Need a Fashion Challenge? Make a Stunning Statement With Wool!

Pictured at left: 2004 National Make It With Wool Adult winning ensemble

With Labor Day behind us and the school buses once more appearing on the roads it's impossible to deny that Fall is not far behind.  That means it's time for the annual Make It With Wool competition.  This historic national contest provides scholarships for participating youth and promotes the use of wool fiber and fabrics for fashion garments.

Youth and adults of all ages may enter this fun and educational contest.  To participate, contestants must make themselves a garment (usually an ensemble) made of a minimum of 60 percent wool (sheep's wool, alpaca, mohair, buffalo, etc.) fibers.  Entries may be sewn, knit, crocheted, woven or felted.  The contestant will model the garment(s) themselves at their District event, and if chosen, will go on to represent their District at the State competition.

Testing for Wool Content
To test, soak a scrap of fabric overnight in 1 cup of undiluted plain bleach.  100 percent wool fabrics will dissolve completely.  Certain fabric finishes may affect the results.

Entries are judged 60 percent on how they appear and fit on the contestant and 40 percent on construction (off the contestant).

Age categories are Preteen (12 and under), Junior (13–16), Senior (17–24), Adult (25–49), and Adult (50 and over). Preteens compete at district level only.

Make It for Others
In the Make It for Others (district-level only) contest, all regular Make It With Wool rules apply regarding content of wool and garment categories. However, the entrant does not have to model the garment himself/herself.

Instead, the garment must be modeled for the district competition judging and fashion show by the person for whom it was made. Information on the entry form should pertain to the person who constructed the garment, not the model.

Prizes
District Preteen winners will receive 1.5 yards of Pendleton wool fabric. Each district winner in the Junior, Senior, and both Adult categories will receive a trip to the state finals on October 31, 2009. Make It for Others winners will receive 2.5 yards of Pendleton wool fabric.

State Junior and Senior winners each will receive a trip to the national competition at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, January 21–23, 2010. State Junior and Senior alternates will win sewing machines.

One overall Adult winner will be selected at state to receive a serger. The garment, a video, and photos of him/her in the garment will advance to the national Adult competition. One overall national Adult winner is chosen to model his/her garment at the national competition. The state Adult alternate wins $100 in cash.

District competitions take place on weekends throughout October.  If the date for your local competition does not work for you, attending another District event is allowed.  Detailed information is available through the Washington Make It With Wool Contest website. (http://home.earthlink.net/~washingtonwoolcontest/index.html)

Comments

[cabernet reserve]

The amount of crimp corresponds to the fineness of the wool fibers. A fine wool like Merino may have up to 100 crimps per inch, while the coarser wools like karakul may have as few as 1 to 2. Hair, by contrast, has little if any scale and no crimp, and little ability to bind into yarn. On sheep, the hair part of the fleece is called kemp. The relative amounts of kemp to wool vary from breed to breed, and make some fleeces more desirable for spinning, felting, or carding into batts for quilts or other insulating products.

[Annette]

FYI . . . And don't forget that the District 3 competition is held at the Pacific Fabrics store in Puyallup on October 17th in the afternoon! If you're looking for wool fabric, any Pacific Fabrics store is the place to go. We have a great selection and more coming in.