Sheep Industry News July 2025

MIWW Plans New Contests

S heep producers are used to viewing the National Make It With Wool Contest each year at the ASI Annual Conven tion, but the MIWW program has developed three new contests in 2025 for those who enjoy working with wool. The new contests will be in addition to regular state and national contests hosted by the organization, and will require contestants to submit photos in the first stage of competition. Finalists will then be asked to submit their finished pieces for judging. Here’s a look at the three new contests: SWEATER CONTEST The MIWW Sweater Contest will be held in two stages. Stage 1 will be judged on the total look that you create with the sweat er that you have made. Marketability and fashion will be taken into consideration during this portion of the contest. Stage 2 – if you are selected as part of the top 10 – will be judged on the

tion in Reno, Nev., in January 2026. Sweaters will be mailed back after the completion of the convention along with score sheets. RECYCLE-UPCYCLE CONTEST The MIWW Recycle-Upcycle contest is for those who can think outside the box or dig into one and find a new way to use wool sweaters, garments or accessories. The Recycle–Upcycle contest will be held in two stages. Stage 1 will be judged on the total look that you have created from your recycled piece to the upcycled piece. Marketability and fashion sense will be taken into consideration during this stage. You will also be asked to tell the story of your recycle to upcycle journey for your entry. If you are selected to be part of the top 10 from Stage 1, you will have to mail your piece in for consideration. Judging will be on the construction of the upcycle piece itself. The placings

construction of the sweater itself. The placings of the top 10 will be determined by both the total look and sweater construction. The entry fee is $15. Contestants must submit a maximum of three photos along with the entry form to Meighan.stevens@ scoesc.org by the Nov. 1 deadline. Sweaters may be any pat tern, but must be knit or crochet (machine knit items will not be accepted). Sweaters should have sleeves and may have button, toggle, zipper or other closures up the front or back. The sweater should stop at top length as dresses will not be ac cepted. Shawls, capes and ponchos should not be entered in this category. The top 10 will be notified by email and must submit their sweaters for judging. Sweaters will be judged on the construc tion of the sweater itself. The top 10 will be placed based on total look and construction scores. The top three sweaters will be kept and put on display at the National Make it with Wool Contest and ASI Annual Conven

of the top 10 in Stage 2 will be determined by the total look and the construction used in the upcycle process. Fibers of recycled pieces must test at 60 percent or more natural fiber (cashmere, wool, alpaca, angora, etc.). The fee to enter is $15, and must be sent to contest chair Amanda Powell by the Nov. 1 entry deadline. In the first stage, contestants will submit a maximum of four photos to the contest along with the appropriate entry form completed. Photos and entry form will all be submitted through email. Send entries to aspowell11@hotmail.com. Submitting more than four photos will be an automatic disqualification. The top 10 from Stage 1 will be notified by email that they have been selected for the next phase. For this round, the upcycled project will be judged on the construction. The finished project will be mailed to the contest chair by the deadline for judging, which is Dec. 1. The top 10 will be placed based on the total look See MIWW CONTESTS on Page 18

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