Disappointed with quilt show judging
#121
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 320
I don't think I will enter any quilt shows after hearing this. My binding is terrible. I love the piecing part and my quilting stitches are very even and perfect but my binding....not so much. I guess my quilts are meant to be loved and used but not entered in shows.
#122
Originally Posted by HomespunHandmaiden
I don't think I will enter any quilt shows after hearing this. My binding is terrible. I love the piecing part and my quilting stitches are very even and perfect but my binding....not so much. I guess my quilts are meant to be loved and used but not entered in shows.
#123
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: metro Portland, OR
Posts: 2,286
Very sorry but you are not alone. Judging is often the personal opinion of the judges and has little to do with the quilts themselves. There are instances when the best of show really is the best of show.
Don't quit entering, just think of all the people with whom you share your loved art.
Don't quit entering, just think of all the people with whom you share your loved art.
#124
I have always gotten positive feedback. Even when they told me what to do better next time they did it in a positive manner and in a way that was helpful not hurtful. I'm so sorry you had a bad experience. We would love to see your quilts.
#125
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Lincoln, Montana
Posts: 888
Honey do not worry about it and if it was constructive critiscm
sometimes that helps. Check out what they told you and check your binding out and see if there is improvement to be made. Do not worry about what others say if you are happy with it that is all that counts and don't let this discourage you.
Happy Quilting
sometimes that helps. Check out what they told you and check your binding out and see if there is improvement to be made. Do not worry about what others say if you are happy with it that is all that counts and don't let this discourage you.
Happy Quilting
#126
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: washington
Posts: 1,424
I am fairly new to quilting, but I do not ever plan on entering a contest over them. Just as I feel about not entering competition for my karate. I do it for myself, not others. As long as my karate instructers are happy with me, ( i have a black belt now) and the folks I give my quilts to are happy, I do not need any one elses opinion. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
#127
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Duncan, AZ
Posts: 116
The local quilt shop owner urged me to enter a couple of my quilts in the County Fair. I thought about it & declined. I did go see the quilts & other crafts & was glad I hadn't entered. One quilt (that I didn't think was that great) had won a blue ribbon. The label said "hand quilted". It was NOT hand quilted. It was clearly machine quilted. I spoke later to a neighbor about it & she said the winners were already picked before they were even judged. It is a small community & it seems to be who you know rather than how good your entry is. I enjoy my quilts & get many compliments on them so do not need to be shot down by the local politics. Sorry you had that experience. Don't be too bummed out about it. Just enjoy your own work, listen to constructive criticism then take it or leave it.
#128
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chapel Hill
Posts: 1,086
Let me share with you an experience I had years ago, not with quilts but with dogs. I showed dogs for 20 years and always entered AKC shows. At this one show I was so embarrassed because this judge pulled me out of line and put me out front and proceeded to tell the other exhibitors to look at how great my dog was. That THAT was what this breed should look like, blah blah blah...welllllll...she had me go back and join the line and proceeded to give the wins to the OTHER dogs in the ring...WHAT? WHAT? NOW that was humiliation. lol..Actually after we exited the others came up to me and were saying how crazy that was. lol...needless to say I never ever entered under that judge again...go figure
When Dash was campaigning, he was entered in several consecutive specialties - so we have the benefit of a written critique a few months later (as an aside, I'd love to see more judges have to write the critiques of the dogs, but understand that it would be horribly time consuming). At Specialty "A" the comment for the judge was that he was lacking in his chest - which is actually one of his better features. A few weeks later at Specialty "B", our breeder/handler was chatting with the judge from Specialty "A" who happened to be watching ringside, and the judge told our breeder that he would have placed this class they were watching much differently... that the dog placed 2nd had a much stronger chest... yep... Dash (someone else was handling him at Specialty "B")... So much in judging is a matter of taste. Dash did finish his Championship shortly before turning 2, and is happy at home.
Cheers, K
#129
I never enter anything hat is going to be judged. The judges always have favorite people that receive ribbons. We had one lady win a ribbon and then they took it away! They never said why! She does some of the most beautiful quilting you have ever seen. You do need to be one of the "in" crowd.
#130
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 846
Don't take it too seriously. One year, I entered a quilt in our guild quilt show. The NQA judge could not find one thing wrong with it and all her comments were wonderful. The following year, I entered again, a different judge (I don't know id she was NQA certified) told me how awful my binding was. Shocked me completely since another quilt I TAPE BASTED THE BINDING DOWN was given high marks for the perfect binding. Go Figure
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