Wayne County 4-H/FFA Fairbook - 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 members 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.

Exhibit Guidelines:

A. When judging Quilt Quest exhibits, the judges consider SF209 “Standards for Judging Quilts and Quilted Items.”

B. Use a safety pin to attach entry tags and supporting information. No straight pins. 

C. 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” Examples of fabric collections include:
1. Jelly Rolls are made of (up to) 40 different strips of 2.5 inch 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 the smaller squares, rectangles, etc. to make the quilt top according to the pattern directions.

D. 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.

E. A quilted exhibit is made up of at least three layers. Quilts or quilted items must be quilted or tied through all layers. 

F. Fleece blankets are not eligible.

G. Quilts must have a permanent label on the back in the bottom right corner with the quilter’s name and date of completion.

H. Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hquilting

I. Entries: Each exhibitor is limited to one item per class. 

Classes:

+C-229-010 Exploring Quilts (SF208C) - Illustrate some aspect of quilts or quilt making.  Examples include, but are not limited to, language arts, quilts of different cultures, chemistry, design, preservation, history, construction, math conversion of patterns, textiles/fabrics, computerization, and entrepreneurship. History may include history of an old quilt or history/research of a particular style of quilt such as Baltimore album quilts, or Amish quilts. Exhibit may be a 14-inch x 22-inch poster, a three-ring notebook that is 8.5 x 11 inches, or the use of a digital platform. All items must be attached to the exhibit and labeled. NO quilted items should be entered in this class.

+C-229-020 Quilt Designs other than Fabric (SF208B) - Supporting information is required for this exhibit. Information must also include elements or principles of design used and steps taken to complete the project. Tag templates are available at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hhomedesignrestoration Exhibits without supporting information will be lowered a ribbon placing. Two- or three-dimensional item with quilt design made using medium other than fabric, such as wooden quilt block, stained glass, paper, etc.

Barn Quilts: Supporting information is required for these exhibits. Information must also include elements or principles of design used and steps taken to complete the project. Please note this is the Home Design & Restoration information sheet. Tag templates are available athttps://go.unl.edu/ne4hhomedesignrestoration. Exhibits without supporting information will be lowered a ribbon placing.

 +C-229-021 Barn Quilt created that is less than 4 feet x 4 feet. (SF208B)

+C-229-022 Barn Quilt created that is 4 feet x 4 feet or larger. (SF208B)

+C-229-030 Computer Exploration (SF208C) - Exhibit may be a 14-inch x 22-inch poster or a three-ring notebook that is 8.5 inches x 11 inches, with a minimum of six computer generated quilt designs or color variations on a quilt design. Include information of the type of program used, process used to generate designs, or how you used color to create different quilt designs. 

+C-229-040 Wearable Art (SF208A) - Quilted clothing or clothing accessory which must have a recognizable amount of quilting and may include fabric manipulation. Quilting must be done by the 4-H member. On a half sheet of 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, tell how you selected the design and fabrics including whether or not you used a kit, jelly roll, charm squares, etc.

+C-229-041 Inter-Generational Quilt (SF208E) - A quilt made by a 4-H member and family members or friends of different generations.  On a half-sheet of 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, include an explanation answering the following questions: A) How was the quilt planned and who did what in the construction of the quilt? B) How did you select the design and fabrics including whether or not you used a kit, jelly roll, charm squares, etc.? C) What did you learn that you can use on your next project?

+C-229-042 Service Project Quilt (SF208D) - A quilt constructed by a 4-H member or group to be donated to a worthy cause. On a half sheet of 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, include an explanation answering the following questions: A) Why was the quilt constructed and who will receive the donated quilt? B) How did you select the design and fabrics used including whether or not you used a kit, jelly roll, charm squares, etc.? C) What did you do and what was done by others? D) What did you learn that you can use on your next project?

Guidelines Quilted Exhibits-classes 50-83

A. Please note the description of classes, which denote the degree of difficulty in construction and not the number of years in the project. A quilted exhibit consists of three or more layers. All quilted exhibits must be quilted (hand or machine) or tied. All quilt piecing and finishing must be the sole work of the member. Quilting, whether machine or hand quilted, may be done by another individual except for the Premier Quilt class. No pre-quilted fabric may be used. Wall quilts must have a hanging sleeve on the back of the quilt, or some method for hanging. All quilted exhibits must be clean and finished for intended purpose. On a half sheet of 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, include an explanation answering the following questions: A) How did you select the design and fabrics? B) Did you use a kit, jelly roll, charm squares, etc.? C) Explain what you did and what was done by others? D) What did you learn that could be used on your next project?

B. Sizes of Quilted Exhibits
1. Small - length + width = less than 60 inches. This size includes miniature quilts, wall hangings, table runners, placemats (4), and pillows. All items must be quilted. Pillows must have quilted top, not just pieced patchwork.
2. Medium - length + width = 61 to 120 inches
3. Large - length + width = over 120 inches

Quilted Exhibits

Classes 50-52 (SF208A) Pieced quilts made up of squares and/or rectangles. 

+C-229-050 Small 

+C-229-051 Medium 

+C-229-052 Large 

Classes 60-62 (SF208A), In addition to any of the methods in classes 50-52, quilts may have triangles, and/or may be embroidered. 

+C-229-060-Small

+C-229-061 Medium

+C-229-062 Large

Classes 70-72 -(SF 208A), In addition to any of the methods in classes 50 - 62, quilts may have curved piecing, appliqué, Celtic style, stained glass style, paper piecing, art quilt style (An art quilt is an original exploration of a concept or idea rather than the handing down of a “pattern.” It experiments with textile manipulation, color, texture, and/or a diversity of mixed media. An Art Quilt often pushes quilt world boundaries), or other non-traditional styles. 

+C-229-070 Small

+C-229-071 Medium

+C-229-072 Large

Premier Quilt

Classes 80-83 (SF208A) Entire quilt is the sole work of the 4-H member, including quilting (hand or machine). The youth may receive guidance but no one else may work on the quilt. Tied quilts are not eligible for this class. 

+C-229-080 Hand quilted

+C-229-081 Sewing machine quilted

+C-229-082 Long arm quilted-non-computerized/hand guide

+C-229-083 Long arm quilted-computerized