As you kill things for the first 2 pieces of the quest, there are things that you can keep for future use (I let rot back when I started, and had to go back and get them again).
Frost Giant Toes - 4 of them for Shawl 1
Kromrif Heads (Drops from Frost Giants) - 10 of them for Shawl 2
Woven Frost Giant Beard - 1 of them for Shawl 6
Drakkel Wolf Whiskers - (NO DROP) - 2 of them for Shawl 6 (I failed 2ce, so needed to collect 6 of these total)
I think that is all you'll need from the giants in GD/EW.
But you are right - don't think of the big picture yet, think of them one step at a time.
(Starting with Shawl 3 is when you will need to start using tradeskills)
Shawl 3 - Baking
Shawl 4 - Pottery
Shawl 5 - Tailoring
Shawl 6 - Tailoring
Shawl 7 - Just about all but Blacksmithing and Baking
Shawl 8 - Jewelcrafting, Tailoring, and Blacksmithing
I started them when I was around L30 - L35, about 18 months ago. L56 now, and still working on shawl 7
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Mindbender Llaffer Outloud
L70 ENC
<select name=Skills>
<option>78 past 1750
<option>272 from 2100
<option>Jewelry:300+Trophy
<option>Tailoring:259+Geerlok
<option>Pottery:256+Geerlok
<option>Smithing:256+15%
<option>Fletching:254+Geerlok
<option>Baking:252+Geerlok
<option>Brewing:251+Geerlok
<option>Research:202+Geerlok
<option>Alcohol Tolerance:200
<option>Fishing:182
</select>