Unusual shapes of the beautiful physalis plant - from leaves to magically encased goldenberries - were the inspiration for this piece. Each cherry-sized fruit is housed in a dome of thin leaves that become paper-like as the fruit ripens, making them look like small Chinese lanterns. Follow the growth of the goldenberry from the top to the bottom of the cowl, where the lanterns open revealing berries - nupps.

The cowl is worked from the bottom up in the round and shaped with decreases. This makes it fit comfortably close to the neck at the top and hug the shoulders at the bottom for the ease of styling. Nupps bejewel the lower edge, intricate lace transitions to mostly ribbed main section for warmth, and a tubular bind off polishes the top of the cowl off.

Due to the construction there’s no danger of running out of yarn at a crucial point if a knitter’s gauge differs slightly. The pattern can also be easily adjusted to make a longer / shorter piece. Instructions are both charted and written out, with video tutorials for tricky stitches provided.

Size

• Length (adjustable) 13” / 33cm
• Circumference at the top, blocked, unstretched 16.5” / 42cm
• Circumference at the bottom, blocked, unstretched 41” / 104cm

Yarn

• 450yds / 410m of fingering weight yarn, preferably in a solid or slightly tonal colorway
• Sample cowl: Capretta from Knit Picks (80% fine superwash merino; 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 1.75oz / 50g, 230yds / 210m), 2 balls, color Tansy Heather

Needles

• US 3 / 3.25mm circular 16” needles or on a long cable for the magic loop
• Swatch to determine the needle size that helps to fit the gauge; this needle size is a suggestion

Gauge

• 27 sts and 42 rows in 4” / 10cm in 4x1 rib, unblocked
• 24 sts and 40 rows in 4” / 10cm in 4x1 rib, blocked
• Can be worked at a different gauge, but please note that this change will affect the required yardage and the finished size of the cowl

Construction

• The cowl is knit from the bottom up in the round.
• Decreases incorporated in the lace pattern shape the cowl, making the fit more snug around the neck.
• The top half of the piece is worked in a gentle 4x1 rib with the lines of small lace lanterns appearing at equal intervals. If you wish to make the cowl longer or shorter, this section can be easily adjusted accordingly.
• The final section of the cowl contains further decreases and is finished off with a tubular bind off.
• The bottom of the piece has a lovely wavy edge thanks to the lace pattern used. It can be blocked to emphasize this. Nupps are optional and can be skipped if desired.