Make It With Wool Winners

Make It With Wool Winners Announced

JUDY MALONE
ASI Director of Industry Information

The 68th annual National Make It With Wool Fashion Show and Competition honored the Chinese Year of the Sheep by displaying the many designs created from the natural fiber wool.

The state-winning MIWW contestants competed in the national finals and awards program in a well-choreographed style show during ASI’s convention on Jan. 30. The designers taking top honors were Annaleigh DeBoover from New York and Amelia Weight of Utah. DeBoover won the title of Junior 2016 Wool Ambassador with her hand-knit outfit from patterns found on Ravelry.

She used a combination of sport, worsted and fingering weight yarns to create the sweater top and skirt as well as her hat and socks. The top was a top-down knit, while the skirt has the practical detail of pockets. In addition to other prizes, DeBoover’s winnings included a $1,000 scholarship from Pendleton Woolen Mills and a $500 cash award from the ASI Women. The junior division was open to youth ages 13 to 16.

Weight was selected as the Senior 2016 Wool Ambassador. Weight modeled her semi-fitted, black-wool coat with double topstitching, welt pockets and embroidery embellishments on the back yoke, belt and sleeve tabs. As she opened her coat to show off a lovely coral mid-weight wool dress, the audience admired her fun polka-dot coat lining. Her dress pattern was drafted to reproduce one of Kate Middleton’s dresses with a multi-directional skirt. Among other prizes, Weight’s first-place winnings included a $1,500 scholarship from ASI Women. The senior division was open to contestants ages 17 to 24.

Camille Anderson of Nebraska and Meighan Stevens from Ohio won First Runner-Up Junior Division and Senior Division, respectively. Anderson fashioned a vibrant magenta double-breasted coat with a stand-up collar, princess seams and two-piece sleeves. Adding great buttons gave the perfect finishing touch to this Burda Style pattern that came with limited instructions and no seam allowances. Stevens modeled her red boiled wool coat offering several subtle paisley details, from the shaped buttons to the yoke and printed lining. Under the coat, Stevens wore a color blocked dress with the center panel carrying out the paisley theme in scarlet and grey.

Carol Macy of Wyoming was named 2016 National MIWW Adult Winner with her multi-piece entry. Macy enjoys experimenting with new techniques and for this outfit, she learned to make a continuous embroidered pattern on her machine and then manipulate the embellished fabric into the collar on her black wool coat. Using Simplicity and Vogue patterns to create her black and white two-piece wool outfit, Macy added touches of red on the dress bodice seams and coat lining. As part of her winnings, Macy received an all-expense-paid trip to the competition.

The winner of the 2016 Fashion/Apparel Design Award was Erica Medrano from Houston Community College. Inspired by artist Frida Kahlo, Medrano created a wool coat and companion clutch purse embellished with wool felt flowers, needle felted details and embroidery for the woman interested in making a fashion statement. Each 3-D flower and leaf was hand cut to achieve the perfect unique look. Draping gracefully, the coat featured six full circle godets, a wrap front with snap closures, princess seaming, inset sleeves and notched collar showcasing the beautiful nature and versatility of wool. Winnings included a $1,000 scholarship from the American Wool Council and an all-expense-paid trip to the national competition.

A total of 60 junior and senior finalists representing 30 states and the New England region modeled their creations at the national competition. Contestants nationwide entered competitions at the state level and utilized more than 1,752 yards of wool fabric and more than 274 skeins of yarn to create their garments.

Other winners included:

• Annaleigh DeBoover, N.Y., Outstanding Needlework

• Jasmine Powell, Mont., Best Use of Machine Embroidery

• Camille Anderson, Neb., Junior Division Exemplary Construction

• Amelia Weight, Utah, Senior Division Exemplary Construction

• Megan Wiese, Ariz., Junior Division Handwork

• Heidi Christenson, Wash., Senior Division Handwork

• Heidi Christenson, Wash., First Place Outstanding Use of Mohair

• Grace Zongker, Kan., Second Place Outstanding Use of Mohair

• McKensey Dumm, Mo., Third Place Outstanding Use of Mohair

Taking the reins as the National Coordinator this year was Mary Roediger from Ohio. For more information about the MIWW competition, visit NationalMakeItWithWool.com.