How to Enter Your Quilt in a Show

Entering your quilt in a show is one of the most rewarding experiences in quilting. It gives you a completion deadline, connects you with your quilting community, and earns you detailed professional feedback from a certified judge. Here's everything you need to know to enter with confidence.

Finding Shows That Accept Entries

Not all quilt shows are juried or competitive — some are display-only exhibitions where quilts are selected by a jury or invited. To find shows that accept open entries from the public, look for:

• Guild shows — most local guild shows accept entries from guild members, and many welcome non-members too
• AQS QuiltWeek shows — the American Quilter's Society runs judged shows in Paducah, Knoxville, Grand Rapids, and other cities with open entry
• Regional competitions — state quilting associations and guilds often run annual competitions open to all quilters
• Online shows — since 2020, several online quilt shows have emerged that accept entries from quilters nationwide

Search the Quilt Show Directory for upcoming shows in your area and check each event's website for entry information.

Reading Entry Requirements

Before you enter, read the prospectus (entry guidelines) carefully. Key things to look for:

• Entry deadlines — most shows close entries weeks or months before the show date
• Size requirements — minimum and maximum dimensions for each category
• Previously shown — many shows require that entries have not been shown at a specific set of shows before
• Handmade requirements — rules about what percentage of the work must be done by the entrant
• Entry fees — most shows charge a small per-quilt entry fee
• Insurance and liability — understand what coverage the show provides for your quilt while it's in their care

Measuring and Labeling Your Quilt

Accurate measurements are essential — entering the wrong size category can result in disqualification. Measure your finished quilt flat, width by length, and compare to the category dimensions in the prospectus.

All quilts entered in competition must have a label. At minimum, your label should include:

• Your full name
• City and state
• Quilt title
• Year completed

Stitch the label to the lower left corner of the quilt back. Some shows also require you to attach a hanging sleeve (a fabric tube sewn to the top back of the quilt for display on a rod). Check the prospectus — shows that display quilts on rods almost always require a sleeve.

Entry Categories

Choosing the right category is important for fair judging. Common categories include:

• Traditional — quilts using traditional patterns, blocks, and techniques
• Modern — contemporary quilts with clean lines, negative space, and modern aesthetic
• Art Quilt — quilts intended as fine art, often using non-traditional techniques and materials
• Appliqué — quilts featuring appliqué as the primary technique
• Miniature — typically under 24 inches in both dimensions, with proportionally scaled piecing
• Longarm Quilted — separate categories exist at some shows for quilts quilted by a professional longarm quilter
• Wearable Art — garments and wearables incorporating quilt-making techniques

Skill levels are also divided at most shows: Novice (first 1–3 entries or years quilting), Intermediate, and Advanced/Master. Be honest about your skill level — entering as Novice when you've been quilting for 20 years isn't fair to beginners, and judges can tell.

Shipping vs. Hand Delivery

For local shows, hand delivery is straightforward — bring your quilt on drop-off day (specified in the prospectus), fill out the entry tag, and leave it with the show committee.

For shows farther from home, you'll need to ship. Tips for shipping quilts safely:

• Fold the quilt gently along different lines each time to avoid permanent creases
• Wrap in clean muslin or acid-free tissue before placing in a box
• Use a box that's slightly larger than the folded quilt — don't compress it
• Insure the package for the quilt's value
• Include a pre-paid return label inside the box so the show can ship it back to you
• Ship early — allow at least a week for transit plus time for the show committee to process arrivals

Understanding Judges' Feedback

One of the greatest benefits of entering a show is receiving a written critique from a certified judge. The critique sheet typically covers construction quality, design choices, and quilting execution. Common points of feedback include:

• Seam allowance consistency and pressing quality
• Point matching accuracy at intersections
• Binding width, mitering, and attachment
• Thread color and tension in the quilting
• Overall design cohesion and visual impact

Read the feedback objectively. Judges write to help you improve, not to discourage. A detailed critique, even a critical one, is a gift — it tells you exactly what to focus on next.

What Makes a Winning Quilt?

Winning quilts share a few qualities regardless of style or category:

• Impeccable construction. Consistent seam allowances, sharp points, flat seams, and a perfectly attached binding are the foundation of a high-scoring quilt.
• Intentional design. Every element — color, scale, negative space — feels deliberate. There's a clear "story" the quilt is telling.
• Skillful quilting. The quilting design (whether hand or machine) enhances rather than distracts from the patchwork.
• Finish quality. Clean corners, smooth backing, and a quilt that lays flat all contribute to a polished presentation.

Don't be discouraged if you don't win your first time — or your tenth. Every entry teaches you something, and the act of finishing a quilt to show standard is itself a significant achievement.