Global Youth Conference Needle & Thread Guidelines 

Click here to download a pdf version of the Needle & Thread Guidelines.

All categories are for FEMALE contestants only. Contestants must make girls’/ladies’ garments (except in crochet and knitting). No children’s garments are permitted, as well as other projects, except in crochet and knitting. No full-size afghans are  permitted in these two categories. Contestants are allowed to submit one entry per category and  must not receive help on their projects other than instructions. 

All fashions must meet GYC dress requirements. Needlework entries. Thin or “see-through” fabrics must be fully lined WITH  OPAQUE MATERIAL; LACE MATERIAL IS SEE-THROUGH.  

No Needle/Thread entry should attempt to portray the face or image of Christ. 

Please note: Latch-hook is not allowed. Projects must be completely finished to be eligible. The contestant is encouraged to be creative and vary from the pattern. If this is done, the  differences should be explained on the Needle/Thread Report (CF49). Points are given for  originality. 

Checklist for Needle and Thread: 

  1. Pattern (only those pieces used). 
  2. Needle/Thread Report (CF49). 
GCEA quicklinks

  3. A tag identifier MUST be attached to each piece of the entry with the following information:  print or type the student’s name, school name, customer number, school address, city,  state/province, ZIP/Postal Code, and category entered. 

  4. Plastic bag to hold pattern, Needle/Thread Report, and Model Picture. Attach bag to hanger of garments. Attach with  safety pin to Needlework entry, or secure to back of frame as applicable. 

   5. A COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF GARMENT BEING MODELED. (This does not apply to  Needlecraft items such as sweaters.)

Note to Sponsor: Be sure the contestant enters her project in the correct category. Review  the Judge’s Forms to see where points are given and make sure that the entry includes each  point. Seam finishes are judged according to the work involved as well as neatness.

GARMENTS 

  1. Coordinates—Two pieces only. Select one of the combinations: skirt and blouse; jumper and  blouse; two-piece dress; or culottes and blouse. Use appropriate fabric for coordinates. 
  2. Dresses—church dresses, casual dresses, tailored dresses one piece only.
  3. Formals—full-length dress or fancy blouse and skirt combination. 
  4. Coats/Suits—raincoats and overcoats must be three-fourths (3/4) or dress length and fully lined. The three-fourths length coat is to be just below the fingertips  when the arms are held straight down at the sides. Suits (2-piece minimum) should fully lined. A portion of the lining on all garments in this  category must be left open for judging.  

NO SERGED SEAMS on garments. There is no way to judge a serged seam against a  hand/machine finished seam. NOTE: Serging may be used to finish a seam, as you would use a  zig-zag stitch. See Hints from the Needle/Thread Judges. 

COORDINATES/DRESSES/FORMALS JUDGING CRITERIA

Areas of Evaluation  POSSIBLE POINTS 

Meets GYC Guidelines appearance—Length, cut, modesty (1-10) 

Pattern and photograph submitted (1-5) 

Creativity—Pattern changes, color changes, originality (1-10)

Overall beauty—Coordination of colors and accessories (such as buttons and bows), matching of plaids, etc. (1-10) 

Stitching—Machine and hand (1-15) 

Seam finish (1-10) 

Zipper, buttonholes, or fastenings (1-10) 

Sleeve set and detail (1-10) 

Collar/neckline detail (1-5) 

Hem detail (1-10) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100)\

COATS/SUITS JUDGING CRITERIA 

Areas of Evaluation  POSSIBLE POINTS 

Pattern and photograph submitted (1-5) 

Creativity—Pattern changes, color changes, originality (1-10) 

Overall beauty—Coordination of colors and accessories (such as buttons and bows), matching of plaids, etc. (1-10) 

Stitching—Machine and hand (1-10) 

Seam finish (1-10) 

Buttonholes, zippers, or fastenings (1-10) 

Sleeve set and detail (1-10) 

Collar/neckline detail (1-10) 

Hem detail (1-5) 

Lining and interfacing (1-10) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

Meets GYC Guidelines (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100)   

 

NEEDLECRAFT 

  1. Counted Cross-Stitch—No stamped cross-stitch will be accepted. Pictures must be  framed without glass. The back of all work must be accessible for judging.  Example: tablecloths, place mats, pictures, samplers. 
  2. Embroidery—Decorating fabric with embroidery floss or thread. The back of all work  must be accessible for judging. Pictures must be framed without glass. No counted  cross-stitch, see “Counted Cross-Stitch” category. “Punch and sew” embroidery will not  be accepted. Only regular “needle and thread” embroidery will be judged. Examples:  scarves, pillowcases, tablecloths, hand towels, borders for skirts, pillows, pictures,  samplers. 
  3. Crochet—Examples: baby afghans (no dimension smaller than 36 inches and no  dimension larger than 48 inches), shawls, tablecloths, bedspreads, dresses, sweaters, baby  garment sets (sweater, cap, mittens, or booties). 
  4. Knitting—Machine knitting not allowed. Examples: baby afghans (no dimension  smaller than 36 inches and no dimension larger than 48 inches), shawls, tablecloths,  bedspreads, dresses, sweaters, baby garment sets (sweater, cap, mittens, or booties). 
  5. Afghans –Afghans may be either crocheted or knitted. No baby afghans in this category.  Minimum size is 50” x 70“. 
  6. Quilts—May be machine or hand constructed. (Hand constructed quilts will receive  higher points.) Minimum size is 50” x 70“. See Hints from the Needle/Thread Judges.

 

COUNTED CROSS-STITCH AND EMBROIDERY  JUDGING CRITERIA 

Areas of Evaluation  POSSIBLE POINTS 

Pattern submitted (1-5) 

Creativity—Pattern changes, color changes, originality (2-20) 

Overall beauty (1-15) 

Technique—Difficulty and variety of stitches (1-15) 

Uniformity of stitches (2-20) 

Finishing—Thread ends secured, preferably no knots (1-10) 

Blocking (1-10) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100) 

 

CROCHET, KNITTING, AND AFGHANS  

JUDGING CRITERIA 

Areas of Evaluation POSSIBLE POINTS

Pattern submitted (1-5)

Creativity—Pattern changes, color changes, originality (1-10) 

Overall beauty (1-10) 

Technique—Difficulty of stitches, variety of stitches (1-15) 

Uniformity of stitches (1-15) 

Gauge (1-10) 

Finishing—Thread ends secured, preferably no knots (1-10) 

Blocking (1-10) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-10) 

Meets GYC Guidelines (1-10) 

TOTAL POINTS (100) 

QUILTS JUDGING CRITERIA 

Areas of Evaluation POSSIBLE POINTS 

Pattern submitted (1-5) 

Creativity—Pattern changes, color changes, originality (1-15) 

Overall beauty (1-15)

Quilt top (2-20) 

Quilting stitches—Uniformity, size, hand- or machine-stitching  goes through all layers of quilt (2-20) Size—Meets GYC Guidelines (1-10) 

Finishing for presentation (1-10) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100)

 

HINTS FROM THE NEEDLE/THREAD JUDGES 

The qualities the judges look for are originality and careful attention to details. High points are  given for neatness, cleanliness, uniformity, and precision (finishing for presentation).  

GARMENTS: Be creative. Fit your pattern to meet your body shape and size, and the color  should be appropriate for your personal color palette. It is very important to be modest. Pay close attention to where seams, buttons, decorations, necklines, and hemlines are positioned. 

Use the right size and type needle for your chosen material. Remove all gathering and  stay-stitching. Grade all seams and top stitch facings. Blind hemstitch all hems, hiding as much  of the stitching as possible. Attach hooks and eyes as smoothly as possible (no bulky stitches).  Smooth sewing adds points in two areas, “Hand Stitching” and “Overall Beauty.” Finish seams,  even those under your lining. (A portion of the lining must be left open for judging). 

Higher points will be received for the more difficult seam finishes. A proper seam finish should  be used according to the type of material. Wools are usually bound, crepes need French seams.  Zigzag and pinked seam finishes are the easiest and will receive the least points. Serging is  only allowed for finishing. Pressing as you sew is very important. Even though a garment is  slightly wrinkled en route to the Convention, the correct pressing of each part as it is assembled  will be evident to the judges. Bound buttonholes, where appropriate, will receive higher points  than machine buttonholes. Cover all shoulder pads. Try to stay away from “key hole” openings.  Replace them with buttons and buttonholes or a zipper. Choose appropriate fabric and pattern for the category. 

NEEDLEWORK: It is best not to have any knots or loose ends. When working with an even  number of threads, you may cut your thread twice the length needed, fold in half, thread loose  ends through eye of needle, bring needle up from back side of fabric, go down and catch loop  end of thread with needle. Now you have started your work without knots or loose ends. To tie  

off without knots, simply hide ends in same color thread as previous stitches. 

When framing your needlework picture, DO NOT PUT GLASS in the frame. The glass distorts  stitches and makes judging difficult. 

QUILTS: Quilting stitches (the stitches that go through all layers of the quilt) are what the  judges are looking for. “Tying” is very easy, and cannot compare to actual “quilting.”  Hand-quilting will receive higher points than machine-quilting.