Prepare your entry

Light first

Natural, indirect daylight is the most flattering light for a quilt. Hang the quilt on a neutral wall or lay it flat on a clean floor near a large window. Avoid direct sun, which blows out colour and creates hard shadows. If you shoot at night, use two matching light sources placed at 45-degree angles so the quilt is lit evenly.

Keep the camera square

Position your camera directly in front of the quilt centre, not above, below or to the side. The goal is a rectangle that looks like a rectangle. A tilted camera makes the quilt look trapezoidal and distracts the judges.

Fill the frame

The quilt should occupy most of the photograph. Leave a small, even border of background so the edges read cleanly. Do not crop off binding or corners.

Focus and sharpness

Use a tripod, a stack of books, or a chair to keep the camera steady. Tap the screen to focus on the centre of the quilt. Review the image at full size to confirm the stitching is sharp.

Colour accuracy

Shoot in a space with white or neutral-grey walls. Turn off warm overhead lights that cast an orange tone. If the image looks too warm or cool, adjust white balance on your phone or in a simple editor before uploading.

No identifying marks

Before you press the shutter, scan the frame for labels, watermarks, studio cards, social handles, or anything that reveals your identity. The blind-judging rule applies to every photograph, including extras.

File size and format

Upload JPEG or PNG files. Each image should be at least 2000 pixels on the shortest side. Smaller files compress detail that judges need to see.

Naming your files

You do not need to rename files for anonymity — the system handles that. Just make sure each upload goes into the correct slot: face-on, detail, binding, extra.

Who can enter

The Design Room Quilt Show is open to individual quilt makers worldwide. You must be 18 years of age or older, or have a parent or guardian submit on your behalf. Entries must be your own original work, completed within the last three years, and not previously entered in this show.

The brief: quilts for real rooms

Each edition presents three interior-design rooms. Your quilt must respond to one of those room briefs in size, palette and spirit. A room is not a theme — it is a specific wall, window, floor and mood. Read the brief carefully before you choose.

Eligible techniques

Piecing, appliqué, wholecloth, improv, foundation paper piecing, English paper piecing, art quilting and mixed-media quilts are all welcome. Longarm, domestic and hand quilting are equally eligible. Work may be entirely hand-made, entirely machine-made, or any combination.

What is not eligible

• Kits where the design is pre-determined by the pattern publisher.
• Work made substantially by someone other than the entrant.
• Items other than quilts: wall hangings must read as quilts; garments, bags and home accessories are not eligible.
• Entries that identify the maker anywhere on the front, back, binding or label visible in the photographs.

Size requirements

Each room brief lists an allowed size range. Your finished quilt, including binding, must fall inside that range. Measurements are taken at the longest point in each direction. Quilts outside the stated range will be returned for correction before judging.

Entry fee

The entry fee is $35 USD per quilt. Payment is due at the time of submission. Entries without confirmed payment are not sent to moderation and will not be judged. The fee is non-refundable except in the rare event that the show is cancelled by the organizers.

Photographs: the quilt the judges see

Judging is conducted from photographs only. You must upload four images:

1. Face-on — the full quilt, square to the camera, evenly lit, no shadows across the surface, no background clutter.
2. Detail — a close crop showing quilting and piecing at true scale.
3. Binding — a corner or edge showing how the binding is finished.
4. Extra (optional) — the back, a styling shot, a drape, or anything that helps the room read. This image must not contain your name, watermark or studio signage.

All photographs must be in focus, color-accurate and at least 2000 pixels on the shortest side. Do not add filters, borders, text or decorative overlays.

Blind judging

Maker names are hidden from judges during both rounds. Do not include your name, initials, social handle, watermark, studio logo or any identifying mark in any photograph. Entries that reveal the maker will be sent back for correction. Repeated violations may result in disqualification.

Originality and permissions

By entering you confirm that the quilt is your own original work, that you hold all necessary rights to any imagery or fabric designs used, and that you grant The Design Room Quilt Show permission to display the quilt photographs on the website, in the virtual show floor, in winners announcements and in promotional materials for this and future editions.

Deadlines

Entries open and close according to the dates published on this site. The deadline is midnight in your local time zone on the closing date. Late entries are not accepted. We recommend submitting at least 48 hours before the deadline so any moderation request can be resolved in time.

Moderation

Every entry is reviewed before it reaches the judges. We check that the photographs meet the requirements, that the quilt matches the room brief, and that no identifying information is visible. If an entry needs a fix, you will receive an email and have time to resubmit before entries close.

Judging rounds

• First Glance — judges review every eligible entry and select which quilts advance.
• Grading — advancing entries receive weighted score cards across the published criteria.
• Judge's Choice — each judge names one personal choice from the field.
• People's Choice — the public votes once per account during the show floor window.

Prizes and fulfilment

Prizes are awarded as described on the Prizes page. Cash prizes are paid in the currency stated. Winners are responsible for any taxes or transfer fees in their jurisdiction. Physical prizes are shipped to the address provided in the winner's profile.

Conduct

We reserve the right to remove any entry, and any entrant, for harassment, misrepresentation, copyright infringement or behaviour that undermines the fairness or spirit of the show. All decisions of the organizers are final.

General

What is The Design Room Quilt Show?

It is a virtual, juried quilt exhibition. Each edition presents three real interior-design rooms. Quilters make a quilt for one of those rooms, submit four photographs, and a panel of judges reviews every entry blind — without knowing who made it.

Is this an in-person or online show?

The show is entirely virtual. Entries are submitted online, judging happens from photographs, and the public views the show floor on this website. The awards ceremony and lecture series are hosted on Zoom.

Who runs it?

The show is produced by TheQuiltHub.com with a panel of interior designers, quilt professionals and educators who change each edition.

Entering

How much does it cost to enter?

The entry fee is $35 USD per quilt. You may enter more than one quilt, and each entry requires its own fee.

Can I enter more than one quilt?

Yes. Each quilt is a separate entry with its own fee and room choice.

Can I enter the same quilt in more than one room?

No. Each quilt must be entered in exactly one room. Choose the brief that best fits the quilt you made.

What if my quilt is between size ranges?

Your finished quilt must fall within the size range stated in the room brief. Measure at the longest point in each direction, including binding. If it is outside the range, the entry will be returned for correction.

Do I need to finish my quilt before I enter?

Yes. The quilt must be complete, including binding and any quilting, before you submit your photographs.

Photographs

Why are photographs so important?

Because this is a virtual show, judges never see the quilt in person. Your photographs are the quilt as far as the judges are concerned. A well-photographed quilt gets a fair hearing.

What kind of camera do I need?

A modern smartphone is sufficient. Natural daylight, a neutral wall and a steady hand are more important than expensive gear.

Can I use a filter or edit the colour?

No. Photographs must be colour-accurate and unfiltered. Judges need to see the true palette, value and texture of your work.

Can my quilt be shown on a bed, sofa or mannequin?

The face-on shot must show the quilt flat and square to the camera. Extra shots may include styling, but the quilt must remain the subject and no identifying objects or signs may appear.

What is blind judging and why does it matter?

Judges do not see your name, your social handle, your watermark or your studio. This keeps the show fair. Any identifying mark in any photograph will cause the entry to be returned for correction.

Judging

How are quilts judged?

Entries pass through two rounds. In First Glance, judges review every entry and decide which advance. In Grading, advancing entries receive weighted scores across published criteria such as concept, composition, colour, craftsmanship and room fit.

What is Best in Show?

Best in Show is the quilt with the highest overall score from the grading round. It is not a popularity contest — it is determined entirely by the score cards.

What are the room winners?

The top-scoring quilt in each room, based on the grading scores.

What is Judge's Choice?

Each judge names one personal choice from the entire field. It reflects individual taste and may differ from the score-based winners.

What is People's Choice?

During the show floor window, the public can vote once per account for their favourite quilt. The quilt with the most votes wins People's Choice.

Prizes

What is the prize for Best in Show?

Best in Show receives a CA$5,000 cash prize. Other prizes include room winner awards, Judge's Choice recognition, People's Choice and sponsor-supported prize packs.

How are prizes paid?

Cash prizes are paid in the currency stated, by electronic transfer or cheque, to the address and account details in the winner's profile. Winners are responsible for any taxes or fees in their jurisdiction.

Do I keep copyright in my quilt?

Yes. You keep full ownership and copyright. By entering you grant us a licence to display the photographs for show, winners and promotional purposes.

Timeline

When do entries close?

Entries close at midnight in your local time on the published closing date. Add the deadline to your calendar from the Prepare page.

When does the show floor open?

The show floor opens when public voting begins, on the published voting date. That is also when the public can first see every approved entry.

When are winners announced?

Winners are revealed during the live awards ceremony, then published on the Winners page immediately after.

Support

I need help with my entry. Who do I contact?

Use the contact link in your account or email the show team. We aim to reply within one business day during the entry window.

My entry was sent back for a fix. What now?

You will receive an email explaining what needs to change. Log in, edit the entry, and resubmit before entries close. We recommend resubmitting as soon as possible.

Can I withdraw my entry?

You can withdraw an entry before entries close. The entry fee is not refunded.