Separate Novice and Advanced quilt judging categories?
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 100
Hi Pagzz,
There were many very lovely (and quite fantastic!) quilts at the show. When I said I didn't find inspiration there, it is strictly a personal preference issue. I love reproduction applique quilts from the 1840-1880s. I did not go to the show expecting to see anything in this regard, as it is such a small niche, but I had hoped to see some grid work or channel quilting.
There were many equivalent quilting motifs from this early time period that can now be quilted free motion- feathers, wreaths, etc. Like I mentioned earlier, my quilting is "new", but my body is not, so I don't know whether I will have the physical capacity in my hands by the time I am ready to free motion.
I had hoped, however, to see some grid work, or channel quilting, or something similar that I could put into use at this stage of my ability. There were a few quilts that I saw that were walking foot quilted, but the ones I saw were very simply done. I may have missed some great ones, though!
Therefore, the heavily quilted free motion quilts did not "inspire me". I certainly don't begrudge anyone this amazing talent, but that was 95% of what was shown. This is the reason I do not plan to return in the future.
Happy threads!
There were many very lovely (and quite fantastic!) quilts at the show. When I said I didn't find inspiration there, it is strictly a personal preference issue. I love reproduction applique quilts from the 1840-1880s. I did not go to the show expecting to see anything in this regard, as it is such a small niche, but I had hoped to see some grid work or channel quilting.
There were many equivalent quilting motifs from this early time period that can now be quilted free motion- feathers, wreaths, etc. Like I mentioned earlier, my quilting is "new", but my body is not, so I don't know whether I will have the physical capacity in my hands by the time I am ready to free motion.
I had hoped, however, to see some grid work, or channel quilting, or something similar that I could put into use at this stage of my ability. There were a few quilts that I saw that were walking foot quilted, but the ones I saw were very simply done. I may have missed some great ones, though!
Therefore, the heavily quilted free motion quilts did not "inspire me". I certainly don't begrudge anyone this amazing talent, but that was 95% of what was shown. This is the reason I do not plan to return in the future.
Happy threads!
Last edited by LadyAg; 08-13-2019 at 06:59 AM.
#32
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
Being a "traditional" quilter, I hope there are divisions between hand quilted and machine quilted. I have seen some beautiful machine quilting but it makes me sad to go to a quilt show and see that so many have given up hand quilting. I see a huge difference between letting a machine create the stitching (either embroidery or quilting) as compared to what has taken hours of hand work and the skill required to do it well. Are we judging the finished product or the skill required? As to beginner/skilled and the original question. It seems to me that you probably have plenty of divisions with that many entries. The "first time" quilt is probably enough to separate and could be from the person who is now a skilled quilter. You could end up with beginner projects in every age division!
AQS further segregates between stationary machine quilted (in a table and the quilter moves the fabric) or movable (aka rack mounted) machine quilted. Unfortunately some shows don't distinguish between hand guided and computer guided and I feel that is wrong, there should be separate categories for computer guided quilting in the interest of complete disclosure for people viewing the quilts. I can recall how when I first started and go to shows and see CG quilting (not knowing it was CG) and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how they got every motif exactly the same. Now I can usually tell the difference between CG and HG quilting from sight. But many can't. I was once standing by one of my quilts at a show and two ladies were commenting that it must be computer guided and I piped up and said, no it is all hand guided.
Last edited by feline fanatic; 08-13-2019 at 08:05 AM.
#33
Sometimes I think this might be a good thing, although I wouldn’t know what to call it as I think there’s a huge section of the quilting population that would fall between “beginner” and “advanced” that wouldn’t know which category to enter.
There is one person who enters 1-2 quilts in each of several divisions in our fair every year. She is extremely talented and her quilts are beautiful (predominately appliqué). They truly belong in major shows, they’re that good. She has won Best of Show on several occasions and typically wins 4-6 first and/or second place ribbons every year. I’ve given up entering in the fair because I know if she enters, she’s the one who will take the majority of the ribbons. Don’t get me wrong, she absolutely deserves them. I feel that I have no chance at all if she enters because her quilts are so exceptional, so I’ve given up on entering anymore. I am far from a beginner and consider myself fairly advanced, but I may never in my lifetime be as advanced as she is.
There is one person who enters 1-2 quilts in each of several divisions in our fair every year. She is extremely talented and her quilts are beautiful (predominately appliqué). They truly belong in major shows, they’re that good. She has won Best of Show on several occasions and typically wins 4-6 first and/or second place ribbons every year. I’ve given up entering in the fair because I know if she enters, she’s the one who will take the majority of the ribbons. Don’t get me wrong, she absolutely deserves them. I feel that I have no chance at all if she enters because her quilts are so exceptional, so I’ve given up on entering anymore. I am far from a beginner and consider myself fairly advanced, but I may never in my lifetime be as advanced as she is.
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
several have mentioned disappointment regarding the number of bed size quilts showing up in local shows/fairs. I have a thought on this as it's happening at my local guild show too. When discussed, we hear that more quilters who have been quilting for awhile have already made enough bed size quilts to cover all the beds they plan to cover. And with the expense of fabrics (and paying for quilting as many do), making more bed size quilts for the sake of bed size quilts isn't practical--that instead lap quilts, wallhanging, and art quilts allow the quilter to continue to stretch their creativity and quilt.
#35
I agree. That’s pretty much all I make. I want them to be used, not just looked at!
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 08-14-2019 at 05:40 AM. Reason: shouting/all caps
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Asheville, previously Lake Vermilion, Tarpon Springs, Duluth, St Paul, Soudan
Posts: 1,651
The only show in which any of my quilts have been entered is a our LQS fundraiser for the food bank. There is no judging; viewers cast votes with donations. There are First Quilt and Viewers Choice categories, but mostly people vote for friends and relatives. It is all for a good cause, so who really cares? Judged shows raise any number if questions to me. Just a few:
Should quilts completed totally by the maker be judged jointly with those professionally quilted?
How is true free motion quilting distinguished from computer governed “free motion quilting”?
What about computer directed embroidery?
What about digital files for custom quilting particular patterns such as Amazon Star?
The bottom line—at what point are we realistically rewarding not the expertise of the individual quilter but the monetary resources at their disposal?
Should quilts completed totally by the maker be judged jointly with those professionally quilted?
How is true free motion quilting distinguished from computer governed “free motion quilting”?
What about computer directed embroidery?
What about digital files for custom quilting particular patterns such as Amazon Star?
The bottom line—at what point are we realistically rewarding not the expertise of the individual quilter but the monetary resources at their disposal?
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Va.
Posts: 5,753
Being a "traditional" quilter, I hope there are divisions between hand quilted and machine quilted. I have seen some beautiful machine quilting but it makes me sad to go to a quilt show and see that so many have given up hand quilting. I see a huge difference between letting a machine create the stitching (either embroidery or quilting) as compared to what has taken hours of hand work and the skill required to do it well. Are we judging the finished product or the skill required?
rob
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,595
You said that you had 18 categories and are taking in 45 - 50 quilts. That means each category averages less than 3 quilts. If you want to give more people a ribbon, you could give 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category.
Last edited by cashs_mom; 08-14-2019 at 05:58 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
fruitloop
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
15
12-12-2018 02:09 PM
Nerys
QB Help Center
1
12-21-2017 02:37 AM
Grandma58
Main
42
12-20-2011 10:17 AM