How to Knit a Thistle
Thistle only Size – 13cm width x 11cm height
Box frame aperture size as shown – 15cm x 15cm
What you will need…
Total time – 1 Hour 10 Minutes Each Knitted Thistle
Total Sewing/Making up Time in Box frame – 40 Minutes
3.25mm knitting needles (UK 10, US 3)
Double knitting yarn – Green and purple
Sewing up needle
Scissors
A small amount of toy filling/stuffing for flowerhead only, if desired – this a 2D/flat Knitted Thistle
Before You Start…
Abbreviations
K = Knit P = Purl St = Stitch Sts = Stitches
Cast On – I use the thumb method.
St-st = stocking stitch. Alternating a row of knit stitches (right side), with a row of purl stitches (wrong side).
K2tog = Decrease by knitting two stitches together, making one stitch from two.
Inc = Increase – by knitting into the front and the back of the same stitch, to make two stitches out of one.
Cast off – K wise or P wise according to pattern. US – bind off.
TOP TIPS
This is a flat (2D) knitted thistle, which may be made to sew onto various items such as a blanket, cushion, or bag. Have a think about your finished design and adjust this pattern to your preference – add extra flowers, a longer stem, or more leaves, for example, especially if you wish to cover a larger area.
This was based on the traditional Scottish Thistle, the national flower of Scotland, to help form part of the United Kingdom collection of flowers for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022. But depending on your purpose, thistles come in all sorts of colours – take your pick!
How to Make it…
Made from two knitted leaf pieces, one knitted flower main piece, and one finger-knitted length to make up the stem. All pieces are sewn together, on top of your desired surface.
Main Flower Piece
Make 1 for each Thistle
Time – 25 Minutes each Piece
Piece Size – 4.5 cm (width) x 6 cm (height)
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn green and purple
Beginning at the bottom of the flower head, cast on 4sts
Inc Kwise into every stitch (8sts)
Next row, (K1, P1) to end
Next row Inc Kwise, (K1, P1) 3 times, K1 (9sts)
Next row Inc Kwise, (P1, K1) to end (10sts)
Next row Inc Kwise, (P1, K1) 4 times, P1 (11sts)
Next row Inc Kwise, (K1, P1) to end (12sts)
Next row (P1, K1) to end
Next row (K1, P1) to end
Next row (P1, K1) to end
Next row K2tog, (K1, P1) to end (11sts)
Next row K2tog, (P1, K1) 4 times, P1 (10sts)
Next row K2tog, (P1, K1) to end (9sts)
Next row K2tog, (K1, P1) 3 times, K1 (8sts)
K2tog to end (4sts)
Break off yarn and join on purple for thistle top
Next row Inc Kwise, K1, Inc Kwise, K1 (6 sts)
P 1 row
Inc Kwise into every st (12sts)
(K1, P1) to end for the next 4 rows
Cast off Kwise
Leaf Piece
Make 2 for each thistle
Time – 20 Minutes each piece
Piece Size 3 cm width x 11 cm height
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn Green
Beginning at the bottom of the leaf, cast on 2sts
P 1 row
Next row Inc Kwise into every st (4sts)
P 1 row
*Next row Inc Kwise, K1, Inc Kwise, K1 (6sts)
P 1 row
Next row Inc Kwise, K3, Inc Kwise, K1 (8sts)
P 1 row
Cast off 2sts Kwise, K to end (6sts)
Cast off 2sts Pwise, P to end (4sts)
Beginning with a K row, st-st 2 rows**
Repeat from * to ** three more times
Next row K2tog twice
P2tog and fasten off
Piece it Together…
Sewing-up time – Variable depending on design, approximately 15minutes.
Making up the Thistle – With the right side of st-st facing, pin the knitted pieces to your desired surface, such as a cushion cover, blanket, or bag. I have sewn my knitted pieces onto some hessian, and fixed this using double-sided tape to the backboard of a box frame (aperture size 15cm x 15cm). You may wish to place a light bit of stuffing underneath the green part of the main flower piece, for slight elevation. I have also gently curved the leaves slightly, to rest in a more natural position. See Make it Different below for further ideas on how your design can vary. Once happy with pinned positioning, proceed to sew each individual piece at the edges to fix into place. Ensure all pins are removed when complete.
Make it Different…
These knitted thistles can be made to decorate a multitude of items to give them a Scottish edge! Try sewing one onto a cushion cover, blanket, or bag, or perhaps a few things to make a matching set. You could even pop one on a t-shirt or jumper, for a quick homemade St Andrew’s day outfit!
Have a think about knitting a collection of knitted flowers to help celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022. The website also has patterns for other knitted national flowers of the United Kingdom – Take a look at the little Knitted Daffodil, the National Flower of Wales, or the Knitted Shamrock, the National flower of Northern Ireland. Try sewing your knitted flowers to some larger bunting (add some extra rows to the knitted bunting on this website), or sewing the pieces onto flags. Putting them in separate little box frames, as shown with the knitted thistle above, would also make the perfect handmade Jubilee wall decoration should those garden or street parties be rained off! I just need to get working on a rose for England – watch this space!
These thistles may be combined with other knitted flowers, such as the knitted daisy, knitted daffodil, knitted poppy and knitted fuchsia, to make a nice little knitted picture, similar to the space scene knitted picture I made for my nephew. As well as the traditional purple of the National flower of Scotland, have a look at some website images or some garden inspiration for other varieties of thistle. You could even follow a more natural design with longer stems and added leaves, or try alternative colouring to represent a particular variety, such as the blue globe thistle.
Behind the Scenes!
These patterns are all made up as I go along, learning from mistakes along the way. Every time I create a new pattern, I record it in the Updates part of this site (effectively my blog…) There is a story behind each creation, and this can help give you some more ideas and encouragement. See the Update info….
All done?
Feel free to share your successes or any other tips or suggestions by contacting me. If it’s all gone swimmingly and you’re ready for your next challenge, have a look at what to try next! My next pattern!