Questions about quilt show judges
12-02-2011, 05:38 AM
#21
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Murrysville, Pa.
Posts: 51
I know what you're talking about when it comes to dog shows. I've shown at the local level and the national level. But I have a question about the judging of quilts.
What is the difference between "best-in-show" and "judges choice"? Wouldn't judges choice be the best-in-show?
What is the difference between "best-in-show" and "judges choice"? Wouldn't judges choice be the best-in-show?
12-02-2011, 05:57 AM
#22
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
Let me weight in on this discussion with some specifi and random thoughts. I am a National Quilting Association Certified Judge and have been for many years. Here are some thoughts.
First, all the comments above are valid.
Judges in any situation must do their job according to the rules and wishes of the organization sponsoring the event. Some organizations have certain requirements and objectives as to what they want in the final results. This is not demanding results but rather how those results will effect the aims of the organiation and it's quilters.
Fairs and quilts shows are in my opinion different The judges can be experienced/certified or not. I have noticed over the past few years that more and more organizations are going to the NQA Certified Judges List to select their judges as they know we have had experience in a wide variety of situations.
There are two method for judging - Elimination System and Point System. I favor the first and believe the results can often be the same. Some groups feel multiple judges ae better. I prefer to judge alone but have worked with a wide group of judges. It is tru that any judge has his or her focus. Some will look at deign first, other workmanship.
Usually the critique sheet will determine the order of consideration. There is no master check list with rating points which we use. we may have our own. Remember in the pint system, any judge will rank a factor within his or her own beief about the factors. Years ago one large show had three judges of very wide interets. One would rank workmanship high while another would rank it low. It is my opinion that if you have a situation where one ranks high, another low and a third in the middle - then to average the scores does not give a tru picture of the results.
Some groups want no comments - only a check list while other allow for specific comments.
I believe if a judge makes a constructive comment (negative) then it is only fair to the quilter to tell what needs improvement.
Keep in mind that if there are, say ove 75 quilts to be judged and we have only one day to do the work then each quilt can get only about 2 minutes for critique.
Some groups want all ribbons given while others will allow the judge to skip the blue ribbon if no quilt in the group merits the award, while other want a ranking within the group. This often can be misleading a the blue ribbon may or may not be of that quality. I have found that small fairs want this. I always have a problem with this as giving the top prize to a less than good quilt to be misleading to the quiltmaker.
It is true that the majority of shows do not announce the judges. The would not prevent a quilter to ask and if they know the person then enter accordingly.
An interesting case about how judging can be different is several years ago at a large show the quilt that had won in Paducah (with the prize of $18,000)(In Paducah the quiltmaker may or may not take the money as if they do they must give up the quilt for the museum). the make entered the same quilt in another show and didn't win and it had nothing to do with the judges. The winning quilt was definitely better.
As to measuring - we don't have time to do this. The only thing we are able to do is to make sure the quilt is square.
Every quilt entered usually gets the same amount of time. Often I spend more time on a quilt that is less than good because I want to give comments that will benefit the quilter in his/her workmanship and word those comments in a positive way.
I encourage every quilter to enter. It can be a positive experience and even if you do get some negative comments the person making the comment was seeing the quilt with fresh eyes. We tend to see the quilt with our prejudiced eyes.
Just some thoughts.
First, all the comments above are valid.
Judges in any situation must do their job according to the rules and wishes of the organization sponsoring the event. Some organizations have certain requirements and objectives as to what they want in the final results. This is not demanding results but rather how those results will effect the aims of the organiation and it's quilters.
Fairs and quilts shows are in my opinion different The judges can be experienced/certified or not. I have noticed over the past few years that more and more organizations are going to the NQA Certified Judges List to select their judges as they know we have had experience in a wide variety of situations.
There are two method for judging - Elimination System and Point System. I favor the first and believe the results can often be the same. Some groups feel multiple judges ae better. I prefer to judge alone but have worked with a wide group of judges. It is tru that any judge has his or her focus. Some will look at deign first, other workmanship.
Usually the critique sheet will determine the order of consideration. There is no master check list with rating points which we use. we may have our own. Remember in the pint system, any judge will rank a factor within his or her own beief about the factors. Years ago one large show had three judges of very wide interets. One would rank workmanship high while another would rank it low. It is my opinion that if you have a situation where one ranks high, another low and a third in the middle - then to average the scores does not give a tru picture of the results.
Some groups want no comments - only a check list while other allow for specific comments.
I believe if a judge makes a constructive comment (negative) then it is only fair to the quilter to tell what needs improvement.
Keep in mind that if there are, say ove 75 quilts to be judged and we have only one day to do the work then each quilt can get only about 2 minutes for critique.
Some groups want all ribbons given while others will allow the judge to skip the blue ribbon if no quilt in the group merits the award, while other want a ranking within the group. This often can be misleading a the blue ribbon may or may not be of that quality. I have found that small fairs want this. I always have a problem with this as giving the top prize to a less than good quilt to be misleading to the quiltmaker.
It is true that the majority of shows do not announce the judges. The would not prevent a quilter to ask and if they know the person then enter accordingly.
An interesting case about how judging can be different is several years ago at a large show the quilt that had won in Paducah (with the prize of $18,000)(In Paducah the quiltmaker may or may not take the money as if they do they must give up the quilt for the museum). the make entered the same quilt in another show and didn't win and it had nothing to do with the judges. The winning quilt was definitely better.
As to measuring - we don't have time to do this. The only thing we are able to do is to make sure the quilt is square.
Every quilt entered usually gets the same amount of time. Often I spend more time on a quilt that is less than good because I want to give comments that will benefit the quilter in his/her workmanship and word those comments in a positive way.
I encourage every quilter to enter. It can be a positive experience and even if you do get some negative comments the person making the comment was seeing the quilt with fresh eyes. We tend to see the quilt with our prejudiced eyes.
Just some thoughts.
12-02-2011, 06:08 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,460
I use to be very involved with a quilt show and got to work as a scribe many times for different judges it was really a learning experience they all went for color impact at first look they did check binding to see if it had any empty spots and the squareness of a quilt could not be longer on one side or another no ripples in the side eveness of stitches and if machine quilted how good are the stops and starts in hand applique does ant stitches show also have had them comment on the quilting design for the quilt this was several years ago and they did have a catagory for machine quilts and another for people who sent them out I don't think they do that anymore and they really do check the back of your quilt to see the stitches there the one thing I learned use a busy fabric for the back unless you really want your stitching to show
12-02-2011, 06:24 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bar Harbor, ME.
Posts: 2,911
Great question and I so agree. We showed in dog shows and knew which judges would not like our "type" and saved the entry money which was becoming very expensive. A similar system should apply to quilt shows.
12-02-2011, 06:37 AM
#25
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 221
I've judged many quilt and embroidery shows. Each judge comes with their own likes and dislikes, but when we've had discussion on picking a winner in a specific category, the judging has been impartial and only on specifics: quilting quality, color choices, choice of design that fits the fabric designs. binding application, quality of applique, etc.
Here are several things to NOT do and how to correct them.
Rippling edges. Measure the width and length along the center of the quilt. This measurement could be 2 inches shorter than the edges. Work the excess in when binding. Do not just start sewing a strip of binding and go the to other end. Guaranteed--your binding edges will ripple. Quilts should be square. A beautiful white on white hand quilted piece lost best of show because of a rippling binding. Later after my job was done, I was told by a quilt member who knew the quilter that she ran out of time. I insisted that it wasn't the winner and the other judges finally agreed.
DON"T bring in a piece that has animal hair on it. One time, I had a quilt that must have been a cat's bed while under construction. UGH! I put it aside and made a note on the entry card that "I don't judge cat hair." I looked at the quiltmakers name after I eliminated it and discovered to my total surprise that it was someone in the quilt world who should have known better.
Hope this helps. SandyQuilter
Here are several things to NOT do and how to correct them.
Rippling edges. Measure the width and length along the center of the quilt. This measurement could be 2 inches shorter than the edges. Work the excess in when binding. Do not just start sewing a strip of binding and go the to other end. Guaranteed--your binding edges will ripple. Quilts should be square. A beautiful white on white hand quilted piece lost best of show because of a rippling binding. Later after my job was done, I was told by a quilt member who knew the quilter that she ran out of time. I insisted that it wasn't the winner and the other judges finally agreed.
DON"T bring in a piece that has animal hair on it. One time, I had a quilt that must have been a cat's bed while under construction. UGH! I put it aside and made a note on the entry card that "I don't judge cat hair." I looked at the quiltmakers name after I eliminated it and discovered to my total surprise that it was someone in the quilt world who should have known better.
Hope this helps. SandyQuilter
12-02-2011, 06:56 AM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,197
This is such a good question and answers. I have had some of the same thoughts as have been brought up here. We have had some experience with horse show judges and have found that if the judge likes the horse he will win every event while if the judge doesn't like the horse or some physical part of the horse he will never win. I hate to think a quilt judge is like that but I think that if the design is something the judge likes it will place higher than one he doesn't like, at least in the design aspect. Will keep this bookmarked.
12-02-2011, 07:19 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: In the Hills of Arkansas
Posts: 398
I never gave a lot of thought about the Judges or their qualifications. My mother use to judge antique glassware at the Fair. I knew her background, self taught. After she passed they got another judge who judged on whether or not she liked the item. Waste of time to enter, in fact, I quit going.
Regarding quilts I assumed the Judge would be a very knowledgable person with an impressive background. Again I think it fair to say the final decision would be if they liked the quilt. Who really knows, I don't.
One time a group of us asked Irma Gail Hatcher about her judging and when she got through I felt I would be wasting my time to enter because I could never qualify. That was several years before I entered my quilt in the Ar State Fair and won the First Place and the Best of Show. I say if you have a beautiful quilt you are proud of then go for it.
Regarding quilts I assumed the Judge would be a very knowledgable person with an impressive background. Again I think it fair to say the final decision would be if they liked the quilt. Who really knows, I don't.
One time a group of us asked Irma Gail Hatcher about her judging and when she got through I felt I would be wasting my time to enter because I could never qualify. That was several years before I entered my quilt in the Ar State Fair and won the First Place and the Best of Show. I say if you have a beautiful quilt you are proud of then go for it.
12-02-2011, 08:43 AM
#28
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bursa, Turkey
Posts: 89
Questions about quilt show judges
I am so happy this is being discussed!! We are in the process of planning our first quilt competition with my quilt shop for May, 2012. Quilting is a relatively unknown quantity here in the middle east (not completely unknown, but not like the US), so we really need to be specific for both the competitors and the judges. I believe we will be successful, and create a trustworthy atmosphere for quilters to show their stuff, but this thread will definitely be added to our tool box! Thanks to all contributors!
12-02-2011, 10:00 AM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Maple City, MI
Posts: 2,135
I think it depends on where you enter as well. A local county fair is going to have a whole different view. I have seen them judge, and unless it is being sent to the state level, it was much more general on looks and workmanship.
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