Maryland Make it With Wool

The objectives of Make It with Wool, an annual sewing and needle work competition, is designed to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics, yarns, and fibers. Administered by volunteers, participants express their personal creativity in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, and other needlework arts.

2026 Competition:

Saturday, October 10, 2026
Wards Chapel United Methodist Church
11023 Liberty Road, Randallstown MD 21133

Sponsored by:
MD MIWW Planning Committee

Financial Support:
Maryland Sheep Breeders Association
Maryland Agricultural Fair Board
Maryland Make It with Wool

What Are The Objectives?

To promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns.
To encourage personal creativity in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning and weaving with wool fabrics and yarns.
To recognize creative skills.
To develop life skills including:
- being responsible for one’s self
- being a good sport
- accepting judges' decisions
- learning about and appreciating diversity

Who Can Enter?

Age on January 1, 2026

Youth, age 6 - 7
Preteens, age 8 - 12
Juniors, age 13 – 16
Seniors, age 17 – 24
Adults, age 25 and older

Anyone regardless of race, creed, or sex who meets age and other guidelines may participate.

What Are The Judging Criteria?

Appropriate to contestant’s lifestyle.
Fit and overall appearance
Coordination of fabric/yarn with garment style and design.
Contestant’s presentation.
Construction quality.
Creativity in design and use of wool.
Conveys/ promotes the beauty, comfort and versatility of wool.

Judging is private and the judges’ decisions are final.

What Can I Enter?

ALL participants must select, construct and model their own garment(s). All garments must have been completed after January 1, 2026.

Youth may enter:

One garment or accessory: scarf, tote bag/purse, poncho or skirt (unlined or lined with cotton or cotton blend fabric)

Preteens may enter:

Dress, jumper, skirt, pants, shorts, vest, sweater, shirt/blouse, jacket or a combination of garments.

Juniors, Seniors, Adults may enter:

One-piece garment:
Dress, jumper, outerwear jacket, coat or cape.
Two-piece garment
Outerwear coat, jacket, cape; blouse/shirt, vest or sweater with dress, jumper, skirt, pants or shorts.
Ensemble: 3 or more garments worn together at one time:
Outerwear coat, jacket, cape; blouse/shirt, vest and/or sweater with dress, jumper, skirt, pants or shorts.

What Fabrics/ Yarns Can I Use?

100% wool or wool blend (minimum 60% wool or specialty wool fiber) for each fashion fabric or yarn used. Specialty wool fibers include alpaca, angora, camel, cashmere, llama, mohair, and vicuna.
The entire garment body (back, front and sleeves) must be wool or wool-blend fabric. Vests worn with a suit, sport coat, or blazer may have a back of non-wool fabric. Vests worn as a top layer or with outerwear coat/ jacket must have a wool back.
Trims, facings, linings, interfacings and underlining may be from fabrics other than wool or wool blends.

How Can I Be Certain My Fabrics/ Yarns Are Wool?

ALL wool fabrics and yarns used by Juniors, Seniors & Adults must be tested for percentage of wool fiber prior to Maryland competition. Testing is optional for Youth & Preteens.
All fabrics will be weighed, tested in NEW Clorox, re-weighed and the percent of wool fiber calculated by the State Director prior to the State competition.
To pretest your fabric:
- Place a 1 1/2” fabric square in 1 cup of NEW Clorox bleach (traditional, not non-splash)
- After 1-2 hours, check for remaining fibers-nothing left=100% wool; remaining fibers are not wool.
- Yarn twist, tightness of weave, fabric finish may delay test time - check after 24 hours.

2026 Awards

All participants will receive wool fabric and a variety of sewing notions.

Youth - Participants talk with the judges, but are not placed.

Preteen - Sewing Machine
An individual may only receive one sewing machine during his/her participation in the MD MIWW Contest.

Junior - Trip to National Competition
Charleston, South Carolina, January 14- 16, 2027

Senior - Trip to National Competition
Charleston, South Carolina, January 14- 16, 2027

Adult - Garment and DVD sent to National Adult Judging

Awards may be changed as a result of participation numbers, judges and/or committee recommendations, donations received, thank you notes written.

How can I enter Maryland MIWW?

You must be a legal Maryland resident.
You may enter one garment in each category - one-piece, two-piece or ensemble. A separate entry form and registration fee must be submitted for each entry.
Garments must be completed after January 1, 2026.
Have tested, all wool fabrics/yarns used to make your entry.
Complete all portions of the entry form and include:
- two 4”x 4” samples of each wool fabric or 36” of each yarn used. Fabric may be pieced to obtain size.
- $15 non-refundable fee for each entry.
You entry is not valid without all completed information, fabric samples, and fees.