If you love making garments from wool, there’s an annual contest that’s right up your alley. The Make It With Wool (MIWW) Competition recognizes excellence and creativity in wool garment design and sewing through a series of state and national contests. The competition is sponsored and operated by several wool and sheep industry organizations.
Anyone can enter. There are contests for age groups (Adult, Junior, and Senior), and prizes given for construction, pattern use, machine embroidery, fashion design, and the use of specialty wool fibers such as mohair and alpaca. Entrants must use at least 60 percent wool blend fibers for each fashion fabric or yarn.
State competitions are held first, and the winners advance to the national judging round. The 2012 state competitions began in August and will run through December, and the national competition will take place in January 2013. Visit the competition website, MakeItWithWool.com, for information on your state’s 2013 competition cycle and to download the entry forms.
Shown in the photo (left to right) are the 2012 national first place Adult winner Lynda Jordan, first place Junior winner Ryal Mitchel, first place Senior winner Marisa Linton, and the Fashion/Apparel Design winner Erick Tovar (with his model). Look for details on their winning garments, along with other winners’ garments, in Threads’ December/January issue.
Do you love to sew or knit garments from wool? What’s your favorite wool fabric to use? Have you ever entered the Make It With Wool competition?
I'm looking forward to my fourth MIWW competition in a couple months! In fact, I came on this site to look up a tip I want to use in my entry. Last year I was the Senior Winner for Arizona, so I got to rub shoulders with the top national winners at the national competition. I even got to share a room with the 2011 Senior Ambassador and get a close up look at her winning coat.
I can't wait to be back. Hopefully I'll be going to nationals again in January!
Jordan