Each year, Threads presents a fashion challenge to the members of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP). In 2017, we steered these talented designers toward the fabrics women wear nearly every day: knits. We asked them to come up with a garment or ensemble featuring at least three knit fabrics, each visible in the finished look. We wanted the members to expand the notion of knits as the basis of everyday, comfortable, easy-fitting clothing, to create something that could be worn in a formal or professional context.

Judges Debby Spence, the Best Overall winner of 2016’s challenge, and Emma Seabrooke, a teacher and designer of the SewkeysE pattern line for knits, joined me in evaluating the finalists at the ASDP annual conference in Orlando, Florida. We were thrilled with the wide-ranging entries. The designers proved our hypothesis: Knits can be worn anywhere and anytime, adding comfort and style when you need to look your best.

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Best Overall

Patricia Robison, Shades of Gray Ensemble

Patricia began this year’s design journey with a sequined heather gray jersey, around which she built the ensemble. The designer from Bellingham, Washington, created an A-line duster jacket with princess seams, a ruched collar, a center-front separating zipper, long sleeves, angled pockets in the side-front panels, and shaped hemline. The center-back panel is pleated into the bodice at the waistline. The jacket has rayon jersey bindings at the neckline, center-front opening, pockets, and sleeve hems. 

Patricia sewed a ponte knit dress…