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).
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).
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.
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)
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