We are excited to shine a spotlight on two extraordinary Abby’s Attic students who constructed wool garments for the 2024 Texas Make It With Wool Competition on October 26th, 2024.
Congratulations to Finley ….. for completing a fully lined dress with princess seams and a zipper. Finley may only be 12 years old but has polished her sewing skills with dedication. Finley wanted a fun activity this past summer to learn more sewing skills. She took a series of summer classes for kids & teens at Abby’s Attic. Finley was such an amazing seamstress at summer camp that we had to create advanced projects to keep up with her. Once school started she kept bugging her parents that she really wanted to do “the wool thing” her teacher kept talking about. With fresh inspiration and confidence she then embarked on an ambitious project – creating a garment for the Texas Make it with Wool competition. For this dress she tackled many advanced sewing challenges head on including a frustrating loose weave fabric, small bust adjustment, pattern adjustments, copious math to calculate the skirt pattern, using a serger, and so much more.
Finley designed, sewed, and showcased a 50's-style pink dress with V-neck, princess seams, and a 3/4 circle skirt. The gold accents within the fabric highlight a vintage and elegant nested leaf design. Made with soft, wool brocade and a full, charmeuse lining, the dress presents a youthful form and flow. As Finley said, “I wanted to make a dress that I could twirl in. It wasn’t easy to create that effect with wool, so I had to make a lot of changes to the design and the alterations.”
With the encouragement of the Abby's Attic staff and patient coaching of Andrea Anthony, Finley accelerated her sewing skills and challenged herself to do things not just with sewing, but also planning, mathematic calculations, interviewing skills, and presenting a finished design. When reflecting on the process of preparing for the Make it With Wool competition, Finley shared, “I had a fun time making the dress. It was definitely difficult, but we powered through it. It was a great experience to learn and gain knowledge for my next project and next competition.” The extra bonuses are that she has wonderful new friends and a beautiful new dress to wear, to twirl in, and be proud of!
Congratulations to Halley Lunderman with her Best in Knit and Grand Champion Win for the Adult category! Last year, Halley’s husband gave her sewing classes as a Christmas gift and she had her first 101 class in May. She has continued to challenge herself to sew different garment patterns and fabric types. Her teacher was able to sew with her in so many classes that - she convinced her to try the wool contest! Halley knit her top with advanced stitches and multiple colors. Her second garment is a reversible wool handkerchief circle skirt with a hand stitched yarn edging for the hem.
In September and October both Halley and Finley worked on their wool outfits every free moment they had and formed a special “wool sewing buddy” friendship.
We are so very very proud and excited that Finley and Halley had the courage to work with wool, overcome MANY sewing obstacles, and tried something new at a public style show with judges!
What is the Make It With Wool Contest?
The MIWW program is sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Association, and The American Wool Council to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns. Contestants in the MIWW competition sew, knit, or crochet their garments, which must be made from at least 60% wool fabric or yarn. It is an annual youth-centered sewing competition to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics, yarns, and fibers. Contestants must select, construct, and model their own wool garments.
Backstory: The spark for the interest or recruitment in the Make It With Wool competition started with our teacher Andrea who grew up doing this competition in Nebraska. Currently, her mother, aunt, and mother-in-law all coach kids to enter yearly. So the wool contest has been a big thing in her life. After visiting home in the summer and seeing others coaching kids to sew, she came back with a goal to find someone at Abby’s Attic to say “YES to sewing wool”. Andrea’s mother competed at nationals in the 60’s and Andrea went in 2000. She still uses her Bernina sewing machine that was a prize in high school. Andrea also still enjoys wearing the tailored wool coats she made in high school.
If you would like to compete in next year’s competition and would like coaching from Abby’s Attic, please contact abbys.attic@yahoo.com and type “MIWW 2025” in the subject line.
