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Frasquita is one of the Carmen’s friends in the renowned Bizet’s opera.
This enchanting shawl looks like a warm, passionate rose with its thousand of petals in a vibrant red colour.
I can easily imagine this shawl on Frasquita’s shoulder in the famous corrida scene when she and her friends are all dressed up for the event, with colorful and elegant shawls, and she tries desperately but unsuccessfully to convince Carmen to run away from Don José.
(Thanks to my friend and model Angela Nisi, talented knitter and opera singer for the inspiration!)

This shawl is quite easy to knit because the colorwork is entirely worked using mosaic (only one color at a time) and it’s very fun to make, like a puzzle that solves itself. with every piece going into its place while knitting.
Frasquita shawl has a half-Pi construction worked center out, meaning that every time the number of rows doubles, the pattern doubles the number of stitches.
Usually this is achieved by working kfb across the row, but here I changed that a bit, to achieve that seamless look between the petals.
When the shawl reaches the right length, the shawl is finished with an easy i-cord BO in two colors.
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Size: 140 cm (56”) diam.
Yarn
Sfumature di Teresa Colantonio (100% Merino Wool, 400 m 437.5 yds/100 g).
MC: col. Zucchero filato, approx 600 yds 656 m.
CC: col Carmen, approx 601.5 yds 550 m.
Needles
One 80 cm / 32” (or longer) circular needle for the shawl body and one 60 cm/24” for the border in size needed to obtain gauge.
Suggested needle size: 3.5-4 mm / 4-6 US.
Notions
13 markers.
Tapestry needle to weave in ends.
Gauge
19 stitches and 38 rows = 10x10 cm (4”) in mosaic st after blocking.
Note: Gauge is not critical for this project.