Stephen West MKAL (SPOILERS!!!)

Oh my! Last week really got away from me! How did that happen you ask? Well, I was busy OBSESSING over color choices for the Stephen West mystery knit along pattern – Exploration Station. I’ve talked before about my love of mystery knit alongs, but am always sure to do my due diligence regarding a designer to makes sure I like other patterns as well. I think that Stephen West is a BRILLIANT knitwear designer but that being said; I’m not always totally enamored with all his patterns or design choices. And that is okay! So, I had no real plans to participate in his (Fall) mystery knit along that is until I saw the beginnings of the pattern. 

I totally fell in love with the pattern. I immediately bought the pattern and began what shall now be known as “the week I lost trying to figure out 4 colors to use together in a pattern”. Seriously, if you have ever been around me when I’m indecisive, well I will just apologize right now and might as well apologize for any future times. I just can’t let it go! Usually it gets bad enough that I even get sick of myself. It also didn’t help that the pattern involves cutting your yarn because there is no good way to carry along the sides of the shawl.

Luckily, most of my obsessing took place on the phone with my mom and through a group text with my mom and sister. I’m not sure they would see it as being “lucky”, but that’s how I’m looking at it! I also did some slight obsessing in the Plucky Knitters Ravelry group, which I’m sure was slightly annoying as I was week behind everyone who had spent the previous weeks obsessing over color. I won’t lie. I really tried to keep my obsessing under control in the forum, I mean, I didn’t want to be that person (except I kind of do want to be that person from time to time ;o) ). 

I ended up posting what colors of yarn I had available and a very lovely Plucky Knitter named Chantel put together two collages with color suggestions. Essentially I hemmed and hawed over this color collage along with all my yarn in person and in the end I went with one of her combinations. She really does have an eye for color! Then I was sort of mad at myself for wasting a week agonizing over colors, but c’est la vie.

**All photos are copyright of The Plucky Knitter**

So! What did I end up with for colors?? I went with the following, all Plucky Knitter yarn: A – Big Sky (Bello), B – Breakfast on 5th (Bello), C – Tiny Bubbles (Primo), and D – Old Lace (Primo). I even did a collage of these colors with my newfound collage making skills (yes, this extravaganza even motivated me to learn how to make collages!!). 

I’m really enjoying the pattern so far. I finished Clue 1 yesterday and even got started on Clue 2. Clue 3 came out today, so I’m still a bit behind. However! Clue 3 looks short, so I’m hoping I can be caught up by next Friday when the next clue comes out. Wish me luck!