Ratzlaff sews her way to fair Merit Award

SHEBOYGAN – Grace Ratzlaff, age 14, Sheboygan, is the daughter of Chuck and Sarah Ratzlaff and has been a member of the Madison All Stars 4-H Club for the past four years. She had an amazing ability in sewing, and that talent has won her a Merit Award at the Sheboygan County Fair.

“I wanted to make a formal so I can wear it for homecoming at North High School,” Ratzlaff said.

“I also got the idea because I’m going to be in a wedding in December, and this is what my bridesmaid’s dress will look like only in a different color and it will be floor length,” Ratzlaff continued.

The dress is aqua with spaghetti straps and a bubble skirt. There is sheer fabric in green and blue, which makes a panel in the front bodice and the sash.

“I designed the dress by myself,” Ratzlaff said. “I put different patterns together.

“It fits good and I learned how to work with very hard fabric,” Ratzlaff stated.

“The fabric is satin charmeuse, and it’s very slippery so that makes it hard,” Ratzlaff said, “and I learned how to gather and do pleats.”

The dress is completely lined with taffeta. It has a zipper and the bubble skirt is gathered and there is crinoline between the lining and the satin. This gives the skirt more body.

“I’m very pleased with it,” Ratzlaff commented. “I had a different type of sheer for the front panel, but I went with this and I like it a lot better.

“The judge liked it and she said how well made it was and could see it took a lot of time and effort, which it did,” Ratzlaff said. “It wrinkles easy so I had to keep pressing it.

“My niece picked out the color, but I too love the color!” Ratzlaff exclaimed.