Both Dee and Vera have been knitting Hitchhiker shawls, and I’ve been admiring them from afar. But then Dee started one in a gradient yarn, and I was absolutely smitten.

So when I ordered the yarn for Nera, some Chroma fingering also came along for the ride (hitchhiked… so to speak!). In my defense, the colourway  I got (Lakefront) was on clearance, and I knew the finished shawl would be ideal for my friend Aneesha’s upcoming birthday.

Almost as soon as Nera was cast off, Hitchhiker was cast on.

It’s knitting up beautifully! If I’m honest, I don’t like the yarn that much. It’s like a low-rent version of Crystal Palace’s Mini Mochi. It’s a single ply, loosely spun, single ply, which can be a bit of a challenge to work with (don’t tug too hard!). I probably should have gone up a needle size or two, but I was already too far before I decided that… and this yarn does not stand up to frogging, so I will just keep on keeping on.

I also came across a knot and a break in the colour sequence, which totally ruined the gradient effect, so I’ve had to get creative, wind it up into a few smaller balls, and reattach to keep the gradient smooth. It doesn’t matter to me if the colours stay in order, so long as the switch from colour to colour isn’t harsh.

The pattern is fun, and I have to admit, a little bit addictive. But I really do need to set it aside and finish Dad’s socks….