Quilt Quest

Quilt Quest

In Quilt Quest, 4-H members learn skills as they progress through the project. The least experienced 4-H member will select fabric, cut, and sew together only squares or rectangles in making the quilt top. They may have additional guidance in piecing the quilt block and layering together the quilt top, inner batting and the quilt bottom another person can do the quilting for them. 

In the Premier class, the 4-H member has developed skills to be able to do all of the work by himself/herself. This includes pattern and fabric selection, cutting and sewing individual pieces, layering the quilt top/batting/backing together, and quilting. Quilting may be done by hand, by sewing machine or by a commercial-grade quilting machine. After quilting, the 4-H member must finish the quilt by "squaring it up," put binding on the edge, and placing a label on the quilt which provides details about the quilt making process for historical purposes.

Area Rules – Quilt Quest

1. All entry cards and support information must be attached using a safety pin. No straight pins. 
2. When judging Quilt Quest exhibits, the judges consider SF209 “Standards for Judging Quilts and Quilted Items.” 
3. For all classes, 4-H members can choose fabrics for the quilt by selecting fabric from fabric bolts. 4-H members may also use “fabric collections” offered by manufacturers in a particular designer or fabric line. Examples of fabric collection include: 
   1. Jelly Rolls are made of (up to) 40 different strips of 2 ½ inches wide fabric laying on top of one another and rolled up to look like a jelly roll. The fabric is created by one designer or fabric line and compliments each other. In many cases, less skilled 4-H members find it difficult to cut narrow strips with a rotary cutter and ruler, so this fabric selection may make it easier as they learn.
   2. Honey Buns are made like Jelly Rolls with 1.5 inch strips of fabrics.
   3. Layer Cakes are 10-inch squares of fabric from a manufactured designer or fabric line with different pieces of fabric “layered” on top of one another to look like a piece of cake.
   4. Charm Packs are made of 5-inch squares of coordinating fabric and may be tied up with a string or scrap of fabric.
   5. Candies are 2.5-inch squares of fabric from a manufactured designer or fabric line.
   6. Turnover is a collection of coordinating fabrics that are cut into 6 inch triangles.
   7. Fat Quarters are ½ yard cuts of fabric which are cut in half to make a rectangle that is approximately 18 inches x 21 inches. (One half yard of fabric yields 2 fat quarters). The “fat quarter” can be more economical to purchase for a smaller quilt because the purchaser does not have to buy the entire yardage width.
   8. Fabric Kit is a collection of fabrics cut in large pieces to accommodate the requirements of a particular quilt pattern. The 4-H member must cut out all of the smaller squares, rectangles, etc. to make the quilt top according to the pattern directions. 
4. After fabric selection, youth can use a variety of tools for cutting the fabric and completing the quilt. Cutting into pattern pieces may include hand roller die cutting machines that cut various  shapes which can be appliqued to fabric. This is allowed in the construction of the quilt. 
   1. A quilted exhibit is made up of at least three layers. Exhibits must be quilted or tied through all layers. 
   2. Fleece blankets are not eligible in this division. 
   3. Quilts must have a permanent label on the back in the bottom right corner with quilter’s name and date of completion.