If you’ve never put your hand up to volunteer at the Island Quilts Judging Day, you’ve honestly missed out on one of the most fun days on the quilting calendar. Imagine being let loose in a lolly shop except instead of sweets, you’re surrounded by quilts in every size, style, and colour you can think of. Where to even look first?
Luckily, there’s no chaos here. Kate, clipboard in hand, runs a tight ship. Volunteers are divided into teams and set to work sorting quilts into their exhibition categories, stacking them carefully in order. Then the real action begins: judging.
Every quilt is judged “blind,” which means no names or creator details are shown, just the quilt number. And suddenly, you realise just how important that numbering system is. One by one, volunteers parade the quilts in front of the judges, Jan Frazer, Lorraine Hyland and Helen Wadsley. Heads bent together, they murmur in low voices, peering closely at stitching, design, and detail. Decisions made, the quilts are whisked back into their piles, ready for the next step—photography.
It’s steady work, and yes, it makes you hungry. Thankfully, there are snacks on hand (and they do get a workout). Between bites, volunteers whisper about their personal favourites and play the guessing game: “I’m sure that one’s so-and-so’s quilt…” But the truth is, no one knows. The process is top-secret, and even those of us in the room will be kept in suspense until the big presentation evening on 1 October.
So, if you’re thinking about volunteering next year, my advice is: do it. You’ll see stunning quilts up close, be part of the buzz, and get a sneak peek behind the curtain just don’t expect to learn who the winners are before anyone else!