Quilt judging factors
 

A current thread about quality of current manufactured fabric has made me wonder about judging criteria. When quilts are judged is the quality of the fabric considered as a factor toward an award winning quilt? If everything else were totally equal, i.e., the construction details , the design and color details, quilting pattern, etc., but one quilt's fabric included pieces with a very loose weave, fabric most considered to be "cheap fabric", would that fabric affect the awarding of a prize?

that is a very good question. I think some shows are a little snobby that way. I would like to think your are judged by your talent.

I think a lot of judging is highly subjective, whether it's at a quilt show, dog show, or talent contest.

Good question. I think that if you make a well-constructed quilt, the quality of the fabric won't be an issue. The problem is making a well-constructed quilt with "cheap" fabric - if you applique, you are more apt to get frays, and pieced seams may pull apart. I'm not a quilt show judge, but I do know that judges don't have a lot of time to look at each quilt, so fabric quality doesn't seem to me to be a deal breaker.

Janet


Janet

I'm not a quilt show judge but i do judge quilts/clothing at the jr. fair level. When we judge clothing we look at the construction-is the method used appropriate for the type of fabric. We look at the type of fabric-is it the type recommended for that type of garment. are the seams finished properly?does it hang properly?
As far as the quilted items, again we look at the construction-are the seams holding or are they coming undone? If it is hand quilted-are the stitches even? For machine quilting, lines evenly spaced if doing a crosshatch, FMQ-are there eyelashes? Are the corners mitered? if so are they even or sloppy? If it finished "envelope style"-are the front and back even? Or does it look crooked and twisted when it's layed out?
We also consider the overall look. A pillow that is carefully done will outplace a large quilt that looks thrown together.

It seems to me that the description of "cheap fabric" is also subjective. We have members who won't shop at
Walmart's fabric department, some that won't shop at chain stores of any name apparently, others who find cheap fabric at their LQS and tout only some particular brands and recommend only a half dozen on line fabric stores. There are ones who apparently won't consider using cotton/poly blends in their quilt tops and ones who love the blends. Ones who swear about the beauty of Kona solids and ones who won't have them in their quilts. We seem to be a very decidedly devisive group of picky quilters. But, my, do we ever manage to make wonderfully beautiful award winning quilts!

There's cheap, and there's inexpensive. I would think that if the quilt looks like it was made with cheap fabric, then that means it doesn't look very good, and probably wouldn't win a prize. Inexpensive fabric, on the other hand, just means that you got a bargain, and you should get extra points for that. :thumbup:

quality is quality- doesn't matter where it came from or how much you paid for it- there is no way for a judge to know if you spent $12 a yard, or if you spent $2 a yard-
if someone uses (cheap-as in low quality fabric) that is loose weave, doesn't hold it's shape, is apparently yukky- the quilt is not going to win any prizes- it may be critiqued about fraying edges, wavy seams, ect...
if you pay $1 or $2 a yard for decent fabric the quilt may win prizes- it really does boil down to the quality of workmanship & technique along with visual appeal.

I think it's more that we are a decidely diverse group of quilters with personal preferences. Everyone's comfortable working with products that they like, and there's nothing wrong with that, in quilting or elsewhere.

I like hearing about everyone's favorite products, because it opens me up to giving something new a try.

I like fabric that seems to stay true to color after it is pre washed. I agree with ckcowl quality is quality and the price we happen to pay for it is immaterial.................pardon the pun :)