Take it from two winners: Competing in a design and sewing challenge requires plenty of time and effort, but the results are gratifying. Debby Spence and Michelle Loggins discuss their experiences with the annual challenge posed to the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals, which is sponsored by Threads magazine.

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Both competitors, who have their own custom dressmaking businesses, have won the ASDP challenge multiple times. Each year, the competition requires entrants to design and sew a garment or garments that reflect a specific theme. Listen in to find out what has motivated Debby and Michelle to compete and then what has helped them succeed.

Entering the competition is intimidating, Debby says, but it has been a way to relate to others in the professional sewing community. Plus, she’s enjoyed making garments she would not typically make for a client.

Michelle feels the same: “It gave me space to explore not just techniques, but storytelling, through design. It felt like an invitation to honor my skills, and the chance to learn new skills…”

Debby also has learned techniques during the challenges and recalls the one in which she received the Best Overall award for a jacket (Threads #191, June/July 2017). “With the Quilted Garment Challenge, I used four different types of quilting in that jacket that I made,” she says. “I had never done free-motion quilting before. So that was something I had to practice, practice, practice until I got it the way I wanted it to look.”

Michelle details how she manages her time to work on the garment for each challenge while operating her professional studio. Still, she says there was much eleventh-hour blood, sweat, and tears that went into her winning gown for the recent Top-to-Bottom Challenge.

 

 

The dressmakers also discuss how they come up with their design ideas. Executing the designs is where, Debby’s love of problem-solving has been essential.

You must ask “how can I actually implement this design?” she says. “You try different things until you find one that works.  The (Inspired) Sleeves Challenge was quite a challenge for me—making the pattern for those sleeves and the collar to my dress.” (Threads #173, June/July 2014)

Both competitors note that seeing the garments on the runway at the annual ASDP conference fashion show is a priceless feeling.

Listen in for more about the ASDP challenge and the dressmakers’ role as judges during some years when they did not compete. To learn more about the ASDP, go to SewingProfessionals.com.

 

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This episode is sponsored by Travel with Threads:

We’re back with an invitation to all of you, Threads family, to join us on our second adventure to the Netherlands. Our first trip was such a huge success that we’ve planned another in 2025. It runs September 16–24. There are lots of new activities and workshops to enjoy on this exclusive tour. 

We’ll visit world-class museums, fine fabric shops—and our main event is a three-day workshop with Saskia ter Welle of the Dutch Couture Academy. Saskia hosted us last year and she’s planning all-new, hands-on learning of couture-level embellishment and design. All of that is alongside her wonderful hospitality. 

This trip with other sewing enthusiasts is filled with activities that will inspire you.

To find out more about the 2025 Travel with Threads Netherlands Tour, go to ThreadsMagazine.com. The group is limited to 20 participants. Be sure to reserve your space today.