This is a recap of a lecture I gave April 18, 2013, for the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville. They have a show in October 2013, the 13th biannual judged quilt show, and so this is a timely topic for discussion.
Whether it's international or local competition, there are some elements of award-winning quilts that are the same.
1. Design: Is the quilt interesting to look at? Does it capture your attention and make you want to look closer?
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Harmony Within
Sue McCarty
2. Color: Are the colors appealing, appropriate, eye-catching, exciting? Do they create a mood? Sometimes, the choice of color that is unexpected is what adds that "wow" factor:
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Lynn Jones Droege pieced and appliqued
Quilted by Lisa Sipes
Sue Garman pattern Ruffled Roses |
3. Workmanship: Is it well-done, with precise piecing, beautiful quilting, excellent finishing?
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Scarlett Serenade
Sharon Schamber
4. Quilting: Does it grab you? Does it make you look closer, does it enhance the overall effect of the quilt?
Sarah's Revival
Sue Garman
Hand Quilting
Georgann Wrinkle's Quilt
Sue Garman Longarm Quilting
5. That Extra Special "Something": Maybe it's a piped or curved binding. Or embellishments that add the perfect sparkle. Perhaps it's the statement the quilt makes, the emotion it evokes. Maybe it's just such a spectacular quilt you have to give it all the glory it is due. I feel that way about this quilt:
America, Let It Shine
Sherry Reynolds
The next time you go to a quilt show, think about these five things as you admire the quilts. Whether you agree with the judges or not, perhaps you will understand their decisions more as you compare the quilts based on these elements.
Not every quilt has to be an award-winning quilt but that's a topic for another day.
Let's Quilt!
Barbara
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