Many people had their own cottage industries hand quilting quilts stretching back into that history and all the way along until today. So that hand quilting could well have been hired out as well (depending on if a quilt show’s rules allowed it).
Also hiring a long arm quilter does not always lead to better quilting than one could do on their own. The thread choice, the motif choice, and execution are all different and important. I was on the jury for Quiltcon in Raleigh and each of those decisions was impactful to many quilts that were entered in the show. It was not uncommon that deficits in one or more of those categories lowered the quilts ratings (and chances of hanging in the show) in quilts that were quilted by their maker and by professional long arm quilters. I can think of several that had very professional execution of what were, to my mind, very poor motif or thread choices that lowered my scoring of them.
Heather! I so appreciate your perspective! I personally have given up doing the actual quilting, and mostly because getting the interaction of the quilting and design right is not a strong skill for me. So many ways to get there!
I am guessing (because I didn’t have access to that info as the jurist) that sometimes this was the maker of the top and sometimes it was the quilter and sometimes it was a bad compromise.
I also am only confident of my choices and results when I hand quilt. Domestic or long arm and I am nervous!! Although I have a long armer who has talent and skill I trust and who also gets me which helps on that angle.
It is such a huge and important skill and I agree that it should be opened up for more opportunity to celebrate and honor not fewer.
I remember reading (wish I could remember where!) that several machine-quilted quilts have been reliably dated to within a year of the first home sewing machine patents--as I recall, that writer said the women took to the new "technology" with gusto.
Personally, I have hand quilted for many years and many quilts, and I have machine quilted (on my Bernini 1230) many MANY quilts of many sizes. Nowadays, with arthritis and neuropathy in my hands, I can only machine quilt smaller quilts, so any of my bigger quilts go out to a long armer. I've used several, from a quilt shop in NorCal whose longarmer does a lovely job, to an artistic quilter, to a couple more with various skill levels. If I'm going to enter a quilt in competition, it won't be quilted by me. This policy would shut me out of competition completely.
I shared this information with some guild friends. Our guild (Glendale, CA) used to have big shows every year and, while we aren't currently planning one, it's possible we may do one again. I for one would argue strongly against this policy! I liked your thoughts on possible expansion of categories. If it means thinning down the prize pot, spreading the $$$ and accolades around more, so be it.
I help coordinate the judging for the Quilters Guild of Dallas show. This year we added two machine quilting awards (one for domestic and one for long arm) that will go to the quilter whether or not she or he was the entrant. We also have some categories for one person quilts and two person quilts (and group quilts). Generally, the two person quilts are works that the quilter paid a long armer to do the quilting. It's a great show. This year we also bumped the youth category into the actual prize winning judged section -- and made it free for juniors to enter. All of these changes were made to encourage more entrants and in response to lots of these kinds of discussions that we see happening in the broader quilt world. We've got 20 categories and nearly 400 quilts are part of the judged show. Anyone who is interested in exhibiting their work should consider entering! https://www.quiltersguildofdallas.org/dallas-quilt-show/
Many people had their own cottage industries hand quilting quilts stretching back into that history and all the way along until today. So that hand quilting could well have been hired out as well (depending on if a quilt show’s rules allowed it).
Also hiring a long arm quilter does not always lead to better quilting than one could do on their own. The thread choice, the motif choice, and execution are all different and important. I was on the jury for Quiltcon in Raleigh and each of those decisions was impactful to many quilts that were entered in the show. It was not uncommon that deficits in one or more of those categories lowered the quilts ratings (and chances of hanging in the show) in quilts that were quilted by their maker and by professional long arm quilters. I can think of several that had very professional execution of what were, to my mind, very poor motif or thread choices that lowered my scoring of them.
Heather! I so appreciate your perspective! I personally have given up doing the actual quilting, and mostly because getting the interaction of the quilting and design right is not a strong skill for me. So many ways to get there!
I am guessing (because I didn’t have access to that info as the jurist) that sometimes this was the maker of the top and sometimes it was the quilter and sometimes it was a bad compromise.
I also am only confident of my choices and results when I hand quilt. Domestic or long arm and I am nervous!! Although I have a long armer who has talent and skill I trust and who also gets me which helps on that angle.
It is such a huge and important skill and I agree that it should be opened up for more opportunity to celebrate and honor not fewer.
I remember reading (wish I could remember where!) that several machine-quilted quilts have been reliably dated to within a year of the first home sewing machine patents--as I recall, that writer said the women took to the new "technology" with gusto.
Personally, I have hand quilted for many years and many quilts, and I have machine quilted (on my Bernini 1230) many MANY quilts of many sizes. Nowadays, with arthritis and neuropathy in my hands, I can only machine quilt smaller quilts, so any of my bigger quilts go out to a long armer. I've used several, from a quilt shop in NorCal whose longarmer does a lovely job, to an artistic quilter, to a couple more with various skill levels. If I'm going to enter a quilt in competition, it won't be quilted by me. This policy would shut me out of competition completely.
I shared this information with some guild friends. Our guild (Glendale, CA) used to have big shows every year and, while we aren't currently planning one, it's possible we may do one again. I for one would argue strongly against this policy! I liked your thoughts on possible expansion of categories. If it means thinning down the prize pot, spreading the $$$ and accolades around more, so be it.
Thank you for your thoughts! I have fond memories of the Glendale show!
I help coordinate the judging for the Quilters Guild of Dallas show. This year we added two machine quilting awards (one for domestic and one for long arm) that will go to the quilter whether or not she or he was the entrant. We also have some categories for one person quilts and two person quilts (and group quilts). Generally, the two person quilts are works that the quilter paid a long armer to do the quilting. It's a great show. This year we also bumped the youth category into the actual prize winning judged section -- and made it free for juniors to enter. All of these changes were made to encourage more entrants and in response to lots of these kinds of discussions that we see happening in the broader quilt world. We've got 20 categories and nearly 400 quilts are part of the judged show. Anyone who is interested in exhibiting their work should consider entering! https://www.quiltersguildofdallas.org/dallas-quilt-show/
I love these changes and expansions!