By Heather Lusk
Two Zionsville teens represented Indiana at the annual Make it With Wool national competition. They created wool coats and placed in the top of their respective divisions at the Jan. 24-26 event in New Orleans.
Molly Grotjan won the Indiana state competition in the senior division (ages 17-24) and Sophee Dull placed first in the state in the junior division (ages 13-16).
Grotjan’s mohair houndstooth coat took approximately 60 hours to craft and was based upon a Vogue sewing pattern, with added elements like cuffs.
“(Sewing) has definitely challenged me in certain aspects, and I think that can easily be applied to overcoming challenges in life in general,” she said.
Grotjan has participated in the competition three consecutive years and finished in the top 10 each time. She enjoys sewing with wool because of its ease of use and appeal to the eye.
“I think there’s something so unique about a textured piece of fabric, especially with clothing,” Grotjan said.
Grotjan and Dull began exhibiting their designs through 4-H. Dull received a blue ribbon at the Indiana State Fair in August 2018.
Grotjan is a freshman at Purdue studying agribusiness.
“I learned a lot of life skills and time management, pushing through challenges,” she said.
Dull wants to eventually explore fashion merchandising. She is assists with her mother’s Main Street clothing store, Frances + Parke.
Dull’s coat was inspired by the classic Burberry look and required two months last summer to make.
“The hardest thing about it is finding a fabric you like,” said Dull said, who chose a cashmere blend. “I’ll choose what I want to make but finding the fabric is so hard.”
Gortjan and Dull aren’t wearing their wool coats this winter but both plan to wear them next year.
“I’ve seen a lot of the coat this year,” Dull said.
