I recently returned from my trip teaching – and judging – at Pacific International Quilt Festival, which took place in Santa Clara California in July of 2024. The quilts of course were amazing, and my students were well prepared for success!

Click here to see images of all the winning quilts.

Best Mid Century Modern Quilt: Retro Living by Tami Graeber

For the record I am NOT a certified quilt judge, but I’ve had many years experience entering my own work into quilt shows. I’ve also volunteered numerous hours in judging rooms as a scribe or quilt handler, and I’ve judged several shows (both in person and online) when the occasion arrises. I’ve also served on the jury of large shows and I’ve sat on committees that help formulate rules for their particular shows. So before we get into sharing what that’s like, let me define a few terms for you.

First of all, what’s a jury? This is a select group of quilters who are chosen for their knowledge of quilting, and/or design. This group pre-screens all of the quilts that are submitted for entry to a show, and they determine which quilts will be accepted for exhibit into that show. A quilter who wishes to submit a quilt to a large, juried show will submit photos of their quilts along with an entry fee. The requirements are usually 2 photos – a clear image showing the full quilt, plus another detailed photo showing a small section of the quilt to show techniques and workmanship.

Judges and Scribes at Breakfast on Judging Day

Not all quilt shows are “juried” but most large international shows are. This is because of the sheer volume of quilts submitted. There are usually many more quilts entered into a well known show, compared to how much space is available to showcase them. So it’s simply a numbers game. The jury is “blind” meaning the jurors do not have any information on who made each quilt. They may or may not be able to read the artist statement but that’s it.

Click here to read about my experience as a QuiltCon Juror

A scribe is someone who records the judges’ comments during evaluation of each quilt. The scribe is usually given a separate sheet of paper with the name of each quilt and the judging criteria, along with room for comments. The judge will then evaluate each quilt according to the criteria which is set by show. A handler is literally someone who helps handle each quilt as they are being judged. Quilts are usually judged together as a group by category. That means each quilt is evaluated relative to all of the quilts in the same category.

Best Handwork, Modern: Katzen Krankenhaus by Katherine M. Dossman

There can be 1 or more judges at the show and shows are usually judged one of two ways: with the quilts by category laid out flat on a table, one on top of another. Or the quilts can be hung on the show floor first, and the judge(s) walk around the show looking at each quilt by category. Each show is different and the judges are given instructions on how to judge. Some shows require their judges to be certified, but most large, international shows do not. Many shows invite some of the teaching staff to also serve as judges due to their expertise in their particular field. And usually the shows hire different judges each year for variety.

Just like a jury, the judges do not know whose quilt they are evaluating at any given time. They may be able to read the artist’s statement but they are evaluating the quilt on its own merits. When more than one judge is involved, the judges can discuss each quilt together to decide on the final evaluation of each.

My judging partner Mel Beach and I hanging out during the “meet the teacher” event.

So here’s how it worked at PIQF. There were 4 of us judging, and we were divided up into two teams of two, along with one scribe for each team. At this particular show there were 4 main categories (Traditional, Innovative, Modern, and Wall) so it worked out nicely for each team to judge half of the quilts. We all met for a working breakfast on the morning of judging day, and were given instructions by the show organizer. The instructions included how to evaluate each quilt along with the numbers of ribbons and prizes that would be awarded in each category. In addition, each of the 4 judges got to select our own judges’ choice for a special ribbon.

At this show, the quilts were hung on the show floor and we were given a map along with a binder for each team that had all of the evaluation sheets for each quilt we were judging. So we walked around the show floor looking at each quilt one at a time. They had numerous special exhibits for display only, so these were not a part of our evaluations.

My judges’ choice ribbon: The Chairs by Deborah Ryan

First we looked at each category we were judging to get an overall impression of the quilts. The scribe helped us note which particular quilts stood out and started writing down some of our preliminary comments. We discussed and evaluated each quilt as a team and then took our time in deciding which quilts would be awarded.

After the winners were chosen, we went back and looked at each quilt we had awarded to ensure we were happy with our choices and that we followed the judging criteria. Once that was done, we turned in our results to the show organizers so that they could begin moving the “Best Of” quilts to the front of the room and then begin pinning ribbons onto the winning quilts.

Below, I’ve made a short video showing all of the quilts entered into the Modern Category, which I helped judge. Can you see how it’s difficult to choose the winners? I could have awarded them all!!

Click on the image below to start the video. It’s about 8 minutes long.

While the volunteers were shuffling a few quilts around, and as the vendors were setting up on the show floor, we once again looked at each quilt and made comments for each and every one. Not every show includes judges’ comments with each quilt, but I really loved that this one did. We tried our best to be very fair and positive, even when giving constructive criticism.

I can tell you that at this show, and most high level shows like this, the work is top notch so most of the comments are very positive. The most common advice we included in our team’s judging was that it could benefit from additional quilting. When a quilt is hung at a show it can become very apparent if the quilting isn’t balanced. The quilt can sag a little or look a little wrinkly in some areas and can be fixed with additional quilting. Since this is my area of expertise, it’s one of the things that often catches my notice.

Best Modern Wall Quilt: Out of the Blue by Linda Branting

I was very pleased to be involved with this show so intimately and I can tell you that getting up close and personal with the quilts like that is very joyful. I will be teaching and judging at another show run by the same group – Mancuso Show Management – next February. If you are in the Virginia area, I’d love for you to join me at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival. So stay tuned for more details about that!!

Click here to see where I’ll be traveling to next!