A Lebanon woman has earned honors at the National Make It With Wool contest in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Madison Copenhaver, of Lebanon, was named 4th runner-up in the senior competition (ages 17-24) and received 2nd-place recognition for her use of mohair in her garment, according to a release from Linda Siegel, Pennsylvania state director for Make It With Wool. Awards were presented after the fashion show of garments by 44 contestants from 24 states on Saturday, Jan. 18.
A recent 4-H alumna, Copenhaver served for three years as president of 4-H Friends Club in Lebanon County, where she took sewing projects for the past 10 years. She is a 2024 graduate of Cedar Crest High School and is pursuing a degree in business administration at Harrisburg Area Community College. She was selected as Lebanon Area Fair Queen in July 2023.
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She also works for a local dressmaker, doing formal and bridal alterations, and works at a local cafe. She hopes to have her own sewing business in the future, according to the release.
For the national competition, Copenhaver made a wool coat, top, and faux wrap skirt, adapting her patterns to create her unique style.
The jacket includes bound buttonholes, top stitching and princess seams. The skirt proved most difficult, the release noted, due to changes she made to the original pattern, which include a frayed look down the front of the skirt, using the selvage of the fabric. It was constructed with an invisible zipper, so she doesn’t have to re-wrap and tie the skirt every time she wears it. The top was also time-consuming because she lined it and created circular ruffles to get the look she desired.
Copenhaver said in the release that the Make It With Wool contest – and working with wool in general – ties together her passions for agriculture and sewing. This was the fourth time that Madison represented Pennsylvania at the national contest, and she said she has learned much about the wool industry through her participation.
According to the press release, the objectives of the contest are promoting the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns; encouraging personal creativity in sewing, knitting, and crocheting with wool fabrics and yarns; recognizing creative skills; and developing life skills, including being responsible for oneself, being a good sport, accepting judge’s decisions, and learning about and appreciating diversity. Each contestant created a garment or ensemble using wool or yarn that was at least 60 percent animal fiber.
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