Annette1
 
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Date: 6/25/09 1:17 AM REMINDER: Please remember that you can enter only ONE ITEM in the contest. So if you're in the Beginner's Contest, you enter one item in that contest. If you're in the Advanced Beginner's Contest, you enter one item in that contest. The rule was written that way in order to allow each contestant to emphasize quality over quantity. :o) Just two days to go. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS:
As noted in the rules below, FIRST-PLACE winners will be chosen by a panel of judges, whom we expect to begin their deliberations as early as tomorrow (9-1-09). SECOND-PLACE winners will be determined by a vote of PR members.
Once the judges decide on the first-place winners, they will notify me, and I will notify you via this discussion thread right here on this page. So you'll be the FIRST to know once I get the word.
As for the second-place winners, after the vote has been decided by PR members, Deepika handles the announcement of the winners.
In my book, you're ALL winners. :o)
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One of the best features of Pattern Review (PR) is the contests that are open to all eligible PR members. Beginning July 1 and running through August 31, two such contests will be the Beginner Contest and the Advanced Beginner Contest. This is the discussion page for both such contests, and I, Annette, am your contest manager. It seems only fitting that I should be appointed as manager for these particular contests, because I am a beginner manager, this being my first assignment!
So as our first entry in the discussion thread, I will post the rules of the contests here. When in doubt, refer back to this post or, when in further doubt, feel free to post a question in this discussion forum. If I can't answer it (what's the odds, right?), I'll find somebody who can.
Link to Page Where You Can Join Contest PLEASE NOTE: We had a problem in that, when trying to enter the contests, some people were receiving a message that they did not meet the membership requirements. As of 7-6-09, that problem has been fixed, so you should have no problems now. Thanks.
Contest Rules
Beginner Contest and Advanced Beginner Contest
July 1 through August 31, 2009
1. Two Separate Contests.
There are two separate contests in which to submit entries. You may enter one project in either the Beginner Contest or the Advanced Beginner Contest, but not both. Please take care to choose the correct contest BEFORE entering your project (see guidelines under No. 3 below). For voting purposes, the contest entries are being kept separate. For all other purposes, this discussion board will be used to discuss all entries for both contests.
2. Contest Eligibility.
The 90-day PR membership rule has been waived for participation in these contests. Anyone may enter either contest (remember, though, you enter only one of the contests, not both), regardless of length of PR membership. However, only those who have met the 90-day PR membership requirement may cast votes. (See No. 5 below, Prizes and Voting Requirements.)
3. Defining Sewing Level and Ability.
We leave it to you to define your sewing level and ability, with the aid of these qualifiers:
If you think you truly are a Beginner, then you probably have no doubt about your categorization as such, and you should choose the Beginner Contest. However, if you think you may fall somewhere between Advanced Beginner and Intermediate and aren't sure whether you qualify to enter the Advanced Beginner Contest, the following list of skills will aid you in making your decision. If you've attempted and are proficient with more than 5 of the following techniques, then you're ready to bump yourself up to the Intermediate level. (Congratulations!)
A. Zippers (lapped, slot, fly, invisible)
B. Buttonholes
C. Facing
D. Lining
E. Curved seams (such as princess seams)
F. Collars
G. Set-in sleeves
H. Welt pockets
I. Sewing with knits
J. Various hand stitches, including but not limited to: hemstitch, fell stitch, hand rolled hem, catch stitch.
4. Contest Entry Requirements.
A. Beginner: Make any sewn item. Such item may be a garment, an accessory or a home dec project.
B. Advanced Beginner: Make a garment incorporating at least one technique that is new to you.
C. The following applies to entries in both contests:
(1) Write a review of your project, complete with a picture of the finished item.
(2) In addition to the standard information on the review template, the review should include:
(a) A very brief description of your previous sewing experience.
(b) Information regarding what outside help you may have received, other than online help here on PR.
(c) If you are entering a garment into the Advanced Beginner Contest, please describe which technique(s) was new to you.
(d) If your item was made as a part of a class, please note this in the review. Additionally, if the item was made as part of a class, the instructor must not have had any part in stitching or construction.
5. Prizes and Voting Requirements.
1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded for the Beginner Contest.
1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded for the Advanced Beginner Contest.
* * * 1st Prize: Choice of an online class + 1 year of Friends of Pattern Review (FoPR) membership * * *
* * * 2nd Prize: A free pattern and a PR button * * *
1st-place winners in both contests will be chosen by a panel of judges (to be determined).
2nd-place winners in both contests will be determined by membership vote. Each PR member who meets the qualifying membership date (membership prior to April 1, 2009) will be allowed one vote per contest. As previously noted, the 90-day PR membership requirement has been waived for entry in the contests, but you must have the 90-day membership in order to vote in either of the contests.
* * * End of Contest Rules * * *
These contests are as much about advancing your skills and learning within the context of the group setting as they are about the contests themselves. You won't find a more rewarding, friendly, cohesive environment in which to learn and HAVE FUN than among your friends here on Pattern Review. During my time as a member, I have come to know several PR members whom I consider to be lifelong friends (whether they like it or not), and I owe it all to Deepika!
And speaking of Deepika, she has put together a WONDERFUL tutorial on how to enter PR contests. You can get there via this link:
Contest Tutorial
Now, SALLY FORTH and, most importantly, HAVE FUN! (Just DON'T call me SALLY!) :o)
* * *
List of Questions and Answers
* * *
Question: By "new to us" does that mean we've never even tried it before? Or, like in the New Techniques Contest, can it be one we've tried once and have been unsuccessful doing?
Answer: The rules are silent on this point, but in my view, we want to encourage members to join the contest and, with that in mind, I would say it could be either something you've never tried before or something at which you have tried but have been thus far unsuccessful.
* * *
Question: Also, not to be a brat, but shouldn't this be April 1st, instead of March?
Answer: You are correct! And believe it or not, I actually counted that up in my head, and I STILL got it wrong.
* * *
Question: For the technique that is new (whatever the definition of new is, pending answer to the above post), does it have to be one that is in the list you gave? Can it be something else? Or does that open the door to too many things?
Answer: It does not have to be from the list of skill sets given within the rules. That list is provided to help those who are unsure whether they fall into the "Advanced Beginner" category or the "Intermediate" category. The thinking is that if someone is actually at the Intermediate level, they would have an unfair advantage were they to compete against Advanced Beginners. Therefore, the list was provided only to help them decide which group they fall into.
* * *
Question: Pardon me if this is a silly question, or if I can find the answer elsewhere (if so, let me know where!). On what criteria are the entries judged? Is it just subjective (e.g., I think that dress is pretty, I'm going to vote for it)? Successfully accomplishing a new technique? Both? Other? I'm totally new to contests and never even thought about entering one before, so I don't know much!
Answer: This year's judges will set their own criteria, but just to give you an idea, the following is a list of the types of things the judges may look for. Please know that these are not hard and fast judging criteria that I'm listing, but just guidelines to give you an idea of the sorts of things the judges will likely look at:
* Does the review follow all the rules as set forth on the first page of the thread? If all of the required information is not provided, or the rules were not followed, this could be cause for disqualification.
* Is the reviewer precise about his or her skill level or somewhat vague? Strive for precision in your descriptions and your explanations.
* Reviews that contain many pictures showing details of the item are easier to judge than those with dark and/or far-away pictures in which details are not readily discernible.
* Your garments are not expected to look as if they have been made by an Intermediate, Advanced or Couture level sewist. In the past, however, the judges have been impressed by the quality and high standards of the garments entered in these contests, so strive for YOUR best!
I looked back to find the first and second place winners from last year's contests, and I'm linking the reviews here. I thought they would serve as examples for you as to the quality of the photos posted and the clarity of descriptions that were included within their reviews, not only that they used the standard review template, but that they also included the information that is required per contest rules (sewing experience, outside help, new technique(s) used, whether garment was made as part of a class, etc.)
2008 Beginner Contest First Place Winner
2008 Advanced Beginner Contest First Place Winner
2008 Beginner Contest Second Place Winner
2008 Advanced Beginner Contest Second Place Winner
* * *
Question: I was about to start on a romper for my rolling lint and dog fur collector daughter, when it dawned on me that there are TWO things in it I've never done before. Since the sewing for children contest is about to end while this one is about to start... obviously it makes sense to wait a few days. How much prep can we do? I've cut the pattern, but not the fabric. Can I lay out the fabric yet?
Answer: Any muslin, alterations, etc., may be done prior to the July 1 start date, but no work on the actual garment may begin until July 1. Fabric may be prewashed, but not laid out and/or cut. So in other words, prior to the July 1 start date, no work on the actual contest garment may be done, but pattern prep and fabric prep may be done.
Question: Could you please confirm whether this contest is for 1 month or 2 months? Sorry, just getting a bit confused because last year's Beginner's contest was for 1 month.
Answer: Yes, it is INDEED for two months, July 1 through August 31. Thanks.
* * *
Links to Helpful Sites and Tutorials
Beginner's Forum - Lots of Great Information!
From the "Fabrics and More" forum: Always Prewash Fabrics?
Also from Fabrics and More: Preshrinking Wool
Fitting Woes
An EXCELLENT source for fitting tutorials: Debbie's Sewing Tips and Projects
Invisible Zipper Tutorial
Making Your Own Bias Tape
Threads Magazine Video: All-in-One Piping and Facing
Threads Magazine Video: An Easy, Flat Fly-Front Zipper
Participating in Contests on Pattern Review
Threads Magazine Video: Making and Using a Muslin
RustyBobbin.com: How to Rotate a Bust Dart
Threads Magazine Video: Pressing Tips
Threads Magazine Video: A Visit to a Fabric Store
Reality Check on the Sway-Back Adjustments
The Definitive List on Full Bust Adjustments (FBA)
-- Edited on 8/31/09 11:54 AM -- Next page>> |
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Rhonda
