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Now Accepting Fiber Arts Instructor Proposals
See Classes - Wonders of Wool
September 10-12, 2021
Now Accepting Fiber Arts Instructor Proposals
See Classes - Wonders of Wool
Wisconsin Make It With Wool is open to all Wisconsin residents and is for anyone interested in sewing and fashion design using wool or wool blend fabrics, knitted, crocheted or woven clothing or accessories.
Contestants select, construct and model their own garments at the Make it With Wool Style Show, held the Saturday of the Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson, WI. Garments are judged by a panel of judges before the style show. All garments entered in competition must have been completed after January 1, 2021.
Winners of the junior, senior, and adult age categories go on to compete in the National Competition in San Diego, CA, January 19-23, 2022.
Who Can Enter? (Ages as of 1/1/21)
What Can I Enter? Preteens & Made for Others
What Can I Enter? (Ages 13 & Up)
What Fabrics/Yarn Can I Use?
What Are The Judging Criteria?
How Do I Enter? ENTRY FORMS AVAILABLE BOTH ONLINE AND IN THE SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL CATALOG!
Are there prizes?
YES! Preteens receive awards up to 3 placings in state competition, but do not advance to the national competition. The first placing Junior and Senior will win a trip to national competition where scholarships are awarded for the national winners. The Wisconsin adult winner receives a cash award. Novelty items receive cash awards but do not advance. Sewing machine, wool fabric, notions, equipment and other prizes are awarded at both the state and national competitions.
The Wisconsin Make it With Wool Program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival and the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperation.
Questions about the contest or entering? Contact State Director Becky Mehringer, 920-220- 1026 or wisconsinmiww@gmail.com
Saturday, September 11th, 2021
2:00 pm Saturday – Activity Center, during the Best of Wisconsin Style Show
Tickets will be available to purchase in the lobby of the Activity Center: $1 for a single ticket, $5 for six and $10 for 12. One lucky winner will take home this beautiful quilt constructed by Jolene Massuch, Watertown, WI, Carol Battenberg, Johnson Creek, WI and Wynn Wittkopf, Pewaukee, WI. It was embroidered by Carol Battenberg and quilted by Patti Geishirt, Deerfield, WI. The quilt is queen-sized with a blue/gray Pendleton plaid for the main fabric. Proceeds support the Wisconsin Make It With Wool program.
CAMBRIDGE, WI- Wisconsin was well represented at the 2021 National Make It With Wool competition, held virtually this year due to Covid-19 restrictions. Sixty-eight contestants from across the United States competed in four age divisions: Junior, Senior, Adult, and Fashion/Apparel Design.
Representing Wisconsin were Junior Elizabeth Colwell of LaValle, Senior Holley Schwartz of Watertown, and Adult Peg Mathews of Appleton. Winners were announced during a virtual Contestant Recognition and Awards Program on Saturday evening, February 6th, 2021.
Holley Schwartz was awarded 4th Runner-up in the senior division out of 20 entries for her knit double-breasted brown coat, blue mohair knit sweater and knitted cream skirt outfit.
Schwartz was also awarded 1st place in needlework for her knitted 3-piece ensemble and 1st place in Outstanding Use of Mohair for her mohair blue sweater. Schwartz receives a cash prize and specialty yarn.
Contestants in the National Make It With Wool competition sew, knit, or crochet their garments, which must be made from at least 60% wool fabric or yarn. State winners in the Junior, Senior, and Adult Divisions are invited to advance to the national competition held in conjunction with the American Sheep Industry’s annual convention.
The Wisconsin Make It With Wool competition is held annually at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in September at the Jefferson County Fair Park, Jefferson, WI. The contest is open to any Wisconsin resident interested in sewing and fashion design using wool or wool blend fabrics, knitted, crocheted or woven clothing or accessories.
For more information about the Wisconsin Make It With Wool program, contact State Director Becky Mehringer at 920-220-1026 or wisconsinmiww@gmail.com
Wisconsin Make It With Wool Senior winner, Holley Schwartz, Watertown, and Junior winner, Lauren Thompson, Woodville, recently competed in the 2020 National Make It With Wool (MIWW) Competition which was held January 23-‐25 in
Scottsdale, AZ, in conjunction with the American Sheep Industry annual convention. Forty-‐six contestants, 25 Juniors (age 13-‐16) and 21 Seniors (age 17- ‐24), representing 26 states, spent three days participating in judging
sessions, workshops, fashion show rehearsals, and walking tours in Old Town Scottsdale. The competition culminated with the ASI Banquet and MIWW Fashion Show and Awards Program on Saturday evening. Winners were announced in the
Junior and Senior divisions, as well as Special Awards categories. Schwartz finished second in the Outstanding Needlework division. the MIWW contest is sponsored by ASI and ASI-‐Women. Contestants sew, felt, knit, or crochet
garments made with wool fabric or yarn (of at least 60% wool content). For more information about Make It With Wool, please check out the MIWW website, www.makeitwithwool.com, and/or contact Wynn Wittkopf,
wynnwittkopf@gmail.com, 262-‐370-‐1433.
The Wisconsin Make It With Wool Contest was held during the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival at Jefferson County Fair Park in Jefferson on September 7th. Contestants in the Make It With Wool contest competed for top prizes in the four garment divisions – Preteen, Junior, Senior, and Adult. Garments must have been constructed during the contest year and made of a minimum of 60% wool or wool blend fabrics, wool yarn or specialty fibers such as mohair and alpaca. Judging was completed by 3 judges who spoke with each contestant individually and then judged the construction of the garments. The afternoon Style Show featured all contestants modeling their unique and skillfully crafted garments before an appreciative audience. Winners in all categories were announced and prizes presented.
Preteen:
1st Kate Reese, Hartland: Babylock sewing machine donated by M & R Sewing & Vac of Madison
2nd Abigail Schultz, Columbus: Iron donated by Nasco of Ft. Atkinson
3rd Hannah Riemer, Mequon: Scissors donated by Kurth Farms of Pewaukee
Junior: 1st Lauren Thompson, Woodville: Airfare to the National MIWW contest in Scottsdale, AZ in January 2020 provided by the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative; Hotel accommodations
paid by National MIWW
2nd Elizabeth Colwell, LaValle: Iron donated by Nasco of Ft. Atkinson
3rd Amara Bugenhagen, Mukwonago: Scissors donated by Kurth Farms of Pewaukee
Senior: 1st Holley Schwartz, Watertown: Airfare to the National MIWW contest in Scottsdale, AZ in January 2020 provided by the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative; Hotel accommodations
paid by National MIWW
2nd Allison Colwell, LaValle: $50 cash award from Wisconsin Make It With Wool
Adult:
1st Theresa Braun, Fox Point: $100 cash award from Wisconsin Make It With Wool
Best Knitted Entry:
Holley Schwartz, Watertown: $50 cash award from Kurth Farms, Pewaukee
2 Best Constructed Items:
Abigail Schultz, Columbus: $100 cash award from Zieman Productions, Beaver Dam
Theresa Braun, Fox Point: $100 cash award from Zieman Productions, Beaver Dam
Novelty Youth:
1st Nathan Thompson, Woodville: $25 cash award from WI MIWW
2nd David Thompson, Woodville: $15 cash award from WI MIWW
3rd Katherine Crudden, Elkhorn: $10 cash award from WI MIWW
Novelty Adult:
1st Justine Heinrichs, Cedarburg: $25 cash award from WI MIWW
2nd Ellen Coenen, DePere: $15 cash award from WI MIWW
3rd Karen Crudden, Elkhorn: $10 cash award from WI MIWW
4th Megan Nichols, LaMoille, IL: $5 cash award from WI MIWW
Thanks to the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative, all garment contestants received 2 ½ yards of beautiful Pendleton wool.
Junior and Senior winners, Lauren Thompson and Holley Schwartz will travel to the national competition in Scottsdale, AZ, in January. Adult winner, Theresa Braun, will prepare a video featuring her garment and submit it to the National Contest where a panel of judges will decide on a National Winner. The National Adult Winner will be notified and will receive a trip to the national contest in Scottsdale, AZ.
The major sponsor of the Make It With Wool contest is the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative. The Jefferson Agri-Business and Watertown Agri-Business also provide support to Make It With Wool along with numerous businesses and organizations throughout Wisconsin.
This year’s Make It With Wool Quilt Winner was Kate Reese of Hartland, Wisconsin. The 2019 quilt was designed and created by Carol Battenberg, Jolene Massuch, and Wynn Wittkopf. It was quilted by Patti Geishirt.
The 2020 Make It With Wool competition will be held during the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival at Jefferson County Fair Park in Jefferson. For additional information, visit www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com and click on Make It With Wool or contact Wisconsin’s State Director, Wynn Wittkopf at wynnwittkopf@gmail.com, 262-370-1433.