Three areas to consider

Design and general appearance

       Quilt top is clean and has no odors

       Quilt top is visually appealing – no problems such as:

All fabrics have the same value – too bland

Too busy – no place for the eye to rest

Colors do not fight each other

Quilt top design has balance, unity and proportion of elements

Quilting motifs are in scale and compliment the quilt top

• Borders are to scale and compliment quilt top
• Borders and sashing – unless designed otherwise – should be straight both horizontally and vertically

• Workmanship
• Piecing is accurate – no open seams, cut off points or shadowing (seeing the darker fabrics thru lighter fabrics at seams or thru applique)
• No lumps in the quilt top where many seams are joined
• Applique – whether machine or hand pieced – is neat and the attachment is uniform
• Embellishments are appropriate to the quilt top and securely attached.
• Other elements – thread painting, coloring, etc. are well executed
• Quilting – whether machine or hand quilted – stitches on top are uniform and appropriate in size – no tension problems noted on top or on backing

• Finishing
• Edges of the quilt – unless designed otherwise – should be straight horizontally and vertically
• Binding can be applied by and or machine. Bonding should be full of batting and securely attached to the quilt edge
• Corners of binding should be 90 degrees and sewn down – not gaping open
• The quilt backing should complement the quilt top