I really admire the work of Stephen West, and his collections have inspired me to design a shawl sort of reminiscent of his. As I worked, I added a couple ruffles, and these, coupled with the name “West” reminded me of the late actress Mae West. So, without further ado, here is When Steve Met Mae.

This shawl/shawlette is worked from the top-down, center out with two different yarns. There are 3 ruffles, two of which are crocheted on using a basic surface crochet technique, giving it a layered effect. Make a stripey one, such as the sample, or make a fluffy one, such as one Mae would have worn, by using a smooth yarn for A and a specialty yarn for B (or vice versa). Instead of using a sock weight yarn, use a heavier yarn for a really warm winter shawl (which, by the way, would make a wonderful gift--hint! Hint!), or laceweight yarn for a light weight summer shawl to wear on those special nights out or when you are just wearing jeans. Wear it like a capelet, tied at the throat by the ends and fastened with a pin, or wear it sideways for a more dramatic effect. No matter how you choose to wear it, it will be charming and a perfect accessory for any occasion.