Got to scribe for judging!

[JBCorson]

I had the most amazing opportunity yesterday.  I scribed for one of the judges of our upcoming quilt show.  Man, if you ever get the opportunity, GRAB IT!  I learned so much about what they look for in every aspect of the quilt process.  I am not a "show quilter" by any means, but this is certainly great info to stash in my head.  I paid particular attention to the quilting feedback.  starts/stops, thread build up, backtracking etc.  It's all given the fine tooth comb treatment.  Just had to share……..

[Bliss Quilter]

I helped for our last show and understand what you mean.  It really is a great opportunity.  I definatly piece and quilt differently now.  Even on the love quilts. 

[Mercedes]

Any tips you can share with the rest of us?

[ffq-lar]

It's so fun and educational to scribe for a judge. I was lucky to be a scribe at Innovations years ago. The judge was focused and gave us very clear instructions. When a quilt is displayed, we were to show no reaction, never speak, and watch for her hand signals. The room was completely silent except for her instructions for the quilt handlers and the comments for us to write down. The next morning I took her class all about quilt judging. It can be compared to earning a masters. It takes years of self-directed research and a wheelbarrow full of money to become a judge certified by a national association.

[Primitive1]

What a great experience that must be!

[JBCorson]

As far as tip's go, the corners must be a perfect 90 degree turn, with fullness in the binding!  I'd have to say in terms of the "improvement category", that was the number one thing I noticed.  That and sashings not lining up exactly, I mean not 1/8" off.  

 

Lots of miniature quilts were being judged.  Not one of them got a good comment about the binding.  The binding must match the size of the quilt, so she was looking for 1/8-1/4" bindings on some of these, when the makers used what looked like standard size bindings (2 1/4 or 2 !/2" cut I'd say)

 

For quilting, they were looking primarily at good clean starts and stops.  Lots of quilts had minor tension issues, as she would turn the quilt over, she would run her fingernail over several places to feel for poor tension, if it was not easily noticed with the eye.  She liked the quilting to be equal throughout (one Halloween quilt, which I thought was just amazing, came in honorable mention, because the roofs of the houses were not quilted as full as the rest).  Also, clean backtracking, (which I am not good at yet!).  even stitches and good thread color.  I was surprised how big some quilting stitches were, but if they were even that mattered more being small.

 

Our judge was amazing, taking time to ask if we had questions etc.  I got to sit next to her at lunch and picked her brain the whole time.  I'm sure she jet wanted to eat in peace, but that was not an option if she sat next to me.

[JenniferBernard]

I can't count the number of judging rooms I have been in at several different shows ver the years. I always learned something new every time. I even learned that I did NOT want to go through the long process it takes to become a judge! I have a lot of respect for NQA judges and the various judging committees at the different shows.