Ethical question about quilt shows

Polly, I'm on board for that f ield trip.

Sunny

Veering slightly from quilt shows, I notice in most of my classes, the samples I make to advertise are what people want to make, exactly same fabrics. A few will pick their own, but most like the one I did and one one like that. My wife is like that. when I take a class it's because she saw something she likes and wants the same thing, same fabrics, etc. Maybe there are a lot of people like her who just like what they like and don't care there are lots the same (like buying clothes at the store)

Every time I think about making a quilt for a show, I go to a show and realize they all look so nice mine won't fit in or only stand out in a bad way LOL, so don't enter anything. I do love to look though! and dream, yea in my dreams I can do anything LOL!

Denny in Fort Wayne

/\ / \ / \ \ / \ / \/ \ \ / \ \ / \

Cindy, there is a reason there are vast numbers of quilt kits for sale out there- REAL quilters buy them and utilize them and make beautiful quilts from those kits. You are no less a quilter for using a kit.

When I see a blue ribbon quilt at a "larger" show I want to see an original- something someone has done that is very, very special and unique. It could be an original interpretation of an old block that's been around forever or a completely original design, an outstanding selection of fabrics, and, of course, excellent workmanship. I also expect that people will note that it was made from a quilt kit when appropriate- always give credit where credit is due. And View's Choice is exactly that- some people voting from the heart on the quilt that grabbed their eye- for whatever reason and nothing else really matters to the voter.

I am a tiny bit bitter here- when the fabric store where I taught closed up, I sold all my class samples. One 'lady' bought a log cabin quilt top that was my original design, then she had it machine quilted and entered it- in HER name- in a fairly large regional show and won a blue ribbon. She did not acknowledge that I made the top, but she did acknowledge the machine quilter. She did nothing but spend the money to BUY a top and BUY the quilting. Now, how can she be called a quilter? That is where I really, really draw the line!

Let the universe know that CINDY IS A *REAL* QUILTER!!! vbg

On Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:51:55 -0500, Sunny wrote (in article ):

I don't if its exactly unethical, but I would certainly add some sort of acknowledgement that it was a kit, or BOM, or whatever when I enter a quilt into our viewer's choice show.

Maureen

(not sure if this making sense or not. Still to early in the a.m.)

OHHHHHhh that would burn my butt!!!! Tiny bit bitter???? I'd be a lot more that that!!!!!! hummm maybe I'm getting carried away with my exclaimation marks....nooo maybe not!

This discussion, seems to me, has gone back to where some of the other discussions always go.

How we view ourselves through our quilts. Who is a "real" quilter and who is not.

JMHO, We are all real quilters, doesn't matter if you use a kit, an old sewing machine, scissors or rotary cutter. What matters, to me, is if you have fun, learn, share and grow as a quilter.

When it is all said and done (finished) who cares is a shop owner used a kit in a show? Fair? We could try to define fair until the proverbial cows come home.

Cindy, you are a real quilter, don't take it personal. It is just a discussion of no real importance and the full moon is coming. Isn't Thursday night that there is a full moon. My DH is showing all the signs. LOL

We could discuss Hand vs. Machine quilting again.

You are all quilters!!!!

Peace and Piece,

Marsha, real as it gets quilter

What, you aren't going to grow the cotton yourself? For shame! ;-)

Cindy, you are a "real quilter" if you say you are. I think the big topic here is that when kit is used for a quilt that is entered into a show, that fact should be noted, and clearly, for both the judges and the public. There is a difference in difficulty between making a quilt "from scratch", ie. using a pattern then selecting all the fabrics for that pattern, cutting and constructing the quilt, etc. and making it from a kit where the pattern and fabric selections are done for you. It is similar to making a cake from scratch, using a recipe then the flour, sugar, etc. versus making a cake from a mix. You are a baker, and "make" both types of cakes, but one takes additional skills. You could even equate the icing with the actual quilting of the quilt. Some people make/do their own, some purchase it.

You are a perfect example of one reason why kits are so popular. And there is nothing wrong with them or you. I think one of the keys is a bit lost from the OP's question...... evidently there were a lot of fabrics in the quilt mentioned. The success of the finished quilt depended, a lot, on the selection of the fabrics. The fact that it was made from a kit was *not* noted in the info provided about the quilt. Once the info was obtained that a kit was involved, the OP felt "let down" about the skills of the quilt maker....... in that she didn't select the fabrics, evidently quite a few of them, which made the quilt pattern "sing".

I love choosing fabrics. I love helping others "shake things up" by sneaking in some unusual fabric choices to spark a quilt. Not everyone does. It is a skill that can be learned, but not everyone wants to learn it, or has time to learn it. That does not make them less a quilter, just a quilter who concentrates on other skills. Historically many quilts were made of just 2 fabrics, or 2 colors. Think of all the red-and-white, and blue-and-white quilts that are so well known. Or the red, green and bit of yellow on white applique quilts. Not a lot of "thinking" that goes into selecting those colors/fabrics. But they are still classics. (I am not downplaying those quilts or others like them. Just using them as examples.... )Of course in the past there were often a lot fewer choices of fabrics too.

This has gotten a lot longer than I intended, sorry. There are lots of skills in making a quilt. Most of us are better at some than others. All of us who make quilts are "real quilters". It is just the matter of disclosure and "truth in advertising" that is the problem I think. Giving credit where credit is due and all that. And not taking credit for something someone else did.

Have fun, make quilts, and enjoy it. Pati, in Phx.

teleflora wrote:

I actually hold a lot of respect for people who make those stunning quilts from a kit. I shy away from kits because I'd never manage to finish the thing without screwing up at least once and then running short of fabric.

Sherry

No, Kathy, I am going to grow it for her. Do you want to comb it out? Who would like to spin it???

We are the group.

Piece,

Marsha

Good Taria! I was feeling a bit alone in that respect. Thanks!

Howdy!

LOL

"making a quilt from scratch"-- you have to choose all your fabric yourself, and then it's okay to put it into the quilt show as your own quilt-- is that it? Or call it My Quilt only if you do it all yourself? (that's gonna' shake up a few quilt worlds for those who piece but do not quilt the product themselves ) And all the judges must be aware of all the "kits" that have ever been put together so they'll be able to distinguish The Kit Quilt from The All Original Quilt...? LOL

But if a quilter "concentrates on other skills", and therefore leaves the choosing of fabric to someone else, this isn't really the quilter's own choice(s) and should say so on the quilt label?

Some people just don't do colors. My mother was an excellent handcrafter; she could sew, piece, embroider, cross-stitch, even paint the wooden critters my dad made & sold. But she can not pick colors that "go together." My dad was color-blind. But the man was an artist w/ wood and w/ the things he painted. Are their works less worthy because they depended on someone else to choose the colors in their medium?

Btw, the people who work in quilt shops are there to help. Many, many of them are more than happy to choose fabrics, pick out colors, suggest patterns, offer their opinions. Do their names go on the credits line(s) of the quilt label? "Mary, we're gonna' need a longer form for these quilt show entries!"

Ah, c'mon, if someone gets some fabric & batting & all the other stuff that goes into making a quilt, then makes that quilt, and then has the courage to enter it into a show, GREAT! Doesn't really matter who chooses the fabric, who coordinates the colors, it's Finishing the thing so that it can be entered in the show that matters. ;-D ...beauty...eye of the beholder...personal preference...

As for the quilts that don't get Finished, aw, well, that's something for the next generation of quilters to learn from, to Finish, or not. Maybe they won't get stuck on little words like kit. ;-)

Cheers! R/Sandy-- there's enough room in the Big Wide World of Quilts for all of us

I hope you reported that to whomever was in charge of the show.

Julia in MN

I know where we can get a bathtub!!

Val

I don't like the idea of entering kit quilts into shows either. I was very surprised the first time I noticed a 'repeated' quilt in a show - there were two or three versions of this Christmas sampler, in almost identical colours! Thing is, I really like the design and fabric selection part of making a quilt, and I think that buying a kit, while great for some, takes a lot away from your role as a quilt maker.

I would like to see shows were we display not only workmanship, which is obviously very important, but also creativity in the design. Hence, I have recently joined an 'art' guild, where members strive to be original. Not that I am at their level yet, but I try. Like one of the more accomplished members who nudged me to join said, anybody can join... which I guess means that not everybody in it is an artist.. :o)

I am sure many pe> I was admiring the gorgeous quilt that won the top prizes at this

Hadn't thought of that aspect of it Taria, thanks for bringing it up. I like doing that too, and I guess when I do that I am not choosing my own fabrics, and I do intend to enter some of them (if I ever finish them) into my guild's show.. of course I would acknowledge the provenance. \

Now that I read the orig> Sometimes I like to finish old quilts that someone may have started

snip

Oh, no you don't! There is no such thing as an unreal quilter. You've been here longer than I have and I have plenty of tips saved that you wrote. Face it--you're a quilter and it's too late to change your mind. Debra in VA See my quilts at

But then she had help, and it's not a real quilt. ;-)