Hanscom teen sews her way to nationals

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Green-Lanchoney
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A Hanscom teen took home first place in the Make it with Wool Competition at the 5th Annual Fiber Festival of New England regional competition in West Springfield, Mass., Nov. 1. 

Riana Wirthlin, daughter of Lt. Col. Joseph and Robin Wirthlin, will now go on to compete in the senior division at a national competition held in Sparks, Nev., in January. 

According to the Fiber Festival of New England website, the Make it with Wool competition is a national competition in which contestants select, construct and model their garments. Make with Wool promotes the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns and encourages creativity in sewing, knitting and crocheting. The competition is open to entrants of all ages.

No stranger to this competition, Riana won 4th place in the nation in the junior division at the national competition earlier this year.

"It is rare to go to nationals two years in a row," said Riana. "Now that I am 17, I get to compete in the senior category, which increases the competition."

The senior category competes ages 17 -25.

"Riana is a hard worker, she is dedicated, driven and she put in the work to make this happen," Robin said.  "This is something Riana has worked toward for more than eight years in 4-H."

As a founding member of the Hanscom Youth Center 4-H sewing club, Riana has not only increased her skill level, but also gives back to the community by mentoring current members. 

To secure her win in the 2014 competition, Riana made a jacket, pants and a crochet headband. She will compete using the same outfit in the national competition.

Sewing is a family affair for the Wirthlin's, Riana's mother, Robin, won 1st place in the nation in the junior category at the same competition 30 years ago.

Riana spent more than 125 hours working with a master seamstress, the very same seamstress who taught her mother as a child, to complete her outfit.

"She went to work with a master seamstress in Arizona for three weeks over the summer break," Robin said.  "Each day they would work the whole day learning complex stitching and sewing patterns, which gave her the skill to make her award winning outfit."

For more information on how to be a part of the Hanscom Youth Center 4-H sewing club contact Julie Fredrick at 781-225-6043.