Entry Rules

Please read carefully

1. Entry forms must be received by May 10, 2013, and will be accepted until 400 entries are received. Allow time for mailing. After this, all paperwork, photos, and fees will be returned.
2. All entries must be clean, free of smoke or odor, and constructed of fabric. All entries must contain quilting except category #10 -“Other,” which may or may not contain quilting. False backs are not permitted on competition quilts. All quilt entries must have hanging sleeves. See directions for preparing a sleeve.
3. Entries must have been completed after January 1, 2010, and cannot have been exhibited at a previous NQA show.
4. NQA reserves the right to refuse, and assumes no liability for, entries that require special handling. Quilts must be able to be folded and stacked. Please, NO fragile embellishments, special hanging apparatus, frames, etc. Any such entry will not be judged and will be returned to the quilt owner.
5. Limit of one item per category, per entrant.
6. All quilts must be entirely the work of one person unless entered in categories 4, 9, or 12
7. Entries that do not meet these rules will not be judged or exhibited. Entrants will be notified of disqualification as soon as possible.
8. Entries placed in an incorrect category by the entrant will be evaluated and displayed, but will not be eligible for any awards. It is not the intent of NQA to exclude any entries that meet the requirements. Any entry with surface embellishments should be entered under major construction technique, unless it is a duet or group quilt.
9. Entry fees are non-refundable.
10. Quilts that arrive after June 21, 2013, will be returned unopened.
11. In order to make the process of conferring awards more equitable for all entrants regardless of category, NQA reserves the right to award multiple ribbons where the number of entries in that category is disproportionately large in comparison to the others. At NQA’s sole discretion, these categories may be sub-divided by size into two sub-categories.
12. Quilt may not measure more than 108" wide on the top side.

Entry Confirmation

You will receive both a "Confirmation of Exhibit" notification (e-mail or postcard) and a shipping packet. The latter will contain all information and items needed for shipping, in-person drop off and instructions for in-person pick-up. Please, do not ship your entry before receiving this shipping packet, which will arrive on or about May 20, 2013.

Preparing Show Entry

Quilts must have a sleeve attached (4" opening; sewn or basted securely, top and bottom of sleeve) to the back of the quilt. The top of the sleeve must be no more than 108 inches from the bottom of the quilt. Miniatures should have a sleeve or loops appropriate to their size. See directions for preparing a sleeve here.

ENTRIES RECEIVED WITHOUT SLEEVES OR SLEEVES IMPROPERLY ATTACHED WILL NOT BE EXHIBITED.

Entries must be labeled with name of entrant or maker. Quilted clothing requires a label on each piece of the ensemble. For fairness in judging, you are required to baste a piece of fabric over the name(s) of the quilt maker(s) or entire label before sending the entry.

Insurance

NQA will provide the following “Standard Insurance Coverage” for your entry:

• $500-for quilts 70" and greater on the short side
• $250-for clothing and quilts less than 70" and greater than 24" on the shortest side
• $100-for quilts 24" or less on the shortest side

If you desire more than "Standard Coverage", please be certain to include your quilt on your homeowner's policy or to secure additional insurance through your agent.

Definitions

Large Quilt: Quilts with a perimeter greater than 301". Quilts may not exceed 108" in width.

Medium Quilt: Quilts with a perimeter between 216" and 300".

Small Quilt: Quilts with a perimeter of 215" or less. (Excludes Miniatures).

Pieced: Piecing predominates over other techiniquies in amount or effect.

Appliqué Appliqué predominates over other techniques in amount or effect.

Mixed: A quilt where a fairly even amount of multiple techniques, not including quilting and trapunto, is used to develop the design of the top.

Other: A quilt where one special technique is used to develop the design of the top such as whole cloth (with or without trapunto), surface design, crazy quilt, cathedral window, embroidered, etc. Un-quilted entries will not be considered for Best of Show awards.

Lynn Harris Miniature: A scaled-down version of a large quilt design; maximum size 24" x 24" or 96" perimeter.

Scrap: Quilt top must contain at lesat 75 different fabrics; wrong side of fabric and quilt back do not count in this number.

Pictorial: A quilt that represents a recognizable image of a person, place or thing; any size.

Duet Quilt: A quilt that has two persons involved in its completion. Includes all techniques, as well as quilting by a person other than the maker of the top.

Group Quilt: A quilt that has more than two persons involved in its completion. Involves all techniques, as well as quilting by a person other than the makers of the top.

Art/Innovative Quilt: Your original design reflecting innovative construction and design techniques, theme or subject matter, and/ or materials. No commercial patterns or copies of previous works. Quilts must be made of fabric, have three layers and contain quilting. A quilt based on traditional patterns and designs should be entered in another category.

Naturescape: Quilts that reflect the scenery found in nature, such as land, mountains, oceans, forests, gardens, and deserts. Animals and humans may be included, but should not be the focal point of the piece.

Quilted Clothing: Entry must be a complete ensemble; featured garment must be quilted; no part of the ensemble may be purchased ready-to-wear; vests alone do not qualify as an ensemble. Garments will not be eligible for Best of Show awards.

Chapter Row: Entry represents the NQA Chapter and must be the work of a group within that Chapter, such as a raffle quilt, challenge piece, etc. Any size, any style of quilt accepted.

Stationary Machine: The quilt is moved by hand under a sewing machine to do the quilting.

Track-mounted Machine: The sewing machine is moved over the surface of the quilt to do the quilting.

Perimeter: The combined measurement of all exterior sides.