National Make It Yourself With Wool Winners Chosen at 2006 ASI Convention in Mesa

For More Information Contact:
Marie Lehfeldt, MIYWW Coordinator (406) 636-2731, or levi@midrivers.com
Amy Trinidad (303) 771-3500, ext. 55, or amy@sheepusa.org
(Electronic photos available upon request)

Denver, Colo. ? Jessica Franklin of Neenah, Wis., and Kacie Killen of Bozeman, Mont., took top honors at the 2006 Make It Yourself With Wool National Finals and Awards Program held Jan. 28, in Mesa, Ariz. This event was held in conjunction with the 2006 convention of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and National Lamb Feeders Association.

Franklin won the title of First Place Junior 2006 Wool Ambassador with her bright-red, double-breasted, slightly flared wool coat and her single-knit, black turtle neck top and straight-legged pants. She inserted the lining in the coat by hand and added shoulder pads and bound buttonholes. Franklin?s winnings included a $1,000 scholarship from Pendleton Woolen Mills, a $500 scholarship from the American Sheep Industry Women, wool fabric from Britex of San Francisco, mohair fabric from Dolores? Unique Designs, a sheep pelt from Stockman Bank, Billings, Mont., the Women?s Formal Wear Pattern Software from Wild Ginger Software, an Islander Sewing System Book/DVD from American Sewing Expo and additional wool fabric from Pendleton, Woolrich and Franetta or Forstmann. The junior division was open to youth ages 13 to 16.

Killen was selected as the First Place Senior 2006 Wool Ambassador. Killen?s winning creation was a blue mohair poncho worn over a dark brown, off-the-shoulder top of baby alpaca and merino wool knit. Her stylish crop pants? suiting fabric combined the colors of tan, blue and orange, which served to tie the ensemble together. Killen?s first-place winnings included a $1,500 scholarship from the American Sheep Industry Women, wool fabric from Britex of San Francisco, mohair fabric from Dolores? Unique Designs, a sheep pelt from Stockman Bank of Billings, Mont., the Women?s Formal Wear Pattern Software from Wild Ginger Software, an Islander Sewing Systems Book/DVD from American Sewing Expo and additional wool fabric from Pendleton, Woolrich and Franetta or Forstmann. The senior division was open to youth ages 17 to 24.

Meredith Olds from Manhattan, Kan., and Leah Klingelhofer from Akron, Ohio, won First Runner-Up Junior Division and Senior Division, respectively. Olds modeled her bias, flared skirt made of a bright teal wool crepe and a semi-fitted, front zipper wool jacket which was pulled together with a crocheted wool and mohair sweater. Klingelhofer used a Clair Shaeffer Vogue pattern and camel windowpane plaid Pendleton wool for her tailored jacket featuring three-piece sleeves and bound buttonholes. Her outfit was complete with fully lined, sienna brown stovepipe gaucho pants with a shaped waistband and a front fly.

Old?s first runner-up ranking earned her a Singer 9920 sewing machine from Singer Sewing Co., a $250 savings bond from Forte, Dupee, Sawyer Co., a stem iron from Rowenta, Inc., a subscription to Sew News magazine, the Women?s Formal Wear Pattern Software from Wild Ginger Software and additional wool fabric from Pendleton, Woolrich and Franetta or Forstmann. Klingelhofer won a Scandinavian 400 sewing machine from Husqvarna/Viking Sewing Machines, Inc., a $250 savings bond from Crescent Woolen Mills, an Ott-Light from Harper Livestock Co., a subscription to Sew News magazine, the Women?s Formal Wear Pattern Software from Wild Ginger Software, a compact steam iron from Rowenta, Inc. and additional wool fabric from Pendleton, Woolrich and Franetta or Forstmann.

Joyce Pieters from Flagler, Colo., was named the 2006 National Make It Yourself With Wool Adult Winner. She modeled a lined maroon, brown and tan plaid jacket with front and back darts and a semi-fitted, lined, straight skirt that fell just above mid-knee with a back slit. Pieters won an all-expense-paid trip to the National MIYWW Finals Competition, a pressing package, a wool sheep pelt, $100 worth of fabric from Britex of San Francisco and three yards of wool fabric.

Winner of the Fashion/Apparel Design Award was Elisa Capistrano Cash, a fashion design student from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., who designed a 90-percent wool and 10-percent angora black coat with vintage-leather detailing and a wool dress. The design emphasis of the coat is on the natural waist and sleeves. Other details include hide leather, mandarin upper collar, wool under collar and hide-leather strips cut and woven through the wool around the belted waist and under sleeves. On the dress, vintage leather is used for detailing which includes the weaving on the front and back neckline, as well as the leather back piece. Cash received a $1,000 scholarship for her winning outfit from the American Wool Council.
 
A total of 61 junior and senior finalists representing 32 states modeled their creations at the national competition. Some 1,038 contestants nationwide entered the competition at the state level and utilized more than 2,935 yards of wool fabric and 285 skeins of yarn to create their garments.
 
Other winners and their awards include:

• Jessica Franklin, Neenah, Wis., $500 cash, Sew News Exemplary Construction Award;
• Tina Pieters, Flagler, Colo., $500 cash, Creative Machine Embroidery Award; 
• Tiffany Mortimer, Casper, Wyo., White Sewing Machine, Vogue/Butterick Pattern Award;
• Junior winner, Rachel Siegel, Lebanon, Pa., and senior winner, Leah Klingelhofer, Akron, Ohio, $250 cash, Use of Claire Shaeffer Pattern Award;
• Elizabeth Horner, Devils Lake, N.D., $1,000 scholarship, Mohair Council of America;
• Kacie Killen, Bozeman, Mont., $100 savings bond, Mohair Council of America;
• Tina Pieters, Flagler, Colo., $100 savings bond, Mohair Council of America; and
• Kelli Baldwin, Sparks, Nev., $50 saving bond, Mohair Council of America.

Marie Lehfeldt of Lavina, Mont., coordinated the event for the eleventh consecutive year.

ASI is a national organization supported by 43 state sheep associations, benefiting the interests of nearly 67,000 sheep producers.