Make It With Wool Contest
Date: November 1 , 2008
Location: Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH
State Coordinator: Mary Roediger- Albany, OH
Make It With Wool Turns Sixty
By Mary Roediger, Ohio MIWW Director
The thought of sixty years conjures up feelings in everyone. People who have reached that age have a wealth of experiences to reflect upon and hopefully many happy memories. Younger ones may gasp to think they will ever be ’Äúthat old!’Äù But when an organization arrives at the 60 th anniversary that is considered a great accomplishment.
2007 was that milestone for the Make It With Wool (MIWW) contest. It all began in 1947 with 72 competitors from 12 states and has grown to include over 1,200 from 32 states. Ohio continues to have a winning heritage as they participate in this annual contest.
This year, Ohio’Äôs contest was held on the Ohio State Fairgrounds with 49 entries. Every contestant went home with a length of Pendleton wool, a lapel pin of the new MIWW logo, and several other goodies. Junior winner Masyn Kandel and senior winner Lindsay Schaeffer were awarded embroidered tote bags, trips to the national contest, and $50 cash from the South Dayton Home Economists along with a special 3 yard length of wool fabric. Adult winner Dianne Galloway went home with an embroidered tote, 3 yards of wool fabric, and the Best of Show award presented by The Stitching Post. Other winners were the happy recipients of sewing reference books, pressing tools, sewing notions, wool yarns, storage containers, magazine subscriptions, socks, and decorative sheep.
In December, Dianne was selected as the National Adult winner and was awarded a trip to appear at the national contest. Her four-piece wool ensemble in browns features excellent craftsmanship and creative details. The judges were impressed with her achievements and the potential for marketability. She was a feature in the national style show and brought home several wonderful prizes including a lovely sheep pelt, new iron, gorgeous fabrics, and an award sash. Las Vegas was the destination for national competition and both girls enjoyed the experience. One highlight was a backstage tour to view the costumes used in Bally’Äôs Jubilee! Show. The amounts of feathers and rhinestone used were astonishing. We watched a principal dancer apply her stage makeup and change into a different personality. The tour ended with the girls getting their photos taken with the dancer in full costume. After all the judging was completed, senior Lindsay made the cut into the final 13. Junior Masyn declared that she is ready to compete again in November.
The contest is a very valuable asset to all the sewers and transforms many into wool-loving sewers and consumers. I enjoy getting to know the contestants over the course of their involvement with the contest. This year it was exciting to have the grandson (J. D. Harting) of an adult contestant (Kay Reynolds) participate and win second in the Pre-Teen category, and to have a mom (Barb Sander) decide to compete in the Adult category while her daughter participated in the Senior and Accessory Divisions. One other fun story that came about as a direct result of our contest was the meeting and blossoming friendship between Genesis Lorenz and Aleithia Robe. Although these girls live four hours apart, they have become pen pals, visited each other’Äôs homes, and this year sewed for each other in the Made For Others class. The audience was delighted when they both took home prize placings.
I look forward to promoting this year’Äôs contest to be held Saturday November 1 st in Columbus. Here’Äôs to another great year in the MIWW history as we grow toward the next milestone.
Divisions and winners from Saturday, November 4, 2007 competition include: Adult ’Äì Dianne Galloway, Patti Hassler (2 nd and 3 rd), Barb Sander, Jennifer Brown. Senior ’Äì Lindsay Schaeffer, Meighan Stevens, Rebecca Sander, Nicole Hamrick, Keeley Buehler. Junior ’Äì Masyn Kandel, Kindle Barber, Paige Dennis, Cora Mercer, Simeon Robe. Pre-Teen ’Äì Laryssa Hedgecock, J. D. Harting, Cassandra Ingle, Allison Ingle, Mariah Cox. Made For Others ’Äì Meighan Stevens, Jane Thompson, Genesis Lorenz, Aleithia Robe, Audrey Hathaway. Accessory ’Äì Meighan Stevens, Rebecca Sander, Meighan Stevens, Jane Thompson, Kindle Barber.
OSIA / OSWP Thanks Mary for doing such a wonderful job at running this contest! Thank You, Mary!