Okay, maybe old Heart lyrics aren't exactly appropriate — but I am seriously crazy over Stephen West's designs!  Love them!!

I ran into Stephen West's Kex Blanket while trolling Ravelry for a blanket pattern (wedding gift).  Bought the pattern, ordered the exact yarn he used.  Gorgeous piece!  Then, I thought, hey I should check out his other designs.  I found his website (westknits.com) and blog — and fell into his "Crazy for Color" post with its Amazing Technicolor Dreamsweater and Starring, Reis and Royally Striped and Penguono…..and I never wanted to leave!

I bought the pattern collection — which includes some delightful accessories, but it is the sweaters that completely captured my imagination.  Fab–fab–fabulous!!  His use of color is brilliant — he uses a vast palette of yarns and the results are punchy and harmonious.  His garment silhouettes are brazen and absolutely wearable (he shares my practical penchant for garments that can be worn more than one way).  And his way with stripes blows me away!  He takes stripes to a whole 'nother level.  He could call his design collection "The Many Moods of Stripes."  In fact, each piece could be called "The Many Moods of Stripes."  Absolutley stunning!

Guess what I am going to be knitting for Fall?  A Stephen West design!  Don't know which one yet (okay, I can hardly choose between them)….

Oh, and did I mention that he is magical with shawls and scarves too?!  The 3 pieces in his Summer Shawl KAL are…um…oh dear, I am running out of adjectives…back to…Fabulous!  Ridiculously fun — and, again, brilliantly designed.  The way the different colored sections stack when the shawls are wrapped around the neck..sigh…Yes, I bought these patterns too, of course. Kind of tempted to join in the KAL (that is "Knit-A-Long, in case the abbreviation is unfamiliar).  Since my summer culminates in a 2-week sojourn at the Oregon Coast, a summer shawl would be most appropriate 😉

In all seriousness, though, I am learning so much about design and color from studying his pieces.  I am breathless with inspiration — and filled with respect. Whimsical his pieces may be, but his design sense is killer, his use of color and srtipe masterful.  Talent and training tell.

Well done, Mr. West, well done.