⏲︎ This article is more than a year old.

Two Lebanon County students will represent Pennsylvania in the Make It With Wool National finals this January after each placed first in their division of the Pennsylvania contest on Oct. 2.

The finals will be held in San Diego, California, on Jan. 20 to 22.

The state handmade wool clothing contest, coordinated by Linda Siegel of Lebanon, took place at Harrisburg’s Farm Show Complex. There were 17 entries.

Cedar Crest High School student Madison Copenhaver placed first in the junior division (ages 13-16).

Madison Copenhaver models her knit wool dress and cardigan at the state Make It With Wool competition.

Copenhaver said, in a press release, that this was her first year working with wool and “it was very easy to work with, as it takes a nice crease while ironing. Wool is definitely my favorite fabric to work with.”

New Covenant Christian School senior class president Jolene Bomgardner won the senior division (ages 17-24).

Jolene Bomgardner shows off her fully lined wool varsity jacket at the state competition in Harrisburg.
Bomgardner hand-stitched the lettering on the back of the jacket that won honors at the state level.

Bomgardner said that the state contest “seems really intimidating, but it isn’t: everyone is really nice and encouraging.”

Also placing in the junior division, but not advancing to nationals, was Annville-Cleona High School student Hope Wagner.

Wagner placed third with a turtleneck, coat and skirt. The press release notes that the 4-H teen leader finds wool to be an easy material to work with.

Hope Wagner models her three-piece submission to the state Make It With Wool contest.

Competitors each submitted one or more wool or wool-blend garment, handmade through knitting, crocheting, and/or sewing. They were then judged for “Poise, Construction of the Garment(s), Fit and Wearability, and Promotion of the Versatility of Wool,” according to the press release.

At the national level, Copenhaver and Bomgardner may be eligible for scholarships and other awards if they place.

Lebanon County also saw success in last year’s virtual Make It With Wool contest, taking the top two slots of the junior division.

Read More: Local youth earn first and second place in state Make It With Wool contest (2020)

Questions about this story? Suggestions for a future LebTown article? Reach our newsroom using this contact form and we’ll do our best to get back to you.

Contact our newsroom here

Support local journalism.

Cancel anytime.

Monthly

🌟 Annual

$49.99/year

Already a member? Login here

Free news isn’t cheap. If you value the journalism LebTown provides to the community, then help us make it sustainable by becoming a champion of local news. You can unlock additional coverage for the community by supporting our work with a one-time contribution, or joining as a monthly or annual member. You can cancel anytime.

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Emily Bixler was born and raised in Lebanon and now reports on local government. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano and going for hikes.