General Information and Rules

General Information and Rules

DISPLAY

Selected entries will be displayed in NRG Center February 27 – March 17, 2024. The Houston Livestock Show & RodeoTM reserves the right to exhibit quilts as space and criteria permit.

CLASSIFICATIONS

There are 2 classifications in the quilt contest: Adult and Youth (ages 21 and under).

Adult

There are 2 subdivisions in the Adult Classification, each with four categories:

  1. MACHINE QUILTING
    1. appliqué,
    2. piecework,
    3. pictorial (theme quilt), and
    4. mixed technique (which includes any technique not covered in other specific categories).
  2. HAND QUILTING
    1. appliqué,
    2. piecework,
    3. pictorial (theme quilt), and
    4. mixed technique (which includes any technique not covered in other specific categories).

Youth

There are 2 subdivisions in the Youth Classification: Machine Quilting or Hand Quilting. Youth entries may be further categorized at the discretion of HLSR.

  1. MACHINE QUILTING
  2. HAND QUILTING

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

Adult Classification:

Best of Show

Two (2) Best of Subdivision

Eight (8) Best of Category

Two (2) Judges' Choice (in recognition of special merit as designated by each judge of the quilt contest)

Committee's Choice (voted as the favorite by the quilt subcommittee members)

Blue, red, white, and green ribbons

Youth Classification:*

Best of Show

Two (2) Best of Subdivision

Two (2) Judges' Choice (in recognition of special merit as designated by each judge of the quilt contest)

Committee's Choice (voted as the favorite by the quilt subcommittee members)

Blue, red, white, and green ribbons

Best of Go Texan Youth

* Youth entries may be further categorized at the discretion of HLSR. If further categorization takes place, additional ribbons may be awarded.

ELIGIBILITY

Entries can either be:

Entered as the official representative of an Area Go Texan County or Metro Go Texan Subcommittee or

Entered by an individual that resides in either an Area Go Texan County or Houston Metro Area

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.

Area Go Texan Committee – One Adult quilt entry and one Youth 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 Adult quilt entry and one Youth 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 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. Beginning September 1, 2023, entrants must complete the online form available at http://rodeohouston2024.artcall.org. The entry form requires 2-3 photos (full front view, detail/close up of front, and back view), 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 each entry. Entry fees are nonrefundable. No substitutions allowed.
  2. Pieces that have been on prior exhibit at the Rodeo are not eligible for entry.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Maximum size permitted: 108" x 108". Smaller quilts and wall hangings will be accepted. When measuring quilts, a metal tape measure should be used.
  6. Quilts must have been constructed within the past two calendar years (January of 2022 through December of 2023) and must be finished/completed at time of entry.
  7. Youth Classification: All workmanship (including quilting and finishing) must be done by an individual or group within the youth age range to qualify for the Youth Classification. Youth age range is defined as 21 or below on December 31, 2023. If any part of the quilt was worked on by an individual older than 21, the quilt will be judged in the Adult Classification.
  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. (Block of the month patterns will be allowed only if quiltmaker has selected their own fabrics.)
  12. Trademarked logos, slogans and licensed characters are not permitted in part or in whole. This also applies to the title of the artwork.
  13. Entrants are responsible to ensure that their entry complies with all applicable copyright laws. 
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Quilts must arrive clean and in good condition. Quilts found to be soiled, ripped or torn, stained or to have an unpleasant odor will be disqualified.
  18. Quilts must be delivered enclosed in a sturdy, large, clear, appropriately sized blanket bag with a working zipper and without wire support (wire is hard to pack and/or could break and damage the quilt). Please 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. 
  19. 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.  For more information, please see the Sleeve/Casing Instructions below.
  20. 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 should be covered by a 3" x 5 " index card using safety pins to attach it temporarily to the quilt in order to preserve anonymity during the judging process.
  21. All decisions of the jurors and judges are final.
  22. HLSR reserves the right to decline any entry, including those that fail to follow the quilt contest rules.

SLEEVE / CASING INSTRUCTIONS

A sleeve or casing is the most practical way to prepare a quilt for hanging without damaging the quilt in any way. It is perhaps the simplest and most effective method because a rod can be inserted and suspended between standards. To make a sleeve or casing: 

  1. Cut a strip 9" wide and 1" longer than the top of your quilt. Finish the ends by turning the raw edges of each end toward the wrong side approximately 1/4"; then turn under again stitching in place by hand or machine.
  2. Fold the strip in half, lengthwise, right sides together and stitch, using 1/2" seam allowance.
  3. Press the sleeve so that the seam is centered on the back of the sleeve.
  4.  The sleeve is stitched to the back of the quilt with the seam to the outside lessening abrasion to the quilt and ensuring a flat surface next to the quilt while it hangs.
  5. Hand-stitch the sleeve across the top backside of the quilt. Place the sleeve just under the binding (or approximately 1/2" from the top edge of the quilt). Stitch through ALL layers, using 1/4" stitches on the front of the quilt and 1/2" to 3/4" stitches on the backside. The stitches should go through all layers of the quilt so there will be less strain on the quilt. The 1/4" stitches on the front will not show or will show so little that they will not be seen from exhibiting distance, especially if you use a neutral or coordinating thread color.
  6. Begin stitching in the center of the quilt and work out to one side. Repeat from the center out to the other side. Repeat for the bottom edge of the sleeve/casing.