My First Quilt Show Experience: Winning an Honorable Mention at AQS Grand Rapids

Entering My First Judged Quilt Show

I am so excited to share my first show quilt experience with you. When I found out that I won an Honorable Mention at the AQS Grand Rapids Show in 2025, I was completely over the moon. 🤩 I truly didn’t expect it at all. It was definitely a small award, but it gave me confidence and became a huge milestone in my quilting journey.

Although I had displayed my quilts at a local quilt show before, they were not judged. Because of that, deciding to enter a judged quilt show was not easy. I had heard so many “dos and don’ts” about show quilts, and honestly, I felt overwhelmed. I worried about missing something important or feeling embarrassed for overlooking a detail. Still, I wanted to share my quilt and experience a different side of the quilting world.

Regal Feathers at AQS Grand Rapids, 2025

Why I Chose a Whole Cloth Quilt

As a longarm quilter, I wanted to start with something that truly showed my character and skills, and a whole cloth quilt felt like the right choice for me. I hoped the judges would notice how I subtly used metallic thread and focused on precise, symmetrical workmanship.

This is a 41” × 41” wall quilt. I had always wanted to make a whole cloth quilt using silk radiant fabric, but I found that there were not many color options available. Then I discovered Robert Kaufman Kona Sheen fabric at a local store, and I just knew I had to use it.

I already had an idea of using gold metallic thread, and I felt that this burgundy color would complement the gold beautifully.

Working with Metallic Thread

Using metallic thread wasn’t too bad once I started using the correct needle. However, it did tend to break occasionally, and I had a hard time mending the breaks in the middle of quilting. It was a learning experience that required patience and problem-solving along the way.

Marking Challenges on Dark Fabric

Marking the quilt was somewhat troublesome. Since the fabric was dark, I couldn’t use a water-soluble blue marker. Instead, I used white chalk and iron-off chalk. The white chalk dusted off easily, but the iron-off chalk wasn’t truly iron-off—at least not for me.

Maybe I used too much pressure; I’m not sure. After ironing, the marks slightly came back, and I ended up rubbing them with a wet cloth. It might be invisible to others, but I can still see the marks.

What I Would Change Next Time

I also wish I had bound the edges differently instead of using a plain binding. I love a simple style, but I learned that for show quilts, it’s often better to add more—as long as everything works together in harmony. I would also add more movement to the quilting design. This quilt feels a bit too symmetrical, and breaking up the rigid pattern could make it look more dynamic and artistic.

Overall, it was an awesome experience, and I am definitely entering again. I really enjoyed seeing audience reactions to my quilt. I didn’t win awards at other shows, but honestly, winning ribbons is not my goal. I want to put myself out there as a longarm quilter and continue growing through these experiences and enjoy the process.