LOOOOOOVE IT!

The few warmer days we had made me think of summer. Well, now it is not "warm" any more (still sounds funny to say that when you live in Wisconsin) but I am so excited about my latest design! Knitting with linen is just wonderful and the result unexpected. Not sure yet if this will be a sweater or just a top. But the sleeves could be an option! 
Then it is also very difficult to come up with the perfect name for a design. Please post any ideas you might have! So far I am thinking "Linea". I can't wait to sew it together. Now I am imagining there could be more in linen! A whole collection of linen yarn garments! Hope you like it as much as I do!

Downtown Slouchy Beret

It has been a while since I have posted! Time really flies. Finally we got some snow and it got quite cold, too. This is the right time to think of hats! I have made two of these slouchy hats and "test drove" them on several walks with my doggy friend Ivy. Usually I am not a hat fan but these slouchy hats look more flattering.
The first one is made out of  Debbie Bliss' Glen . This yarn looks not attractive at all in the ball but knitted up it turns out to be wonderful! My second one, the grey one, I used Rowan Cocoon , a much heavier yarn but also very stunning. I can't say which one I like more!

And here, that's me in gray and my friend Gwen in blue:

As always you can buy my pattern on Ravelry.

BUY HERE

Finally Giving In!

Okay, I have been looking at these knitted headbands with the increase and decrease in the center for a good year now and always postponed to design one myself. Well now I gave in and here comes "Begonia". Yes, good design names don't come easy at all. I am thinking of letting my readers come up with a name for my next design......
I am quite proud of this pattern since it will work just well without any crochet skills. Most of the headbands I have seen so far have a crochet edge and a crochet flower. This one will be great without any crochet at all. But in case you absolutely have to have a crochet flower - there is a beautiful crochet flower in this pattern, too! I know, everybody will want one once you start making them.

Crochet Flower

Adjustable size!

Knitted Flower

 You can download the pattern for $6.00 right here
http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/angela-juergens-designs/83062

And there are more good news! I am one of 10 finalists for the 10,000 th design of the Patternfish website. Now it depends on which design gets the most votes. Check it out here and if you like my design please vote for me. http://www.patternfish.com/newsletters/6
This is my design:

The beautiful model is my Godchild from Germany. She spent two weeks in summer with us. 

The nice idea about this design is that it can be made with two different lace options! Ha! 

The orange lace is a repeat of the first row (quite easy to remember) and the second version (on the brown model) is a challenge but I know some knitters love that! 

I can't decide which version I like best but I would love to have one in every color!

The pattern is also available for $ 7.00 right here:http://www.patternfish.com/patterns/10218

Dancing Waves Scarf

I was trying to come up with a good use for Rowan's Alpaca Cotton which we carry at the yarn store. The yarn is gorgeous but somehow unattractive in a ball.

It is very soft and really nice to work with. This scarf is a good project for a fast gift, too! The short rows are actually fun and maybe a good lesson for a future more challenging project. I loved making this one!
The pattern is available on Ravelry.

My Newest Favorite Video on Youtube!

I could watch this over and over again! I love sheep! I wished I had one or two!

It is about 3 minutes long. Three amazing minutes! Enjoy!

First Prize Winner in Local Photo Contest!

 First Place - Places

“Water Diamonds”
Angela Juergens, Appleton
This was a familiar image for judge Brunette, who works downtown Menasha where this fountain is located. He was able to provide a history of the fountain: “When it was built, it was requested from travelers and U.S. embassies from around the globe to send a vial of water to be added to the fountain to begin its life. Menasha received water from four continents, three oceans, many rivers, and over 40 countries were represented. It is called the International Waters Fountain.” Angela Juergens, the photographer, spent New Years Eve at this exact location and is grateful for all of the downtown activities. “The gleaming copper pinnacles caught my attention,” she recalled. Judge Aubrey hit on one key criterion for selecting winners: “If you don’t know where this fountain is, you want to find out and visit.”

I am proud to win this prize especially since I just bought my camera about a year ago and am still working through the instructions! Find out more about the contest here:

Fox Cities Magazine

Time To Move On!

Last Monday I finished this scarf in one day! Now I wonder how many more I will make because it is a fast and luxurious project and - you only need two skeins of yarn! And affordable on top of it. I decided to make one in purple and one in "blood" which is the original name of that color and of course it is red. 

buy here

One humid hot day here in Wisconsin! Who said you can't knit in summer?! I guess right now one only survives inside close to a fan and a good AC would complete it. And here you have it! The perfect climate to knit!