Shawl Knitting FO: My Frost Shawl from 52 Weeks of Shawls

I do not usually reach for shawl projects with a lot of excitement. That probably sounds strange to say at the beginning of a shawl post, but it is the truth. I have always preferred knitting garments because they feel more dynamic to me. A sweater keeps changing as it grows. There is the neckline to shape, the yoke to watch, the body to measure, the sleeves to finish, and the fit to think about the whole way through. A shawl is different. It asks for patience in a quieter way, and for me that can be both relaxing and a little challenging.

That is part of what made this project memorable. My Frost shawl was not something I planned from the very beginning. I actually spent quite a while trying to make a different idea work first, and by the time I finally landed on Frost, I already felt like this project had a small story behind it. Between yarn experiments, swatching, needle changes, and even changing patterns altogether, this was one of those knits that took time to become itself. In the end, though, I am really glad it did.

Project Info

• Duration: March 7 – April 16
• Pattern: Frost from 52 Weeks of Shawls
• Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino in Dusty Rose, held double
• Needles: Lantern Moon interchangeable needles in 4 mm
• Method: Asymmetrical triangular lace shawl

This shawl came from 52 Weeks of Shawls, a book that has so many beautiful designs that it is both inspiring and a little dangerous if you enjoy planning too many projects at once. Frost immediately stood out to me once I gave it a closer look, and after finishing it, I can say it was a good choice for where I was at. The finished shawl feels soft, elegant, and easy to wear, with a subtle lace texture that shows up much better than my original plan ever did.

Why I Changed My Original Shawl Plan

This project did not begin with Frost. Before I got here, I spent quite a bit of time trying to make a different shawl work, mostly because I already had a certain look and yarn combination in mind. That part of the process ended up being important, though, because it helped me figure out what I actually wanted from this project.

Starting with Hiraeth

Before I started Frost, I was actually planning to knit Hiraeth from the same book. I had chosen it with my mom in mind because I wanted to make her something soft and light in color. She tends to like lighter shades, and Hiraeth looked so beautiful in the book photos. It had a soft and cozy look that made me pause right away.

At the same time, I also had a strong yarn preference. I really wanted to use Knitting for Olive yarn for this project. I have used their yarn before and liked it very much, so I was excited about the idea of trying a few different options from the brand. I especially wanted to include their cashmere, because for a shawl gift, that kind of softness felt perfect.

My First Swatches

The problem was thickness. The yarns I wanted to use were both too thin for what I had in mind, especially if I wanted the fabric to work well on larger needles. Even holding two strands did not feel as straightforward as I had hoped when I first started thinking about the project. Still, I wanted to try. For the cashmere, I picked the color Powder. For merino, I picked both Cloud and Powder because I thought it would be smart to test similar shades together. Since the stitch pattern I was considering was quite subtle, I knew color pairing would matter. Even a small mismatch could blur the texture.

My first swatch for Hiraeth was made on 4.5 mm needles, which matched the original pattern more closely. I used Cashmere in Powder together with Merino in Cloud. After making that swatch, I knew almost immediately that it was not right. The fabric itself was soft, but the stitch pattern just did not come through the way I wanted. It felt too vague visually, and because I already needed to adjust the needle size anyway, I decided to make another attempt.

Why I Decided to Move On

This time I dropped down to 4 mm needles and used Cashmere in Powder with Merino in Powder. That second swatch definitely looked better. The pattern was clearer, and the overall surface looked more cohesive. Even so, I still did not love it. It was one of those moments where something is technically fine but does not feel exciting enough to spend weeks knitting. Since this was meant to be a special project, I did not want to push ahead just because I had already started swatching.

That was the point when I decided to step back and look through the book again instead of forcing Hiraeth to work.

How I Ended Up Choosing Frost

Once I let go of the original plan, it became easier to see the other patterns more clearly. I was no longer trying to make one idea fit at all costs, and that made a big difference. Looking back, Frost was a much better match for the yarn, the needle size, and the kind of finished shawl I actually wanted.

Finding a Better Match

When I went back through 52 Weeks of Shawls, Frost stood out to me in a very different way. Hiraeth had a cozy feel that made me think more of fall and winter, but Frost felt lighter and fresher to me. I liked how the lace pattern gave it a more open look, and it seemed like the kind of shawl that would work beautifully in spring too. After struggling with my earlier swatches, that change in mood felt especially appealing.

So I made more swatches, this time for Frost, again using 4 mm needles. The good news came first: I liked the pattern much more. It had enough texture to feel interesting without becoming too busy. That alone made me feel relieved.

Changing the Color Plan

The color, however, was another issue. Even though the stitch pattern worked better, I still was not happy with the look of the earlier shades I had chosen. At that point I knew the answer was not to keep changing the needle size or second-guessing the pattern itself. I just needed a different color.

That is when I noticed Dusty Rose on the Knitting for Olive website. I really liked it right away. It had softness, but it did not disappear. It also had a slightly muted quality that I thought would work well with lace. It was not overly sweet, and it did not feel too bright either. There is almost a gray tone to it, which gives it a more calm and elegant look.

Settling on the Final Yarn

I bought the yarn through Wool & Company, but after looking into the color options more closely, I realized that Knitting for Olive Compatible Cashmere did not seem to come in Dusty Rose. Since I really wanted that color, I decided to use two strands of merino instead.

That ended up being the final yarn choice for this shawl, and honestly, I think it was the right decision.

What It Was Like to Knit Frost

Once I finally settled on the pattern and yarn, the actual knitting process was much smoother than the planning stage. Frost was not especially difficult, but it still needed enough attention that I could not just knit without checking in now and then. That balance made it approachable while still feeling engaging.

Getting Used to the Pattern

Once I finally settled on the pattern and yarn, the actual knitting felt much smoother than the planning stage. Frost needed some attention, especially in the beginning, but the repeat was manageable and easy enough to get used to over time. After a while, I was able to settle into a comfortable rhythm, which made the project feel steady and approachable.

That said, I did have one repeated issue while knitting it: I kept forgetting the yarn over. More specifically, I would sometimes miss that step and not notice it right away. Because of that, the first half of the shawl required more checking than I expected. During that stage, I got into the habit of counting my stitches at the end of every full pattern repeat just to make sure everything still lined up. It was a little tedious, but it also saved me from carrying mistakes too far.

Once I got more familiar with the structure, I became a bit more confident and did not need to check quite as obsessively. Still, that early period definitely reminded me that even a manageable lace project can demand attention when the shaping depends on small details.

Why Shawls Feel Slower for Me

The main challenge was not really the pattern itself, but the fact that shawls are not my favorite kind of project to knit. I tend to enjoy garments more because they feel busier and more varied, while shawls are naturally more repetitive.

Because of that, Frost took me longer than it might have if I had been working on a sweater. It was not harder, but I was simply less excited to pick it up every day. Even so, I am glad I finished it, because I really like how it turned out.

How the Finished Shawl Turned Out

After all the changes I made before the real project even began, I felt especially curious to see whether the final shawl would actually match what I had pictured in my head. Thankfully, this was one of those cases where the finished piece felt more satisfying than the planning stage.

A Color I Ended Up Loving

Now that it is done, I am very happy with how this shawl turned out. The color is probably one of my favorite parts. Dusty Rose feels soft and wearable, and I think it will work especially well in spring and fall. It has enough warmth to feel gentle, but it is muted enough that it does not feel overly delicate or overly bright.

The pattern also looks much better in this final version than the swatches I made for my earlier plan. That alone makes me feel like switching patterns was the right call. Frost has a quiet kind of beauty. It does not scream for attention, but the lace gives it enough interest that it still feels special. From a distance it looks elegant and clean, and closer up you can appreciate the texture more clearly.

Thinking About It as a Gift

This project was meant as a gift for my mom, whose birthday is coming up, so there is also that little mix of excitement and nervousness that comes with making something for someone else. I love the shawl and I love the color, but handmade gifts always carry that extra question in the back of your mind: will they love it too? I hope she does. It feels thoughtful, soft, and seasonal, and I can picture it being lovely to wear in cooler weather.

Final Thoughts on Frost

Frost ended up being a more memorable project than I expected, not just because of the finished shawl itself, but because of everything that happened before I got there. I started out with a completely different pattern in mind, tested multiple yarn combinations, changed needle size, and reconsidered the overall look before finally settling on this one. In the end, I think that process made the finished piece feel even more satisfying.

If you are looking through 52 Weeks of Shawls for something elegant, approachable, and easy to wear, Frost is definitely worth a look. The lace pattern feels light and refined without being too fussy, and it gives the shawl a fresh look that works especially well for spring. I still tend to prefer garments over shawls, but I am glad I made this one. It took a while to find the right direction, but that is also what made the project feel more meaningful in the end.