National Make It With Wool program plans new contests
Sheep producers are used to viewing the National Make It With Wool (MIWW) Contest each year at the American Sheep Industry Association’s (ASI) Annual Convention, but the MIWW program has developed three new contests in 2025 for those who enjoy working with wool.
The new contests will be held in addition to the 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.
Sweater Contest
The MIWW Sweater Contest will be held in two stages.
Stage one will be judged on the total look an individual creates with a sweater they have made. Marketability and fashion will be taken into consideration during this portion of the contest.
Those selected as part of the top 10 will go on to stage two where they will be judged on the 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 e-mail a maximum of three photos and an entry form to meighan.stevens@scoesc.org by the Nov. 1 deadline.
Sweaters may be any pattern, 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 accepted.
Shawls, capes and ponchos should not be entered in this category.
Recycle-Upcycle Contest
The MIWW Recycle-Upcycle Contest is for those who like to think outside of 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 as well.
Stage one will be judged on the total look an individual creates from their recycled piece to the upcycled piece. Marketability and fashion sense will be taken into consideration during this stage. Individuals will also be asked to tell the story of their recycle to upcycle journey.
The top 10 finalists from stage one will be asked to mail their pieces in for consideration. Judging will be on the construction of the upcycled piece itself.
The placings of the top 10 in stage two will be determined by total look and 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 completed appropriate entry form. Photos and entry forms will all be submitted through e-mail to aspowell11@hotmail.com. Submitting more than four photos will be an automatic disqualification.
The top 10 finalists from stage one will be notified via e-mail they have been selected for the next phase. For this round, the upcycled project will be judged on construction, and the finished project must be mailed to the contest chair by the deadline for judging, which is Dec. 1.
Producer to Crafter Contest
This contest is specifically designed to help recognize producers of fibers and products and will help to connect fiber producers with contestants to increase knowledge of and appreciation for the wool industry.
The entry fee is $15.
Fiber, yarn or fabric must come directly from a producer – ideally within an individual’s respective state – and must be listed in their entry form. Fiber, yarn or fabric must be 60 percent or more natural fiber – cashmere, wool, alpaca, angora, etc.
Stage one will be judged on overall presentation of the project created from this fiber. Marketability will be taken into consideration during this stage.
Individuals will also be asked to submit information about the producer they acquired their fiber from.
Contestants should submit the entry form and no more than four photos to Katy Lente at tiwaspeak@aol.com. Submitting more than four photos will be an automatic disqualification from the contest.
Contest finalists
The top 10 individuals selected from stage one in each of these three contests will be asked to mail in their pieces for judging on construction of the item itself, and individuals will be placed based on total look and construction scores.
The top three entries from each of these contests will be kept and put on display at the National MIWW Contest and ASI Annual Convention in Reno, Nev. in January 2026.
Entries will be mailed back to contestants after the completion of the convention, along with contest scoresheets.
The deadline for entry forms, photos and fees for all contests is Nov. 1, and anyone selected for the top 10 in each category must mail their completed project to the appropriate contest organizer by Dec. 1.
Contestants will be responsible for postage to and from the contest, and they must include a return postage label in their package. Failure to do so will result in an automatic disqualification.
Cash prizes are sponsored by ReSynergy and Backyard Green Films.
ASI is the national organization representing the interests of sheep producers located throughout the U.S. From east to west, pasture-based flocks to range operations, ASI works to represent the interests of all producers. This article was originally published in ASI’s July 2025 Sheep Industry News.
