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Exhibition at 2023 Quilt Show

A multitude of judged quilts on display along with special exhibits.

BEST-OF-SHOW–Large-Quilt

Every year hundreds of quilts are displayed full-length in Founder’s Hall in one of several categories. 

Note: Written judging evaluations are not provided for this show.

Exhibition: Quilt Categories

Read the following list carefully and determine which category best describes your entry. All quilts must be pre-registered online and remain on display in Founder’s Hall for the full duration of the Quilt Show.

Categories... 

All quilts must fit the size requirements and definitions of the selected category. Please carefully check the category sizes and definitions before registering your quilts.

Large Quilts: must measure more than 60” on at least one side. 

  • Large Quilt: Pieced & Hand Quilted
  • Large Quilt: Pieced & Home Sewing Machine Quilted
  • Large Quilt: Pieced & Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted  (**Must measure 78” or more on the shortest side**This category only)
  • Large Quilt: Appliquéd & Hand Quilted
  • Large Quilt: Appliquéd & Machine Quilted
  • Large Quilt: Mixed Technique & Hand Quilted
  • Large Quilt: Mixed Technique & Machine Quilted
  • Large Quilt: Other Techniques, Hand or Machine Quilted


Medium Quilt: Must measure more than 60” and less than 78”on at least one side.

  • Medium Quilt: Pieced & Longarm/Mid-arm Quilted


Small Quilts: must measure 60” or less in both width and length

  • Small Quilt: Pieced & Hand Quilted
  • Small Quilt: Pieced & Home Sewing Machine Quilted
  • Small Quilt: Pieced & Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted
  • Small Quilt: Appliquéd & Hand Quilted
  • Small Quilt: Appliquéd & Machine Quilted
  • Small Quilt: Mixed Techniques & Hand Quilted
  • Small Quilt: Mixed Techniques & Machine Quilted
  • Small Quilt: Other Techniques, Hand or Machine Quilted

Art/Innovative Quilt

Baby Quilts: Hand or Machine Quilted: must measure at least 36” on one side and no more than 52” on at least one side and be designed for an infant. 

Masters Showcase

Miniatures: proportionally scaled down versions of larger patterns

Sauder Village Challenge: “Not Quite Black & White”: Minimum 24” x 24”, Maximum 36” x 36”. Your quilt may be any shape as long as the outside dimensions fall within the size guidelines.

Special Exhibit: Quilts of Valor

Traditional

Youth Quilts: made by youth age 18 or younger

Category Definitions


Appliqué: Hand or machine appliqué: predominates over other techniques in amount or effect.

Art / Innovative Quilts: A contemporary artwork using materials and techniques  that explores and expresses a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends. The work must possess basic structural characteristics of a quilt and be predominately fabric with at least two full and distinct layers (a top and backing layer). The layers must be held together by hand or machine quilting or other elements that pierce all layers and are distributed throughout the work.

Masters Showcase: 
To qualify for this category, quilt artist must have traveled nationally to teach and have published books or patterns. The exhibit director will personally contact all Masters Showcase artists to discuss arrangements for this special display. This category is for Exhibit Only and will not be judged.

Miniatures: proportionally scaled down versions of larger patterns.

Mixed Technique: a quilt where two or more major construction techniques, not including quilting or trapunto, are used to develop the design of the top of the quilt. Construction and/or surface design must be used in significant amounts that affect the overall design.

Other Techniques: Quilting that uses one or more special techniques such as whole cloth, embroidery, cross-stitch, painting or other surface design techniques not included in the other categories. Construction and/or surface design must be used in significant amounts that affect the overall design.

Pieced: 
Piecing predominates over other techniques in amount of effect.

Sauder Village Challenge: “Not Quite Black & White”:

This year’s challenge asks the question, “How can you as an artist envision bringing these two opposites together?” Consider what images come to mind when you think about black and white. Dark and light. Night and day. Positive and negative. Think outside the box for this challenge: Sauder Village Challenge - Not Quite Black & White.

Special Exhibit: Quilts of Valor: 

This unique call for entry asks that you donate a patriotic themed completed quilt or unfinished top to a local service member or veteran who have been touched by war. Sauder Village has teamed with the Quilts of Valor Foundation and Freedom Bound Quilts to award your quilt in a special ceremony. 

Youth Quilts: Quilts made by youth ages 18 or younger. Quilt tops must have been sewn by the youth and may be quilted or tied. All other registration guidelines apply. Please note the quilt-makers age and other interesting information on the entry form. We encourage you to embrace the art of quilt making and share their developing talents! This category is for Exhibit Only and will not be judged.

 

Quilting Method Definitions

Hand Quilting: Traditional method of sewing quilt layers (top, batting, back) together by hand with simple straight lines or intricate designs using a needle and thread.

Home Sewing Machine: Includes use of any sewing machine that is table mounted/stationary, allowing the quilter to move the fabric rather than the machine.

Longarm/Midarm Machine: Includes any sewing machine mounted in a frame, allowing the quilter to move the machine head rather than the fabric.

Security

The exhibit is a held in a secured facility at Sauder Village. The grounds are patrolled during the hours the exhibit is closed. While Sauder Village takes every precaution to protect all pieces brought in for the exhibit, we cannot accept liability for them. Quilt owners are required to carry the appropriate insurance on their quilted pieces.

Awards & Judging

Judges for the 2023 Sauder Village Quilt Show are Sue Cortese and Doris Goins.

More information about our judges may be found here: Quilt Show Judges

More information about the Awards may be found here: Awards