Call for Entry

The competition and exhibition will take place June 3-5, 2022, at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, located in Cumberland, Maryland. Cumberland is situated in the scenic and historic Mountain Maryland region, home to the C&O Canal, the Great Allegheny Passage, and a vibrant arts community. Allegany County also boasts one of five regional folklife centers across the state of Maryland, recognizing the powerful role of traditional artmaking in our community.

The 3-day event will feature more than 12,000 square feet of quilt exhibition, daily workshops for novices and seasoned quilters, a specialty boutique, and much more. Advance tickets are available in the "Tickets and Workshops" section of the site and tickets will be available onsite for purchase.

Entry Rules and Eligibility

Entries are now being accepted into the 2022 Schoolhouse Quilt Show & Competition and the deadline to enter is April 30, 2022. Artists may enter up to a total of five (5) quilts, with the first entry at $15.00 and each additional entry $10.00. Entries may be submitted by completing the below entry form or by downloading and mailing a copy of the paper application. Please note no entries will be accepted onsite.

All entrants will receive an e-mail confirmation with a unique entry number. Please retain the assigned number as it will assist in shipping and receiving quilts onsite.

The organizer reserves the right to close the entry system if it exceeds the maximum number of entries allowable and the right to disqualify any entry from a category should it not meet the stated requirements. Entry images uploaded may be used for marketing and promotional purposes.

Entries must meet the following criteria:

  • Entries should be marked for sale or not for sale in the entry form. All entries marked for sale are subject to a 35% commission, and the pricing provided in the entry form cannot be changed once received. Artists receiving more than $600 in commission will be required to complete a W-9 before commission will be disbursed. Commission payments will be made on a net 30 basis following the conclusion of the competition.
  • No entries will be accepted which have been previously exhibited in a Schoolhouse Quilters show.
  • All entries must include a 4’ sleeve for hanging. Entries received without the required hanging support will not be displayed.
  • All entries must include three layers (top, batting and back) and cannot be tied.
  • All entries must be clean, smoke-free and appropriate for professional presentation.

Entry Categories and Descriptions

Applique (hand) – Pieces of fabric sewn to a larger fabric piece by hand to form a picture or design.
Applique (machine) – Pieces of fabric sewn to a larger fabric piece by machine to form a picture or design.
Embroidery (hand) – Thread embellishment by hand.
Embroidery (machine) – Thread embellishment by machine.
Mixed Techniques – A combination of techniques to include applique, piecing, beading, or ribbon embellishment, etc.
Pieced (hand-quilted) – Sewing together pieces of fabric in a pattern, then quilting by hand.
Pieced (longarm-quilted) – Sewing together pieces of fabric in a pattern, then quilting with a longarm machine.
Pieced (home sewing machine-quilted) – Sewing together pieces of fabric in a pattern, then quilting with home machine.
Wall Hanging/Small Miniature (less than 45” x 45”) – A small or miniature version of a full-sized quilt, suitable for hanging on a wall.
Wall Hanging/Large (45” x 45” or larger) – A smaller version of a full-sized quilt, suitable for hanging on a wall.
Creative Art Quilt – An original exploration of a concept using creative, unique design rather than a pattern. Quilts may be any size, must include three layers (top, batting and backing) and should have finished edges.
Challenge Quilt – “Branching Out” - Since ancient times trees have represented, life, growth, wisdom and strength. The formation of this competition represents the growth of a new partnership. Design a quilt embracing or inspired by the theme of trees. Entries must be larger than 11”x14” but may not exceed 18”x25”, must include three layers (top, batting and backing), and must have finished edges.
First Quilt - the first finished quilt by an artist.
Clothing/Home Accessories/Novelty - Entries can be wearable items, items for the home, or whimsical creations.
Group - Entries must represent finished work by five or more quilters.
Juvenile - Entries represented items for a baby's layette or nursery.
Kid Quilters - Entries from quilters age 14 or younger.

Important Dates

Entry Deadline: April 30, 2022
Delivery by: If shipping, by May 27, 2022; all others must deliver on June 1, 2022
Show Dates: June 3-5, 2022
Pick-Up / Return: If picking up, on June 5, 2022, from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. Entries with return shipping will be returned the following week after the competition concludes.