Jurgrau, a Dobbs Ferry resident and full-time healthcare professional, has traveled extensively providing care for children in Southeast Asia and Africa. She currently works at an inner city clinic on upper Manhattan.
Jurgrau said she is able to create her knittings almost unconsciously, using the craft she learned growing up.
"My grandmother and sisters taught me the basics and I taught myself the rest," Jurgrau said. "They knit mostly out of need, to make warm socks and sweaters. I got more interested in ornamental knitting, primarily knitting techniques with deep traditional roots. My main interest right now is lace knitting. But I also spin my own yarn and weave."
Armed with the tools of the craft, Jurgrau shares a collection of 18 fully charted projects that she has altered and adapted into fresh wearable accessories suited for today’s modern woman. "New Vintage Lace" projects include hats, small and large shawls (circular, semi-circular and triangular,) scarves, wraps -- all derived from original lace doily patterns."
"There have been revivals in knitting, embroidery etc." Jurgrau said. "I am not really interested in trends, and when something I do is popular it is generally just luck. But I have an interesting sense of color and have often been right on trend over the years, without trying.
The book's vintage knitted doilies are intricate and delicate. Jurgrau said she takes inspiration from traditional lace doily patterns and shows knitters how she creates her patterns, lifting or creating and adjusting individual motifs, then reworking and combining them into original, unique works of wearable art in her new book.
"New Vintage Lace: Knits Inspired By The Past" is available on amazon.com.
Jurgrau will be holding a book signing at Knitting Nation, 30 North Broadway, Nyack on July 12 from noon to 3 p.m.
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