Mods:

1. Cast on using alternating cable cast on.
2. after the ribbing row, purl 1 row before starting the pattern.
3. Knit 10 reps of pattern before starting the thumb.
4. When starting the thumb, add a purl column after the marker.
5. Knit the thumb stitches in pattern, and do increases every 4 rows, not every 3.^
6. After separating the thumb, knit 5 repeats then 10 rows of ribbing.
7. Bind off using Kitchener stitch.
8. When finishing the thumb: pick up the four stitches, but also do a lifted increase to make 21 stitches.
9. Do 2 repeats of the pattern, ending with a purl row.
10. Switch to 1x1 ribbing, but dec 1 stitch to keep the pattern neat.
11. Knit 6 rows of ribbing, then bind off in Kitchener stitch.

^For some reason, increasing the thumb every three rows always gives me a thumb that doesn’t fit me, so I increase every four rows. But it works out especially nice with this four-row pattern: increases are after every purl row.

I think a big part of why this pattern worked so well was the yarn I used… it was woolen-spun.