed, some of which include....entered in right category, rules followed (i.e., sleeve attached), squaring of quilts, points matched, uniform stitching, color choices, pattern choices, nice corners, good thread tension, etc.
And yes, a tape measure is routinely used. Not to measure "all" lines but in cases where eyballing doesn't look quite right in an area they measure to make sure. A good example of this is when one side of the binding appears to be larger or smaller than another.
Quilt judges are not supposed to be biased in their choices but they, too, are human. Some judges prefer contemporary, while others are tradidtional die-hards and do not like anything "new".
Most of the larger quilt shows, i.e., state fair competitions, will tell you who the judges are. Sometimes you can contact the entering organization and find out ahead of time. Trying to get a volunteer judge is often hard and they do not know ahead of time who that judge will be.
All this being said, here are some guidelines to follow when entering a quilt for judging: Make sure you have entered quilt in right category and have followed all requirements, i.e., attached sleeves. Entry should be clean and free of all odors. Entry should not be from a kit - most shows specifically disallow this. Color choices and pattern choices are important. Blocks/sashing should be uniform, quilts should be squared. For best results, corners should be mitered. Quilting stitches should be uniform with good tension. And one of the most important rules that judges critique is that the batting should fully fill the binding -- this means if you are sewing a 1/4" seam your batting should extend about 1/8" more so that when it is completely attached you cannot pinch the edges and not encounter batting.
I hope this helps and good luck!
12-01-2011, 09:21 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,143
This is an interesting topic! I have never entered a quilt in competition, and probably won't ever do so, but I have volunteered to help the judge at the local fair for the past 2 years. (The helpers don't help with the judging itself - we just lay out the quilts as requested by the judge and re-fold them when she's done. We have to struggle to keep our mouths closed so we don't influence the judge. We help with the paperwork if requested, but sometimes the judge brings her own assistant to do that.) The judging at this kind of event is much less structured than I assume it would be at a big event. At the fair the judge is not given any particular instructions, except a list of the categories and prizes to be awarded. The judge can eliminate a quilt from its category if it's not eligible. I've been disappointed in the number of comments written down, because I think the comments would really help the quilters.
12-01-2011, 04:54 PM
#16
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Cloverdale, Oregon
Posts: 39
This is a very interesting topic. I have wondered if winning quilts represent trends. Are most of the "Best of Show" applique? The current trend seems to indicate a preference for heavily quilted and lots of stippling. I wondered if there were a formula for designing a winning quilt? Can a traditional pieced quilt win? Just some ruminations from me.
12-02-2011, 04:35 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 941
Originally Posted by bettyboop32953
This is a very interesting topic. I have wondered if winning quilts represent trends. Are most of the "Best of Show" applique? The current trend seems to indicate a preference for heavily quilted and lots of stippling. I wondered if there were a formula for designing a winning quilt? Can a traditional pieced quilt win? Just some ruminations from me.
I may enter my quilts in shows, but I don't design them for shows. I just try to do the best I can and make the quilt I want to make. If the judges like it, terrific. If they don't, who really cares? I like looking at my quilts, they make me feel good.
Janet
12-02-2011, 05:03 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Syracuse,NY
Posts: 1,500
Originally Posted by Lori S
Frequently the names of the judges are never revealed , as with so many competions there are those who will challenge a judge if they believe the judge/s made an error. Those compitions that the judges comment, very often the judge just uses a number tocomment ex: Judge 1 - binding lacks fullness ...and such. I have seen competitions where no comments are left , and the judging takes place in hours that are off of the regular show hours. Some give comments on all quilts entered with both good comments and areas for improvement.
Some competitions get a "reputation" for certain things ... I have seen one where if it was not tradtional ... don't bother... and others that "art" quilts are highly prized.
As for measuring quilting distance ... I have not seen it .. but that does not mean there isn't that one judge that does it. So much of it is soo... subjective and particular to a specific competition.. that there is no set standards. I have seen magnifying glasses used but not often.
I entered one competition with two quilts. One was by all quilters that saw it far superior to the other in just about every way, colors, difficulty , quilting, you name it .... and I won with the what many thought to be the lesser quilt. I was stunned! ... and I never got to ask anyone why one was considered best over the other. I was just told the judges thought that one was the best.... and never knew who the judges were or where they came from. This taught me just how subjective these things really are... .
I would love to see your quilt !
Some competitions get a "reputation" for certain things ... I have seen one where if it was not tradtional ... don't bother... and others that "art" quilts are highly prized.
As for measuring quilting distance ... I have not seen it .. but that does not mean there isn't that one judge that does it. So much of it is soo... subjective and particular to a specific competition.. that there is no set standards. I have seen magnifying glasses used but not often.
I entered one competition with two quilts. One was by all quilters that saw it far superior to the other in just about every way, colors, difficulty , quilting, you name it .... and I won with the what many thought to be the lesser quilt. I was stunned! ... and I never got to ask anyone why one was considered best over the other. I was just told the judges thought that one was the best.... and never knew who the judges were or where they came from. This taught me just how subjective these things really are... .
I would love to see your quilt !
12-02-2011, 05:27 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: West Texas
Posts: 2,073
Quilt Show Judging
Most of my quilts are for charity, and I am by no means an expert quilter. I have entered quilts in local fairs and other small shows. Although the difficulty level of my quilts is low, I try to do a good job on the quilts that I enter. I find that when I think I might enter something in a show, I try harder to do meet high standards, and it develops my skills.
I once attended a guild workshop taught by a certified quilt judge, and it was very helpful in revealing what the judging standards are and learning about the behind-the-scenes judging process.
I enter shows for 2 reasons: to get a critique, and to share my quilt with others. I enjoy seeing other quilts, and I think that my quilts will contribute to the enjoyment of both quilters and non-quilters. If I keep those reasons forefront in my mind, then I am not disappointed about the outcome of the judging or the "fairness" of the judges.
A footnote: some shows have awards given by non-judges, such as "peoples choice" or "sponsors choice". It is always interesting to see which quilts are chosen for those awards, since they represent what ordinary people think is a great quilt.
I once attended a guild workshop taught by a certified quilt judge, and it was very helpful in revealing what the judging standards are and learning about the behind-the-scenes judging process.
I enter shows for 2 reasons: to get a critique, and to share my quilt with others. I enjoy seeing other quilts, and I think that my quilts will contribute to the enjoyment of both quilters and non-quilters. If I keep those reasons forefront in my mind, then I am not disappointed about the outcome of the judging or the "fairness" of the judges.
A footnote: some shows have awards given by non-judges, such as "peoples choice" or "sponsors choice". It is always interesting to see which quilts are chosen for those awards, since they represent what ordinary people think is a great quilt.
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