Sewing skills are expressed at a high level in the annual Make It With Wool competition. This national contest encourages sewers to create marvelous ensembles in wool and other select natural fibers, such as mohair, alpaca, and cashmere.

Each year Threads shares a selection of MIWW winning garments. These pieces are wonderful achievements by their makers, many of whom are in their teens. Junior competitors are 13 to 16 years old; seniors are 17 to 24, and adult winners are 25 and older. Every garment represents significant effort and skill. The pieces are judged on the quality of construction, appropriate use of materials, and the usefulness of the garments in the maker’s lifestyle. They are inspiring examples of well-chosen and well-executed techniques. To learn more about the competition and how to enter, visit MakeItWithWool.com.

Adult Winner – Kim Vogley

Quilcene, Washington

“I want to sew garments that are unique to me and contain creative details,” Kim says. She found inspiration in a Gabriela Hearst coat worn by the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. Kim followed Vogue 7144 (out of print) to create the coat in Pendleton wool purchased on Etsy. She felted the fabric in 2-yard pieces in her washing machine, stitching the yardage into rings first to reduce distortion.

The double-breasted coat has silk piping along the princess seams, bound buttonholes, a weighted front hem, and calla lily embellishments. To Kim, the lilies represent sympathy and promise in the wake of the pandemic. The realistic lily on the right lapel was formed from stiffened felted wool and hand-knit elements. The embroidered lilies near the hem are an original digitized motif.