This pattern started with a flower I found on a Latvian mitten. It’s included in my design, in the middle and on the thumb. The rest of the thistle field just grew around it. Somehow a tilled field ended up on the cuff, too. We’ll see how that turns out over time, with all of those thistle seeds flying about.

I used Permin Luna, a fairly thin and unflexible yarn made out of recycled wool. Lovely colours and texture, but a little difficult to work with. I can’t suggest an alternative, as Luna is supposed to be a DK yarn, but doesn’t behave like one. Try fingering or sport and see how it works out gauge-wise.