Quilt Festival Divisions & Categories

Guidelines:

The Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival (KCRQF) defines the person who made the quilt top as the Quilt Maker.

  • The Quilt Maker’s status determines Master or Artisan Division status (not the quilter). Quilts may be quilted by the maker or any 3rd party quilter, including professional quilters.
  • A quilt will not be allowed to be entered for judging if the Quilt Maker or its components are unknown.
  • If it is deemed a quilt has been entered in the wrong category after entry, the quilt will remain in that category as it’s the entrant’s responsibility to place it in the proper category.
  • All quilts must be either hand or machine quilted, no tied or tacked quilts allowed.
  • A separate entry must be submitted for each quilt entered.
  • Unless specific sizes are noted in individual categories, no quilt will be accepted that is less than 24” on any side, or wider than 96”. Quilts longer than 96” will only be accepted with a sleeve set  96” from the bottom of the quilt.
Master:
  • If the following statement is true, past or present, you MUST enter the Master Division: Quilt Maker has been awarded a Best of Show, First or Second place ribbon in any juried or judged regional or national show or festival (i.e. KCRQF, AQS, International, Mid-Atlantic, etc)
  • A Quilt Maker not identified as a Master may still choose to enter the Master Division.
Artisan:
  • If the following statement is true, past or present, you may enter under the Artisan Division: The Quilt Maker has NOT been awarded Best of Show, First or Second place ribbon in any juried or judged regional or national quilt show or festival (see above examples).
All Divisions/Categories:

Quilts: Determine size by measuring both length and width. Quilts longer than 96” will be accepted but only the bottom 96” will be displayed. (see Quilt Prep).  Quilts should be no wider than 96”. No quilt measuring less than 24” on any side will be accepted.

Ribbons / Awards:
  • All categories will receive ribbons for First (Blue), Second (Red) and Third (white). Blue ribbon winners will also receive cash/goods award.
  • A Best of Show ribbon and prize will be awarded in both the Masters and the Artisan Divisions.
Master Level:

MP 100
Master

Pieced Quilt - Predominately pieced assembly; machine or hand quilted.

MP 200
Master

Appliqué Quilt - Predominately applique assembly, machine or hand quilted.

MP 300
Master

Art/Pictorial Quilt - Must be an original design, machine or hand quilted.

MP 400
Master

Innovative Quilt - Predominate techniques utilize innovative techniques such as sublimation, mixed media, embroidery (hand or machine), etc.

Artisan Level:

LP 100
Artisan

Large Pieced Quilt - Predominately pieced assembly; machine or hand quilted. No smaller than 61” on any side.

LA 100
Artisan

Large Appliqué Quilt - Predominately applique assembly; machine or hand quilted. No smaller than 61” on any side.

SP 200
Artisan

Small Pieced Quilt - Predominately pieced assembly; machine or hand quilted. No larger than 60” on any side.

SA 200
Artisan

Small Appliqué Quilt - Predominately applique assembly; machine or hand quilted. No larger than 60” on any side.

AP 300
Artisan

Art/Pictorial Quilt - Must be original design, machine or hand quilted.

AP 400
Artisan

Innovative Quilt - Predominate techniques utilize innovative techniques such as sublimation, hand or machine embroidery, mixed media, etc.

MQ 500
Artisan

Modern Quilt - Must incorporate characteristics of modern quilting such as high contrast/graphics; alternate grid work; minimalism, asymmetry, expansive negative space, improv piecing or applique.  Machine or hand quilted.

NEW!! YA 600
Young Adult

Young Adult Quilt - For 19-25yr old quilters.  Any technique; hand or machine quilted.

YO 100
Youth

Youth Quilt - UNDER 13 yr old at time of Festival. Quilter may submit quilt OR a quilted item (i.e garment, accessories or home décor).  Quilt must be machine or hand quilted, any assembly techniques.

YO 200
Youth

Youth Quilt - Age 13-18 yrs old at the time of the Festival.  Quilter may submit quilt, OR a quilted item (i.e. garment, accessories or home décor). Quilt must be hand or machine quilted; any assembly technique.

Quilt Entry Instructions

General Requirements and Information:

A separate entry form is required for each entry.

    1. All entries, photos and fees must be submitted online. When your submission has been received you will receive emailed confirmation. If you do not get a confirmation, please contact judging@kcrqf.com  .  Quilt delivery instructions will be emailed once the entry deadline or entry limit is reached.
    2. Quilts entered must be completed within the 3 yrs prior to the Festival and may not have been entered either in judged or guild categories in past KCRQF.
    3. Quilts must be hand or machine quilted. Quilting is defined as a running stitch passing through a minimum of 3 layers.  Tacked or tied quilts are not eligible.
    4. Quilts must remain on display during the entire KCRQF and must be in excellent condition. Incomplete, torn, soiled or quilts with pet hair will not be accepted.
    5. Quilts will be accepted in the order they are registered within the space limitations of the exhibition hall. Each entrant may only enter three (3) quilts with no more than two (2) per category.  Please specify order of preference for each entry in case entry space would prevent entry of all.
    6. Quilts must adhere to size requirements as listed in each category. Quilts LONGER than 96”, in categories that allow, will be hung 96” from the bottom of the quilt, place top of sleeve no higher than 96” from the bottom.
    7. Any category with less than 3 entrants will be removed or reassigned at the discretion of the Festival judging committee.
    8. Ribbons & Awards will be awarded at the discretion of the Judge & Festival to the winning Quilt Maker and Quilter. If quilt maker and quilter are the same person there will only be one ribbon awarded.
    9. The Judge and Festival Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry that is deemed objectionable or too controversial.
    10. ENTRANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN INSURANCE.  Your completed entry form releases the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival, its officers, agents and volunteers from any and all liability.
Quilt Preparations:
    1. Sleeve  All quilts (youth submitting other than quilts items will receive individual instructions regarding sleeves) must have a sewn-on, 4” open-ended sleeve that is no more than 96” from the bottom edge of the quilt.          http://www.quiltweek.com/hanging-sleeve-instructions/
    2. Label all quilts must have a label sewn onto the back (left corner preferred) listing the name of quilt, entrant’s name and contact information.   To ensure impartiality in judging, please apply a fabric flap, sewn at the top, over the identifying label.
    3. Photo  Each entry must include a color photo of your quilt.  A work in progress photo is acceptable as long as the quilt is recognizable (but no quilt pattern covers please).  Photo will be submitted at time of entry form online. 
    4. Special handling  Entries requiring special handling (i.e anything that would snag, not be foldable, etc) will not be accepted.  Your quilt must be foldable and stacked with other quilts without potential damage to your quilt or any other quilt at the Festival, volunteers or Festival attendees.
    5. Quilts must be a single, stand-alone project. It may not be framed, mounted or covered.
Fees:
    1. Entries will be accepted starting Jan. 6, 2025 and close no later than March 3,2025 (or until display limits reached).
    2. All entrants must submit entry fees as listed at the time of submitting the online entry form.
    3. Fee for Youth (YO 100 and YO 200) and Young Adults (YA 600) categories are $10 Per entry.
    4. Fee for all other categories are $25 Per entry.
    5. Entry fees are Non-refundable under any circumstance.
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Meet Our Judge - Sandy Gard

Sandy is a self taught seamstress and quilter.  At the age of six, she was cutting and sewing clothes for her dolls by hand.  At the age of eight she had her first experience at hand quilting.  At her grandmother’s farm house in Sulphur Springs, Texas, all the neighbors gathered and they lowered the quilting frame from the living room ceiling.  They all sat around the quilt, quilting and visiting.  The love of quilting began.  It has been a lifelong love affair. 

Sandy has had a home-based sewing business for 21 years.  In 2007, Sandy purchased a Gammill long arm quilting machine.  She has been successfully quilting for customers since then.  Sandy has quilted over 1000 customer quilts.

In 2014, Sandy entered the NQA Judging program.  She has spent four years working with certified judges and judging quilt shows.  She received her NACQJ certification in 2019.  She holds positions on four local quilt guild boards and is judging coordinator for one.

My philosophy as a judge is to use the knowledge I have to teach and encourage quilters to improve their quilting skills and take their quilting to the next level.

Her personal statement:  Quilting is a time honored tradition.  I love the history and future of quilting and I love promoting the tradition to new quilters of any age.