Thistle.

This little thistle was part of a recent commission. It is in a slightly heraldic style with long and short leaves and flower head with extra straight stitches for all the spikes. All worked in stranded cotton. It looks shiny as the lengths are kept very short for working. Frustrating as you only do a few stitches of each colour but vital to keep a good sheen on the thread.

Thistle stitched in long and short with stranded cotton on silk dupion.