- To promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns.
- To encourage personal creativity in sewing, knitting and crocheting with wool fabrics and yarns.
- To recognize creative skills.
- To develop life skills, including: being responsible for one's self, being a good sport, accepting judge's decisions, and learning about and appreciating diversity.
WHO CAN ENTER?
- Little Sewers, ages 5-7
- Pre-Teens, ages 8-12
- Juniors, ages 13-16
- Seniors, ages 17-24
- Adults, age 25 and older
Contestants must select, construct and model their own garments. Made for others entries: the intended wearer must model garments.
WHAT FABRICS/YARNS CAN I USE?
- 100% wool or wool blend (minimum of 60% wool or specialty fiber) for each fashion fabric or yarn used. Specialty wool fibers include mohair, cashmere, alpaca, camel, llama and vicuna.
- The entire garment body (back, front and sleeves) must be wool or wool-blend fabric.
- Trims, facings, linings, interfacings and underlinings may be fabrics other than wool or wool blends.
HOW CAN I ENTER?
You must participate in the state where you live or attend school. See the state contact list for your state's information.You may enter more than one garment, using a separate form for each entry.
Past National Junior and Senior winners may not compete again in the same age division.
Past National Adult photo winner may not compete again for 3 years.
Complete and mail attached entry form as directed, with non-refundable national fee: $10 Preteens, $10 Juniors, Seniors, Adults, Made for Others, Fashion/Apparel Design Attach a 5"x5" sample of each fabric or knitted, crocheted or woven swatch, to each entry form. Some states may also charge a variable fee- be sure to check with the state director about this.
WHAT ARE THE JUDGING CRITERIA?
- Appropriateness to contestant's lifestyle
- Coordination of fabric/yarn with garment style and design
- Contestant's presentation
- Construction quality
- Creativity
- Judging is private and the judges' decision is final.
WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
- Junior and Senior state winners advance to the National Competition.
- Adult state winners send 5"x7" photos and video (maximum 3 minutes) of themselves wearing garments to national photo competition. National Adult winner receives a trip to model in the National Competition.
- Fabrics, sewing books, equipment and notions are awarded at State and National levels.
- Scholarships are awarded at National level:
$ 1,000 Mohair Council of America (Junior & Senior Award for a complete garment made of Mohair)
$ 1,000 Pendleton Woolen Mills (Junior Winner)
$ 1,000 American Wool Council Fashion/Apparel Design
SPECIAL NATIONAL AWARDS:
- Exemplary Construction -- Creative Craft Group/Sew News Magazine
- Machine Embroidery -- Creative Craft Group/Creative Machine Embroidery Magazine
- Top Winners: "Project Runway" Limited Edition Sergers -- Brother International
- Use of Claire Shaeffer's "Custom Collection" Pattern from Vogue Pattern Company -- Claire Shaeffer
- Use of a "Wild Ginger" Software Pattern -- Wild Ginger Software, Inc.
- Use of a Kwik Sew Pattern -- Kwik Sew Pattern Company
- Use of 100% American Merino Wool -- American Delaine Merino Record Association
WHERE CAN I PURCHASE WOOL OR WOOL-BLEND FABRICS?
- Local fabric stores
- Mail-order resources
- Internet sites
- Resource listings: sewing magazines, ASI Web site, Mohair Council of America, State Directors
- Some retail outlets: www.denverfabrics.com www,britexfabrics.com, www.seweasy2Spokane.com, www.Michaelsfabrics.com, ginnysfinefabrics.com
HOW CAN I BE CERTAIN MY FABRICS/YARNS ARE WOOL?
- Self-testing is recommended: Place a 1" fabric square in 1 cup new Clorox bleach for several hours or overnight. 100% wool will have no residue; wool blends will have fibers remaining.
- Note: Finishes and other natural fibers may affect the test results.
- contact state director to arrange for testing at an approved fabric testing laboratory
- Additional testing will be done prior to the state and national contests.
