Lebanon County crafters are invited to enter 2025 Make It With Wool contest

Lebanon County crafters who have a talent for fashioning garments from wool are encouraged to test their skills against their peers in the 2025 Pennsylvania Make It With Wool contest.

Anyone who sews, knits, or crochets garments with wool or other animal fibers is eligible to compete. Categories are divided by each contestant’s age as of Jan 1, into preteens (8-12), juniors (13-16), seniors (17-24), and adults (25 and older). In the “made for others” category, the contestant and model can be any age.

The competition will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the PA Preferred Banquet Hall at the Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg. Registration is due by Sept. 2.

“Expert judges will handle the garments and meet with the contestants,” a press release notes. Judging is based on the following criteria: appropriate to contestant’s lifestyle, fit and overall appearance, coordination of fabric/yarn with garment style and design, contestant’s presentation, construction quality, creativity in design and use of wool, and conveys/promotes the beauty, comfort, and versatility of wool.

The goals of the contest are “to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns” and “to encourage personal creativity in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning, and weaving with wool fabrics and yarns,” the release says. It also aims to recognize creative skills and help crafters to develop life skills such as personal responsibility, good sportsmanship, and appreciating diversity.

Prizes, funded by the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Association and other donors, will be awarded in each category. Junior and senior winners will qualify for the National Make It With Wool contest next January in Reno, Nevada.

All fabrics or yarns used in the body of the garment must be 60 percent or more animal fiber, although interfacings, linings, and trims do not need to be wool. There is a $20 state and national registration fee, plus a testing fee per fabric/yarn used.

A new Mentor Award will provide $150 cash awards to two mentors of new-to-the-contest youth.

Visit MakeItWithWool.com for registration and information about additional national contests. For more information, contact Linda Siegel, state director, at 717-274-1197 or linda@lebaweb.com.