Tricky maths plus high fashion equals success for Alexandra designer Daphne Randle.
The 74-year-old grandmother won the supreme award in the WoolOn Creative Fashion event with a handknitted brown and cream ''radiating sunbeam'' dress.
The garment was completely handknitted and had no sewn seams.
''I've had the concept in my head for a while but had to work out how to execute it with no sewn seams, so it was quite a maths challenge. The last piece of it I had to do three times to get it right,'' Mrs Randle said.
''It's good to keep your mind stretched in all different directions.''
She has entered the event every year and also won the supreme award in 2011.
This year, Mrs Randle entered five garments and estimated each one took her about 100 hours to complete. Judge Tracy Kennedy said the supreme winning garment, which won the knitwear category, ticked all the boxes.
''Technically, it was extremely challenging and very clever. It was fashion forward and it fitted the model perfectly.''
More than 650 people watched the 55 entries modelled in the Dunstan High School gym on Friday and Saturday nights.
Napier designer Laurel Judd, who has won the supreme award several times, won two categories this year- the menswear section and the felted category, while Beverley Muir, of Cromwell, won the streetwear section.
Hannah Heslop, of Christchurch, won the young designer category for the second successive year and a bridal bouquet made by Gillian Shaw, of Roxburgh, won the accessory section.
A bridal gown by Becs Calder, of St Bathans, took top honours in the special occasion category and Clyde designer Carolyn Laing won the avant garde section.
WoolOn began 10 years ago and was started as part of the New Zealand Merino Shears to showcase the use of wool in fashion.
Garments have to be at least 75% wool. It became part of the Alexandra Blossom Festival programme eight years ago. It was the 57th festival's final event.
