Needlework Judging Criteria

General Criteria

In judging, the following criteria is reviewed:

Article must be clean, if soiled judges will not judge
General appearance
Pressing, blocking
Finishing
Workmanship

Yarn or thread ends: On most all needle work the yarn or thread ends are to be woven into the back of work instead of being knotted for a smoother finished appearance.

Seams: A seam should be inconspicuous unless it is a design feature. It should secure the pieces together; yet not be too tight to cause puckers. Most seams are worked in a weave pattern that looks similar to the needlework technique of the article.

Awarding Merit

First Place: Met all standards
Second Place: Most standards are met
Third Place: 50% of the standards are met
Honorable Mention: Standards are emerging
Special: Above and beyond First Place. Additional criteria to look at:
- Beauty, style, harmonious colors
- Creativity
- Originality
Best of Show: Each Category has one item that is “Best” amongst all Special Awards. One Best of Show in Afghans, Crocheting, Hand Embroidery, Hand or Tote Bags, Hand Knitting, Machine Knitting, Pillows, Quilts, Rugs, Sewing, Various Needlework, and Wall Hangings or Pictures. It is at the discretion of the judges to determine if a Best of Show is worthy in each Category. If there is limited entries and there are no Special Awards in that Category, there will be no Best of Show in the Category.

Each category’s Challenge class receives one Special Award to be displayed with all Challenge Class Special Awards. If there is limited entries and no First Prize, no Special Award in the Challenge class will be awarded in that Category.

Community Service category will not award Special Awards or Best of Show or Points.

Crochet Judging Standards:
Afghans, Crochet, Community Service, Various Needlework

Even tension throughout
Accurate pattern, stitches formed correctly
Blocked well—not over pressed
Ends woven in—no knots
Seams firm, yet stretchy—neat and flat
Suitable choice of thread or yarn

Broomstick Crochet

Loops the same length
Same number of loops crocheted together throughout article
All loops turned counterclockwise
Suitable choice of thread or yarn

Hairpin Lace

All loops attached when joining
Loops in each strip twisted uniformly
Joining should be same tension throughout

Crochet used as trim

Colors –either same or contrast should blend well
Total piece is compatible
Weight of thread used is compatible with fabric and design
Size of trim should enhance the overall piece
Tension maintained throughout
Patterns made accurately

Embroidery Judging Standards
Hand Embroidery, Various Needlework, Wall Hangings or Pictures, Pillows

Crewel or Chicken Scratch

Neat and clean
Appropriate stitches for design
Thread suitable for fabric and design
No knots or long threads carried from place to place
Pattern outline covered by stitches
Pressed or blocked
Should be finished ready for use
Colors, materials, textures, shapes, harmonious
Design place on the fabric evenly
Stitching should not be flattened into the fabric
As neat on back as front

Candlewicking

Stitches uniform in size and equidistant apart
All French Knots turned in one direction
Fabric should be shrunk in hot water after the embroidery is done. This shrinks the fabric and tightens the knot
Fabric pressed well and not puckered by stitches
Pressed on wrong side with knots cushioned in towel.

Twilling

Stitches uniform in size and spacing
No changes in the pattern where the new thread is added in a line
Ends of thread secured
Fabric pressed well and not puckered by stitches

Crewel

Stitches formed accurately
No knots or long threads to carry work from place to place
Embroidery is raised (not flattened in pressing)

Brazilian

Stitches formed accurately
All petals of the flower equal in length
No knots or long threads to carry work from place to place
Three dimensional effect achieved
Threads not flattened

Cross Stitch

Top stitches all cross in same direction
Tension should be light and even
Stitches exact and on straight grain of fabric
Crosses worked in sequence should touch (use same hole)
No knots

Counted Cross Stitch

Needle goes between threads and does not pierce them
Top stitches all cross in same direction
Tension light and even
No knots or long threads to carry work from place to place
Ends should be run through work in same direction

Black Work (Queen’s stitchery, Spanish Black Work)

Designs made accurately
Definite repetition of pattern
Partial patterns formed around edges to fill in outline
Needle goes between threads and does not pierce them
Stitches come together using same hole
When threads are crossed they cross in same order throughout pattern
Outlining done evenly (stitches may be split)

Chicken Scratch (Teneriffe Embroidery, Hoover’s Lace Snowflaking, Mountain Lace)

Lines always cross in same direction
Smooth—no puckering or pulling
No knots or long threads

Hardanger

All designs worked over 4 thread units
Pattern accurately made
Stitches are straight with fabric threads
Needle goes between threads and does not pierce them
Cutting done accurately with no thread ends showing
Wrapping done tightly and evenly

Swedish darning or huck weaving

Proper tension—neat, even appearance
Even, uniform stitches lying flat against the fabric
Floats picked up by needle—fabric not pierced
Design in balance—centered
Thread ends secured by weaving into stitches
No threads visible on wrong side (on huck fabric)

Cutwork (Madeira Work)

Eyelets worked in fine buttonhole stitch
Purl of buttonhole stitch is on edge which is cut away
No thread ends showing
Closely woven fabric used
Even stitches

Hemstitching (Even weave fabric where threads can be counted and pulled easily)

Even groups of threads and drawn together
Stitches go in same direction
Stitches are even in length and tension
Hem lies flat and even
Edge and hem are perfectly straight

Drawn Work

Even weave fabric
Thread which matches or contrasts well
No knots, thread buried in stitching
Threads counted accurately so all stitches are the same
Tension the same on all stitches

Pulled Thread

Even tension
Stitches between threads, no split threads
Thread ends woven into work

Punchwork

Punch needle forms even loops
Yarn is worked in proper direction
Starting and ending yarns are clipped evenly
Fill-in yarns are worked evenly straight across or in the direction of the design contours
Spacing between loops and rows vary with the yarn weight but should be consistent
Pile loops may be closed or cut, but should maintain even shape, whichever is used.

Bunka

All thread ends pulled through to wrong side
Stitches of uniform length
Background covered
Event tension
Loops on back long enough to hold
Blending of colors (when used) done so there is no definite line where color changes

Russian (Loop, Punch, Rush-N-Punch)

Loops of uniform length
Close stitches—the closer the stitches the better the finished product as long as they are not crowded
No knots or ties
Tightly woven background fabric
Stitches angled apart so colors do not mix

Needlepoint

Neat and clean
Canvas blocked squarely
No faded or marker stains
Design suitable for its use
Color scheme enhances the design
Canvas, yarn and stitches chosen to complement design
Stitches completely cover canvas
Tension is uniform and not drawn too tightly
Ends woven in
Yarns not twisted, kinked, knotted or pulled thin
All stitches lie smooth
The same things are considered for grospoint (refers to size of stitches and canvas 7-14 meshes per inch) and petitpoint (canvas 18 count or higher)

Bargello

All stitches parallel to threads on canvas
Yarn covers canvas completely
Stitches pulled uniformly tight (smooth and even)
Design is uniform throughout

Knitting Judging Standards
Afghans, Community Service, Hand Knitting, Various Needlework, Pillows

“Gauge” is one of the most important parts of knitting. Gauge means the number of stitches in each inch across the work, and the number of rows in each inch up and down the work. If the gauge is not the same as in the pattern, the finished article will not be the size wanted.

Even tension
Accurate pattern throughout
Yarn ends woven in
Colors should be knit in smoothly with no knots or loose yarns
No twisted, split or dropped stitches
Seams and edge stretchy, but firm, smooth and flat
New strand or colors picked up so there are no holes
Sections should fit together well, i.e., front and back should be the same length, sleeves fit into armhole, etc.
Buttons, buttonholes, zippers neatly and securely attached
Facings may be knitted on, with the turning point knitted in.
Pockets are finished by the same methods as the hems.
No ends to be knotted
Knots pulled to even tension
Stitch in every space
Yarns even in length
Edges finished
Article should be blocked, but the pattern or texture not flattened

Machine Knitting Judging Standards
Afghans, Community Service, Hand Knitting, Various Needlework, Pillows

Even stitch structure
No knots
Neatness of seams
Neatness of beginning and ending, cast on/off
Pattern Matching
Neatness of reverse/inside
All ends sewn in (no loose threads)

Sewing Judging Standards
Hand or Tote Bags, Various Needlework, Quilts, Pillows, Sewing

Stitching—Machine and hand
Seam finish
Zipper, buttonholes, or fastenings
Sleeve set and detail
Collar/neckline detail
Hem detail
Lining and interfacing
Use the right size and type needle for your chosen material. Remove all gathering and stay-stitching. Grade all seams and top stitch facings. Blind hemstitch all hems, hiding as much of the stitching as possible. Attach hooks and eyes as smoothly as possible (no bulky stitches).
Finish seams, even those under your lining.
Pressing.

Patchwork/Quilting Judging Standards
Hand or Tote Bags, Wall Hangings or Pictures, Various Needlework, Quilts, Pillows

Patchwork and Piecing

Fabrics go well together—weight, fiber, color, care
All pieces should be on grain, straight, evenly matched and stitched to the corners
Pieces accurately stitched and joined
Seams consistently pressed open or in one direction
Knots or thread ends hidden
Emphasis placed on use of color

Quilting/Hand Quilted

Pieced blocks or shapes accurately cut and stitched so joins are accurate
Fabric pieces should be cut on grain
Fabric pieces are not puckered or have ruffled edges
Color of stitching thread should match the color of fabric pieces or enhance the design
Grain of appliquéd pieces should be same as in the background
Quilting stitches small and even
No visible knots or obvious pattern marks
All layers caught in stitch
Binding should be neat, even with inconspicuous stitches in matching thread
Edges should be straight
Square corners should be mitered or at least square
Stitches should look as good on the back as well as front

Machine Quilted

6-8 stitches per inch
Tension even and smooth
No pattern marks showing
All other quilting standards apply

Tied Quilting

Backing, batting and top smooth and wrinkle free
Tying evenly spaced or determined by design
Tying material matches or contrasts in color
Square knot used in tying
Thread trimmed to 2 inches

Trapunto

Design areas outlined with small even running stitches
Padding—even and smooth
Openings on back closed neatly with whip stitch

Wall Hangings Judging Standards

In addition to the criteria for specific needlework, Wall Hangings look at the following:

All items must be ready to hang. For framed pieces, edge to edge wire is best. Top edge center hooks are appropriate for lightweight articles.
Quilted, appliqued, hooked rugs or any item that is completely fiber needs a dowel sleeve, or some over the top mechanism for hanging.
Every article is judged on what is visible. Items are not taken apart by the judges.

Association of Connecticut Fairs State Quilt Contest Judging Standards

Visit www.ctagfairs.org/p/news-and-resources/contests/quilt-contest for this year’s judging standards.

Rugs Judging Standards
Rugs, Sewing, Various Needlework, Pillows

Latch Hook

Knots are tight and evenly worked row by row across the canvas
All spaces should be filled
Design should be pleasing to the eye. Yarn colors should be harmonious. Designs may be original or reproductions.
Trimming and sculpturing pile should be neat and brushed free of trimmings
Article should be finished with hem and/or binding
Back of item such as rug is blocked and finished

Pillows Judging Standards
Sewing, Various Needlework, Pillows, Hand Embroidery

Pillow form is appropriate for pillow size
Workmanship on corners.
Attention to detail
Refer to the type of pillow for more standards (sewn, knit, crochet, embroidery, etc)

Hand or Tote Bags Judging Standards
Sewing, Various Needlework, Pillows, Hand Embroidery

Workmanship Attention to detail
Refer to the type of hand or tote bag for more standards (sewn, knit, crochet, embroidery, etc)