Sewing With Nancy

Make It With Wool contest is an annual youth-centered sewing competition to promote the beauty and the versatility of wool fabrics, yarns, and fibers. It's sponsored by the American Wool Council, the American Sheep Industry, and the American Sheep Industry Women. Here to share her story about her sewing adventure is Kelly Krause, a state winner of the best-constructed garment of the contest. Welcome to Sewing With Nancy, Kelly. Hi. Thanks for having me. It's a treat to see your beautiful ensemble that you created and to hear more about Make It Yourself With Wool. Tell me, when did you start to sew? I started to sew about four years ago when I started in 4-H, and there was a bunch of other people who started sewing, and they really got me hooked onto it. Well, obviously, you have caught the bug, and you've done a nice job. And you're a senior in high school. Yes. And so you entered this contest. We're recording this from Wisconsin, and you're the Wisconsin state runner-up winner. Yes. And you'll be attending the national conference. Yes, I am. And tell our viewers a little bit about your ensemble. I have made a three-piece garment ensemble, where I have this gray cape, as well as a navy blue sweater with-- matching my blue and gray printed skirt. Now, the skirt fabric, you told me you came by as a prize. Yes, I'd won it from the last year's competition. So then you matched the flannel for the cape. Explain how you made the top. I had found this old men's sweater that was extra large, and I wanted to make it into my own, so I cut it down, and I made it into, like, a 3/4" sleeve, and I made it fitting for my size as well. Well, you not only started with fresh fabric, but you recycled fabric. What a novel combination. What are some of your favorite ways of working with wool? Why do you enjoy working with it? I really enjoy working with wool because there are so many different uses that you can do with it. It's not just knitting a sweater or making a hat or mittens. You can also make it into a dress, which I did last year, or a skirt to wear, as well as, like, a sweater or a cape as well. Any challenges that you have come across? My hardest part was finding wool that matched all the-- everything. Mm-hmm. - So I had to work to find that. And, you know, that's not just with one type of fiber. I think that's what we all experience when sewing, is just getting the right color combinations. Yes. Now, you're a relatively young seamstress, and you have a love of sewing wool and making great ensembles, but you're going to go on to other things. Yes, I'm hoping to go to college next year somewhere in Florida to study marine biology. So do you think you'll keep your sewing active? Absolutely. Yes, absolutely. Oh, okay, that's great. Now, Make It Yourself With Wool has an annual conference, and that's what you'll be attending soon. Yes, I'll be going to Denver this year. And tell us what happens there. All the-- there's 40 different delegates from each of the states around the country... And we all meet up there. And we're all judged individually, as well as a group, to see how our different outfits compete against each other. So do you have judging as far as construction and of how it appears on you or... Yeah. Are there different categories? Yes, how you present yourself, how it is made, like different construction techniques, and as well as how it looks on you as well. Well, I wish you well and hope that you'll continue your next venture. Do you have an idea for your next wool ensemble? I have not started yet, but I got this beautiful maroon piece from this year. So you'll just have to ponder that and see how that works for you. Yes, I will. Well, if you are interested in joining the Make It Yourself With Wool, you can go online at NancyZieman.com, and you can click on this interview, and we can send you to a link to get to the right spot. Kelly, I really appreciate you being with us. And any final thought if someone is going to-- would like to work with wool or enter the contest, what would be your best suggestion to them? I would suggest, always stay true to your style and enjoy making it, 'cause it's always a fun way to sew. Well, that couldn't be a better closing. Thank you for being on our show. Thank you for having me. - You're welcome. I hope you've enjoyed this second of three-part series on "Precut Fabrics for Speedy Projects." Maria and I will be back next time for the third program of this three-part series. If you'd like to re-watch this program, this interview that I just had with Kelly, go to NancyZieman.com and you can watch a variety, many seasons worth of Sewing With Nancy programs. Don't forget, when you're at the site, to join us on our Facebook, Twitter, and our Pinterest pages and follow along the sewing and quilting community. It's nice to communicate and see what we're all working on and sewing together. As I like to say at the end of each show, thanks for joining us. Bye for now.