QuiltCon Quilt Show Rules

QuiltCon 2025 includes a juried quilt show featuring modern quilts made by members of The Modern Quilt Guild. Quilts may be submitted by the entrant for exhibit only or entered into the competition for judging. Please read all rules carefully before filling out the online entry form, which opens Sept. 1, 2024, and closes Oct. 31, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EDT. Entrants are welcome to enter as many quilts as they would like, but a maximum of four quilts per submitting person will be accepted into the show.

Categories

There are several categories in the QuiltCon 2025 quilt show. Please carefully read the category descriptions and evaluate the strongest aspects of the quilt being entered in order to place it into the category that fits it best. With the exception of categories with specific requirements, a quilt will not be moved from the category chosen by the entrant.

Please note: The MQG retains the right to change the category to which a quilt is submitted based on the requirements for Small Quilts, Group or Bee, Youth, and Challenge categories.

Categories with specific requirements: 

Entries will be automatically moved in or out of these categories based on the requirements

Group or Bee Quilts

Any modern quilt made by three or more people.

Small Quilts

Any modern quilt with a total perimeter of 119″ or less. The quilt can be any shape as long as it does not exceed the size limit.

Fabric Challenge

Quilts must use at least 3 of the 6 challenge fabrics. The challenge is open to individuals or groups.

Quilting Challenge

Eligible quilts must use at least 30 different fabrics to create a modern scrappy quilt. The challenge is open to individuals or groups.

MQG Member Exhibit

Details coming soon!

Youth

Entrants must be 18 years or younger at the time of entry. The majority of the work (70% or more) on quilts in this category must be completed by youth makers, this includes groups of youth makers working together. There is no minimum size, and the quilt must not have a total perimeter more than 376″ and no single side longer than 94″. (Quilter is excluded from the age requirement.) *updated 6/19/2021 to include groups in the Youth category

 

 

General Categories

The entrant chooses the category that best fits the entry. Entries must be larger than 120” total perimeter and made by fewer than three people.

Appliqué

The quilt includes either machine or hand layering of fabric where the quilt’s primary focus is appliqué.

Handwork

The quilt includes at least one element of handwork that is the focus of the quilt, including, but not limited to: hand piecing, hand quilting, embroidery, redwork, cross-stitch, crewel, etc. Hand-stitched binding alone does not qualify as handwork.

Improvisation

The majority of the piecing in the quilt top is done improvisationally, without the use of a defined pattern or templates.

Minimalist Design

The design of the quilt emphasizes extreme simplification of content and form to achieve maximum visual impact.

Use of Negative Space

Quilt design incorporates a creative use of negative space integrated into the composition of the quilt.

 
Piecing

The quilt incorporates skilled and/or creative use of machine or hand piecing as a primary focus of the quilt.

Modern Traditionalism

The quilt design incorporates the use of an identifiable traditional block pattern and reimagines it by applying elements of modern design such as asymmetry, color, scale, etc.

Prizes & Awards

Winning quilts will receive awards and prizes from our generous sponsors. Ribbons and cash prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category. All judged quilts are also eligible for the following overall awards: Best in Show, Best Machine Quilting, Best Hand Quilting, Best Original Modern Design, MQG Award of Excellence, and People’s Choice.

The awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2025.

General Rules

  1. Have a minimum of three layers (backing, batting, and top) joined together with stitching.
  2. Have a finished edge (such as binding or facing).
  3. Have a total perimeter of not more than 376″ with no single side longer than 94″.
  4. Have been made in the last three years (2022, 2023, 2024).
  5. Have not previously been shown at any in-person QuiltCon event.
  6. Have not been awarded a ribbon during QuiltCon Together.
  • Any quilts that are in visibly poor condition, including, but not limited to, torn fabric, stains, strong scents, poor craftsmanship, or unfinished quilts.
  • Any quilt they deem to be misrepresented in the photos during the entry process.
  • Any quilt in which the MQG deems design credit to be misrepresented. If this misrepresentation is discovered after the show and the quilt was awarded, the winner forfeits all ribbons and cash prizes.

Any quilt that is rejected or disqualified by the MQG will not be judged, eligible for ribbons or cash prizes, or displayed in the quilt show. Misrepresenting a quilt on the entry form may result in the quilter being banned from QuiltCon submissions for the subsequent year.

Photos

During the online entry process, entrants will be required to submit two photos of the quilt being entered. One overall flat front, and one detail shot. Images must be saved as jpg files. The shortest side must be 1200 pixels minimum, and file sizes must be less than 5 MB.

Release

During the online entry process, you will be asked to agree to these conditions:

Submission Fees:

The submission fee for the QuiltCon Quilt Show is $20 per quilt. You may enter as many quilts as you would like. Be aware that a maximum of four quilts can be accepted for each member (exclusive of group quilts in which the member participated but was not the submitter). The entry fee is non-refundable.

Shipping Fees for Accepted Quilts:

Accepted quilts will be assessed a shipping fee for return shipping. Fees will be a flat rate, $20 for the first quilt, and $10 for each additional quilt, for a maximum fee of $50 per maker.

Selling Your Quilt

You have the option to offer your quilt for sale at QuiltCon. If you do and it sells at QuiltCon, you cannot retroactively decide not to sell it, and you will receive your fees by the end of March. If your quilt sells and you wish to recoup your return shipping fee in lieu of donating it to The Modern Quilt Guild, you must email quiltshow@themodernquiltguild.com before the end of March to make the request. You also agree that 15% of the sale price will be donated to The Modern Quilt Guild. 

Important Dates

Call for entries is open from September 1, 2024 – October 31, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EDT. 

Notification emails of quilt status will be sent no later than the week of December 11, 2024.

The awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2025.