County Fair Quilt Competitions – How to Enter

Ok, I’m finally getting around to writing a post on entering quilt competitions at the fair. So if you have ever thought about entering, the answer is YES! Now most states if not all across America have state and county fairs. To bring the community together, they offer competitions so you can enter something you have made and compete against your neighbors. Let me share how I have entered something at my local fair so it may encourage you to enter this year!

Summer is right around the corner, it’s time to go online and get this years fair competition information and deadlines. Once you find the website and guide, search for your category. If you sew or quilt, there are multiple categories based on the item you made and the size of the quilt.

It’s not about winning when you are new, you get to experience being in a competition. Everyone gets a participation ribbon and a free ticket to the fair. The cost is minimal and the time you drop off and pick up your item is about 3 months.

Every entry gets feedback slip from the judges on things they liked and things you can improve upon. It’s a win-win, not to mention the pride you feel from having your item displayed in the exhibit hall with your name for everyone to see. Let me tell you some more.

It’s also a great way to spend time with your grandkids. My granddaughter always visits for a week in the summer and we go to the fair by ourselves and walk the exhibition halls. It’s fun to share my love of quilting with my granddaughter. I highly recommend it!

Make sure you check these out!

After you read this post, make sure you also check out Learn How to Quilt for Absolute Beginners. It’s jam packed with information to make your first quilt. It also has links and resources that are so helpful when you’re first learning. There’s lots of free quilt patterns that are great for beginners and all skill levels too. So make sure you check this out, seriously don’t forget!

Make sure you grab a copy of my Quilt Planning Journal, filled with graph paper and some note pages to help you design at least 4 quilts or sewing projects! I have been using mine for a little while and already I am jotting down ideas as I see them and reminders about websites where I have seen some ‘must have’ fabric, so I think this can be so much more than just a design book. Pin in fabric swatches, photos of your finished quilts and enjoy your creative process! Click the bar below.

Local Fair Quilt Competitions – Instructions

Our fair is in late July and August, sign ups begin in March and end in May to enter the quilt competition. Let me tell you my experience over the last four years as a beginner quilter. My goal is to encourage all new quilters to enter something, it’s not about winning. Trust me.

Competition Information

First things first, go to the fair’s website and find the competition guidelines. Make sure you get the guideline form for your category. Read through it to find the rules, requirements and deadline to enter.

The fair website should have a section in the menu bar that will have an area for competitions and contests. Each fair is different but for my fair in Southern California it has different categories. Each category will have sub-categories. Find the one that fits your quilt or quilt project.

Quilts are listed under Fiber Arts, pull up the competition guide and read through the document. Make sure you find your sub-category. Note the entry timelines, there will be a few. But the most important one is the deadline to enter. The other deadlines don’t mean a thing if your item is not accepted.

Entry Deadlines and Results

My fair is July 19 – August 18. Entry deadlines opened in March and end on May 24 by 6pm. I need to pay a $10 fee per entry, limit on 5 entries for an adult. All entries must have been completed within the last two years. Not all entries are accepted, judges review photos and accept or deny.

The fair will notify each person who submitted an entry by a certain date and let you know if your item has been accepted. You can enter all size quilts and quilting projects, sewing and crochet or knitting. It states your item must be completely finished before it will be accepted but I’ve had mine accepted if I only need to quilt or bind it.

Prizes

Each fair is different but here is what my fair offers in terms of awards and prize money. Everyone who enters gets a participation ribbon and one free ticket to the fair.

Quilt Hanging Sleeve

There are lots of YouTube tutorials on how to make a quilt sleeve but check with your fair competitors guide first. If your fair does not require this, don’t waste your time learning how to make one. For those who are unfamiliar with a sleeve, it’s like a rod pocket for your quilt. You can hang it like a pair of curtains but not destroy your quilt.

Entry Drop Off and Pick Up

Again, refer to the competition guide and also your emails. They will confirm when and where to drop off your quilt before the fair begins and after the fair has ended. If you don’t pick up your item by a certain date, your item becomes their property to do with as they please. You may also need a claim slip to pick up, make sure you read all the information they give you and follow as instructed.

Quilt Competitions – My Entries at the Fair

I entered two years in a row and didn’t have a quilt to enter last year. I wanted to enter my log cabin king size quilt with sashing and cornerstones but had already gifted it for a wedding shower present. So this year I have one day left to enter. I’m going to enter the Flight quilt with flying geese blocks and the Classic Shell Afghan.

2021 Fair Entry – HST Quilt

My quilt entry in 2021 was a king size quilt with 4.5″ finished half-square triangles with no border. I made this at the end of my first year quilting. Used my Singer Start to machine quilt the entire thing only to realize that the tension was too loose on my bottom thread (bobbin thread). It was barely stitched on the back side of the quilt. Make sure you check as you go when machine quilting. Checking for tension and stitches are not too tight or too loose. Adjust tension dial and stitch length as needed.

I spent 3 week ripping out the quilting with a seam ripper. Had to buy a new machine, Singer Heavy Duty, and quilted one more time successfully. The judges will give you a slip with feedback when you pick up your entries after the fair is done. The judges wrote that my color distribution was great and said I should have added a border. It was good feedback.

2022 Fair Entry – Bowtie Quilt

Got a new car and made a quilt to cover my leather seats to protect them from my dog’s nails. Rose is my dog and it’s her car quilt, Rose’s Quilt. Simple scrappy bowtie quilt but judges didn’t think I had enough quilting on it, and I agree. I made the mistake of using a dark grey thread and didn’t want to the stitching to distract from the patchwork.

Also, this is a throw size and did not have pride of place. The year prior my king size quilt was hanging on a wall, my smaller quilt was folded and I was very disappointed. Just keep in mind that the fair determines where and how your quilt will be displayed.

How to Enter Fair Quilt Competitions – BEGINNER SUPPLIES

Here are some quilting tools and supplies I recommend. I make a small commission if you purchase through the links, this helps to support this free content. For more info, check out Supplies for Beginners (Best Tools To Start).

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ABOUT SEW NIKKI

If this is your first time stopping by, welcome! My name is Nikki. I’m a weekend quilter, have a super small sewing space and taught myself how to sew and quilt by watching YouTube videos! My blog has How-To’s, Free Patterns and Pattern Reviews. Read more about me here.

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