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.