General Information and Rules

Archive Mode. Call Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Quilt Contest 2020 ended on 1/11/20, 12:00 AM. Call settings are read only. See Current Open Calls

General Information and Rules

Display

Selected entries will be displayed in NRG Center March 3 – 22, 2020. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo reserves the right to exhibit quilts as space and criteria permit. 

Divisions

There are 2 divisions in the quilt contest, each with five categories: 
  1. MACHINE QUILTING
    1. appliqué,
    2. piecework,
    3. pictorial (theme quilt),
    4. wall hanging (minimum size is 18” x 18”; maximum size is 60” x 60”), and
    5. mixed technique (which includes any technique not covered in other specific categories).
  2. HAND QUILTING
    1. appliqué,
    2. piecework,
    3. pictorial (theme quilt),
    4. wall hanging (minimum size is 18” x 18”; maximum size is 60” x 60”) and
    5. mixed technique (which includes any technique not covered in other specific categories).
Judging

Quilts will be judged in the following five areas:
1. Overall Appearance - Condition of the quilt, neatness, pleasing feel, appearance, uniqueness, and relationship of borders to quilt
2. Workmanship - Accuracy of piecing or appliqué, quality of stitching, bindings and corners
3. Suitability / Color - Compatibility of materials to function and to each other, and design and color in relationship to intended use
4. Originality - Deviations of familiar patterns as well as total design
5. Design - Scale, placement, unity, distinctiveness, originality and relationship of quilting design

Awards

Ribbons will be awarded as follows: one (1) overall Best of Show, two (2) Best of Division, and ten (10) Best of Category, as well as blue, red, white and green in each category within the divisions. Also, there will be a ribbon awarded to one Best of Go Texan quilt, in recognition of the best quilt from participating Area Go Texan and Houston Metro Go Texan committees, as well as “Judges’ Choice,” in recognition of special merit as designated by the judges of the quilt contest. A final ribbon will be awarded to the quilt voted as the favorite by the quilt subcommittee members

Eligibility

Entry is open to quilters residing in the following Texas counties: Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bosque, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Comanche, Coryell, DeWitt, Falls, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Hamilton, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Karnes, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Matagorda, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Polk, Refugio, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton and Williamson counties.

Best of Go Texan Award

Eligibility for the Best of Go Texan Award will be determined by Area Go Texan or Houston Metro Go Texan Committee officials. Each quilt entry must be constructed within the geographical boundaries of the Go Texan Committee it represents within the past two years. Only one quilt entry per county or subcommittee will be allowed to be the official representative in the contest.

Contestants for the Best of Go Texan award may represent only one of the following Go Texan committees: Area Go Texan or Houston Metro Go Texan.

Area Go Texan Committee – One quilt entry from each of the following counties:
Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Colorado, Comanche, Coryell, DeWitt, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Goliad, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Karnes, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Matagorda, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Polk, Refugio, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Washington, Wharton and Williamson counties.

Houston Metro Go Texan Committee – One quilt entry from the following subcommittees: Aldine/Spring/Klein, Alief/Southwest, Alvin/Pearland, Baytown/Highlands, Brazoria/Southwest, Channelview/Sheldon, Chambers County, Conroe/Willis/The Woodlands, Crosby/Huffman, Cypress-Fairbanks, Fort Bend/Stafford, Galveston Mainland, Humble/Kingwood, Jacinto City/Galena Park, Katy, Lamar/Needville, Liberty County, NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood, New Caney/Splendora, Pasadena/Deer Park/LaPorte, Spring Branch/Memorial, Tomball/Magnolia/Montgomery and Waller County.

Contest Format

Quilts will be juried based on photographs submitted with entry.  Quilts selected by the jury will then be submitted for judging in a private session by qualified judges. The judges’ comments sheets and award ribbon(s) will be mailed back with the quilt.

Rules
  1. Only online entries will be accepted. Entrants must complete online form available at http://rodeohouston.artcall.org. The entry form requires 2-3 photos (full view and closeup, back view, where applicable), a 150-words or less artist statement, and a $30 entry fee, payable at https://secure.rodeohouston.com/donate/?code=QuiltShow. Please use the same email address at both sites so that fees can be matched with entries. Entry fees are nonrefundable. No substitutions allowed.
  2. All entries will be reviewed by a jury for acceptance into the Show. The number of entries accepted will be calculated based on quality of work and available display space.
  3. Pieces that have been on prior exhibit at HLSR are not eligible for entry.
  4. Quilts must consist of three layers: a backing, a batting and a top, with the exception of yo-yo quilts, cathedral-window style quilts, and crazy quilts.
  5. Quilts may be appliquéd, pieced or any combination of quilting techniques. Quilting and piecing of the quilt may be done by machine or hand.  If machine quilted, each block must be 2/3 quilted.
  6. Maximum size permitted: 108" x 108". Smaller quilts and wall hangings will be accepted. When measuring quilts, a metal tape measure should be used.
  7. Quilts must have been constructed within the past two years.
  8. Only colorfast fabrics that have been pre-shrunk are to be used in the quilts entered in the contest. Any fabric used should be no more than 50 percent synthetic fiber, including backing, except for crazy quilts. Double knits may not be used.
  9. No pre-printed quilt cloth (cheater cloth), pre-quilted fabric, or pre-printed whole cloth quilt tops may be used.
  10. Manufactured quilts will not be accepted.
  11. Quilts made from mass-produced kits will not be accepted. This includes block of the month quilts made from fabrics pre-selected for the quiltmaker. * This rule will be suspended for the 2020 Show only.  After the 2020 Show, block of the month patterns will be allowed only if quiltmaker has selected their own fabrics.
  12. Entrants are responsible to ensure that their entry complies with all applicable copyright laws. 
  13. Entries made using a published design, pattern or digital embroidery must acknowledge book, pattern, and/or designer. Credit must be given to the author, teacher, artist, etc. who inspired the work, if applicable.
  14. Quilt may be made either by an individual or by a group of quilters, but acknowledgement must be given to anyone participating in the execution of the quilt, and all participants must reside within eligible Texas counties. See ELIGIBILITY, above.
  15. Quilts that require special handling will not be accepted. Quilts must be able to be stacked, boxed or folded with other pieces without damage to itself or other quilts stacked, boxed or folded with it.
  16. Quilts must arrive clean and in good condition. Quilts found to be soiled, stained or to have an unpleasant odor will be disqualified.
  17. Accepted quilts must be delivered enclosed in a sturdy, large, clear, appropriately sized blanket bag with a working zipper and preferably without wire support (wire is hard to pack and/or could break and damage the quilt). DO NOT use a pillow case or cloth bag.  To protect the quilt, the bag must be in good condition. Quilts not submitted in such a bag will be subject to a $5 fee for the provision of this bag.
  18. Each quilt entry must have a 4 in. finished double casing sewn across the full width of the back of the top edge for hanging on a rod in the display. This is called the sleeve. This sleeve needs to be stitched on the top and bottom.
  19. A label must be sewn on the back of each quilt. The label must be embroidered, typed, or written with a fabric pen on muslin. DO NOT use ballpoint pen. Label must include the name of the quilt, quiltmaker(s) name, quilt owner’s name and contact information, and the county name for Area Go Texan contestants or area name for Houston Metro contestants, if applicable. This label will be covered to preserve anonymity during the judging process.
  20. All decisions of the jurors and judges are final. HLSR reserves the right to decline any entry, including those that fail to follow the quilt contest rules.