Cherry on Top

Cherry on Top Shawl by Justyna Lorkowska

What is Being Made

Cherry on Top is a half-macaroon shaped knitted shawl designed by Justyna Lorkowska. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished shawl measuring approximately 147.5 cm (58.25 inches) in wingspan and 56.5 cm (22.25 inches) in depth, making it a generous triangular or crescent-shaped garment suitable for layering or draping.

Design Inspiration and Aesthetic

The shawl draws inspiration from the Alpine countryside aesthetic. It features a distinctive half-macaroon silhouette with decorative elements that evoke a whimsical, elegant character. The design incorporates cherry-like bobbles as a central pattern motif, complemented by a zigzag lace border that frames the piece. The combination of these textural and openwork elements creates visual interest and dimension throughout the garment.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its decorative effects:

• Bobble stitch work: The pattern features make bobble (mB) stitches that create the cherry-like dimensional details characteristic of the design
• Lace knitting: A zigzag lace border is incorporated, requiring yarn overs and decreases to create openwork patterns
• Increases and decreases: The pattern utilizes M1L (make one left) and M1R (make one right) increases for shaping, as well as k2tog (knit two together) decreases to structure the lace elements
• Marker placement: Stitch markers are used to track pattern repeats and shaping sections throughout the construction
• Color work options: The pattern accommodates contrasting color (CC) choices, allowing knitters to experiment with different color combinations

Stitches Used

The Cherry on Top pattern utilizes fundamental and decorative knitting stitches:

• Knit stitch (k)
• Purl stitch (p)
• Knit two together decrease (k2tog)
• Make one left increase (M1L)
• Make one right increase (M1R)
• Make bobble stitch (mB)
• Bind off (BO)

Materials and Yarn

The pattern is designed to be worked in sport weight yarn, which creates a delicate, refined fabric suitable for a sophisticated shawl. The original inspiration references a Swiss silk blend yarn, suggesting a luxurious fiber content that would enhance the elegant Alpine-inspired aesthetic. Sport weight yarn is ideal for creating defined stitch detail, making it particularly well-suited for showcasing the bobble motifs and lace border work featured in this design.

Difficulty Level

Cherry on Top is rated as a beginner-level knitting pattern, making it accessible to knitters new to shawl construction. Despite the decorative elements like bobbles and lace, the pattern is structured to guide newer knitters through the techniques required. The use of stitch markers and clear abbreviations supports knitters in tracking their progress through the pattern repeats.

About the Designer

Cherry on Top is designed by Justyna Lorkowska and published by Lete's Knits. This pattern represents independent designer work and is available as a downloadable PDF for personal use.