First . . I have the best friends though sometimes, they drag me down rabbit holes but at least I have someone to blame! I was happily working on a couple of UFOs and Karen, in a perfectly innocent response to a blog post, mentioned Penguono. Second . . Stephen West patterns just make me crazy. I’m a granny. I’m traditional. He has many designs that I love but his pictures are so . . weird to me. He is amazingly creative, not only in his designs but in his presentations. He has a very large and very loyal following so his patterns must be well written and easy to follow. Every time I see that he has a new pattern, I have to go look at the pictures! How’s that for brilliant marketing?
A brief glance at Penuono makes me think it’s constructed very similarly to Rose Cardigan. Plus . . and this is a HUGE plus . . you can use any yarn. You can go to the pattern blurb on the Ravelry page and read about all the combinations of weights you can use . . it’s basically like making a scrap quilt from your fabric stash — without buying a single piece of fabric and being able to throw in small pieces of ugly fabric that you cannot remember what you were thinking when you bought it. Brilliant!
I have so many single skeins of fingering weight yarn that I bought when I thought socks were the only thing I’d ever knit. Quite a bit of it, I look at it now and wonder if I will ever use it. Taste in fiber/color/dyer changes from time to time but I think I would love making Penguono and I would use up a LOT of yarn that otherwise might be a struggle to use.
I wasn’t sure what “Penguono” meant. With Stephen West’s propensity for “being Stephen West”, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know but it’s hilarious. I’m not going to spoil it . . you have to go to the pattern page and read it.
Should I get some things done around here or should I go dig through the fingering weight yarn stash and see what I can come up with? You know the answer to that!
Mary M says
I glance at his patterns but I have yet to find one that I wanted to knit. I must be an older granny than you!
Claudia W says
I don’t even like to knit but I loved the Penguano. I’m a quilter which is maybe why I like the patchwork-ish look of it. But I’ll never try to knit that sweater because I know I’d get bored and never finish it.
DonnainKS says
You haven’t done some of that ‘leading /dragging to a rabbit hole’ yourself? LOL. Not going even to the edge of the hole for this design!
Donna says
I want to see you wear this with an outfit just like the pictures on the pattern page! So funny to me.
Valerie. Zagami says
I love this and would almost think of getting into knitting again!! Since I read your yarn post I love the grouping of so many. I would wear this all the time, as a bathrobe type of thing, a throw on to run to the store, to do anything. I also agree with his marketing and photos. Just great.. Can’t wait to see yours done…
Nelle Coursey says
How funny!
Cheryl Ashmore says
I got to meet Stephen West at our little shop 3 Wild Sheep Yarn Store in Chelan, Washington state about a year ago!!! He’s just a kid in a big body but WOW can he knit!!! Yes he dresses kind of crazy–but after you get past that he is amazing! He was such a gentleman–helping the ladies pick out colors out of their comfort zones to make a scarf or shawl! One of the ladies from the shop had to take him ‘over the mountains’ to his next appointment and while driving over she looked over as he was knitting while she drove and he was taking markers off his laces on his shoes…lol!! Unique way to carry your knitting markers!!
Judy Laquidara says
You have to admire someone who seems to have so much fun with what he does and I’m betting he has fun with everything . . not just his knitting. That is a very unique way to save your stitch markers. Thanks for sharing that! I would love to attend a seminar with him. His energy has to be infectious.
Kathleen says
I just went to his site. Oh yes, the pictures are weird! He must have tons of creativity. Looking forward to seeing your creation.
Judy D in WA says
I love his stuff and his quirky style in the photos makes me smile. I was thinking this morning about what to make with a bunch of worsted wool I have. I’m going to check this out.