Caramel Frappé

Caramel Frappé Knit Shawlette by Monika Sirna

Project Overview

Caramel Frappé is an advanced knitting pattern for a shawlette designed by independent designer Monika Sirna. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a sophisticated lace and stockinette shawl suitable for experienced knitters seeking a refined, wearable accessory with elegant stitch definition and drape.

What Is Being Made

A shawlette—a smaller, more structured shawl—combining stockinette fabric with lace patterning. The finished piece features two distinct gauge sections: a stockinette base worked on smaller needles and a lace top worked on larger needles. The shawlette is designed to be blocked aggressively width-wise, transforming its dimensions and drape significantly during finishing.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch for the base fabric, creating a smooth, classic knit foundation
• Lace knitting for the upper section, incorporating yarn overs and decreases to create openwork patterns
• Blocking as a critical finishing technique—the pattern explicitly notes that blocking significantly alters gauge and shaping, particularly width-wise
• Circular needle construction using either 32" or 40" circulars for the stockinette section and 20" circulars or DPNs for lace work

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern employs stockinette stitch as the primary fabric base and lace stitch patterns as the decorative element. Lace instructions are provided in both charted format and written instructions, with the chart unit measuring 20 stitches wide and 16 rows tall (equivalent to 4 pattern repeats). This dual-format approach accommodates knitters who prefer visual charts or row-by-row written guidance.

Gauge Information

Accurate gauge is important for proper fit, though the pattern notes that exact gauge is not crucial. Relaxed fabric after blocking yields a stockinette gauge of 18 stitches and 30 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) on US 6 (4 mm) needles. Before blocking, the unblocked stockinette gauge measures 22 stitches and 28 rows to 4 inches (10 cm), demonstrating the substantial transformation blocking creates. The lace section, worked on larger US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, blocks to 20 stitches over 4.25 inches (11 cm) and 16 rows over 3 inches (7.5 cm). Swatching the lace pattern using the provided chart is recommended before beginning the full project.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires two needle sizes to manage the different fabric densities. US 6 (4 mm) circular needles measuring 32 or 40 inches (80 or 100 cm) are used for the stockinette section. US 7 (4.5 mm) needles—available as DPNs, straight needles, or 20-inch (40 cm) circulars—are used for the lace section. Needle size may be adjusted as needed to achieve the specified gauges.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern accommodates multiple yarn weights, including 3-ply, 4-ply, DK, sport, aran, and worsted weights, offering flexibility in fiber choice. The sample shown (size S) was knitted in Exquisite Sport by Colour Adventures, a luxury blend of 75% Merino, 15% Cashmere, and 10% Silk totaling 115 grams with 366 meters (400 yards) of yardage, in the Bleeding Heart colorway. An alternative suggestion is Arroyo by Malabrigo Yarn, a 100% Merino yarn available in 100-gram skeins. Both yarns are premium choices that showcase lace and stockinette stitch definition beautifully.

Difficulty Level

Rated as advanced, this pattern is designed for experienced knitters comfortable with lace knitting, chart reading, and blocking techniques. The combination of stockinette and lace sections, multiple needle sizes, and the critical role of blocking in achieving the final dimensions make this project suitable for knitters with solid