Suvalkija is named for a town that is now part of Poland. This southwestern region of Lithuania is small, with very few trees and soil free of rocks. Most of the region is quite flat and open, except for Vilkija, perhaps the hilliest town in Lithuania. Farming and agriculture have traditionally been quite important here, not only because of the quality of the soil, but also because serfdom was abolished here earlier than in other parts of Lithuania, enabling farm workers to have a greater degree of freedom and opportunity to make money for themselves. The people here are said to be clever and clear-thinking, but quite frugal. One story claims that Suvalkijans cut the tails off their cats in winter so they can pass through the door more quickly, thereby saving heat!

These gloves are made with a honeycomb pattern that was knit in Suvalkija, and pictured in vintage books about Lithuanian national costume. The patterning is always worked with slip stitches combined with rows of knits and purls, but different details create fabrics that vary from thick and cushy, as in these mittens, to thin and smooth.