Judging Kit Quilts

Today's post is regarding kit quilts.  I was recently asked why a judge wouldn't judge a kit quilt.  I don't know of any judge that has refused to judge anything that the venue had in a category.  Kit quilts can have their own category or they can be included in one of the general categories.  The decision is up to the hosting venue.
 

A judge is under the direction of the guidelines set by the venue (guild, fair etc.).  It is not the judge’s job to determine what will be judged.   The venue sets the categories for the judge to evaluate.  (My guild has a category for kit quilts.)

If a category has been created for kit quilts it is up to the person entering the quilt to be honest about whether or not they are entering a kit quilt.  The judge is taught to judge what is presented to them.  If there is a question about an entry in a category the judge may discuss it with the venue representative to possibly move the quilt to another category (this usually occurs when size or genre is unclear).  The judge should not determine whether the quilt is a kit - the judge did not make the quilt. There are so many kits available today that it would be impossible for a judge to know what was a kit and what wasn't. The judge and the venue representative must rely on the word of the person entering the quilt.

 

 So - remember - the venue sets the categories. The judge works within the categories.   As a venue representative in charge of judging if you want kit quilts separate from  non-kit quilts - simply create a Kit Quilt category.

 Hope that clears up a little bit about kit quilts.  

Jody

AQS has a new Certified Appraiser

Congratulations to Dawn Licker!!!  

Dawn has studied and worked very hard to achieve a long time goal.  She traveled to Paducah, Kentucky recently to take her final exam to become a Certified Appraiser.  Last week she was notified that she aced the test and is now an American Quilters Society Appraiser.  

Dawn has had an interest in antique quilts almost from the beginning of her quilting career.  She has  collected quilts for many years.  Her collection is focused on 19th century quilts.  Dawn's collection and interest in quilter's of another time lead her to the quest of becoming an appraiser.

From all of us at WCQJA - A Big Hat's Off to you Dawn! Job well done! 

Should Binding Mitered Corners Be Sewn Closed?

Is summer here or is spring just teasing us?  My little corner of the world is going to be above 90 today.  Now I have to dig out all my cooler clothes.  I sure hope that doesn't lead to cleaning out a whole closet!!!!


Recently, a question was posed to me about binding corners.  The question is this:  

When hand finishing the binding on the back of the quilt should the mitered corners be sewn closed on the front and back of the quilt?  

From a judges standpoint sewing the miters closed on the binding is not something we comment on.  Sewing the corners is a decision to be made by the quilter.  The judge is looking for square, 90 degree corners.

On a personal note, I always sew my miters closed.  The extra stitches help the corner keep it's
"square" 90 degree edge.   After the binding has been applied to the front of the quilt and I am hand sewing it on the back - I come up to the miter - fold it to 90 degrees then stitch the fold closed  from the bottom to the top - put my needle through the top of the miter to go to the front of the quilt - I then sew the front miter closed from top to bottom - put my needle through to the back  of the quilt and continue to apply the binding repeating the this process for each corner.  I take small stitches that do not show when I'm sewing my miters. 

I hope that helps answer the binding corner question.  Remember your binding should be filled with batting and corners 90 degrees.

Until next time I hope your days are filled with smiles and lots of quilting.

Jody

Fun in the Judging Arena

May 5th was a great day in the foothills of Northern California.  Helen and I judged the Pine Tree Quilt Guild show.  (show dates: May 6 & 7, 2012 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, CA) The quilts were well constructed, imaginative and full of color. It was very difficult to select the ribbon placement - really got down to fine details.  If you have free time this weekend I strongly recommend seeing this show.  

The Judging Arena was well organized. Aides and Scribes knew their responsibilities, facilitators kept everything moving smoothly and the open judging audience was very interested in the judging process.

Judging started at 9:00 a.m. and ended around 3:00 p.m.  We judged independently and then jointly narrowed down the first place quilts to the final decision of Best of Show.  Again, a difficult task.  If you want to see the spectacular Best of Show you'll have to go to the show!!! I can't divulge the winner because the show hasn't opened yet.  Sure hope the quiltmaker is as excited as we were to award the ribbon.

All in all it was a wonderful day.   

Jody