Entry rules

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.