The Hitchhiker by Martina Behm - best shawl pattern ever!

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There are knitting patterns you enjoy, and then there are the ones you keep coming back to. For me, the Hitchhiker shawl by Martina Behm firmly falls into that second category.  

I don’t think I fully appreciated it the first time I knit one.  I saw a sample of a Hitchhiker in a knitting store on vacation back in 2016 and promptly bought the yarn and pattern (sadly that yarn store is no longer open). It seemed like the perfect vacation pattern. Simple.  Just garter stitch, a bit of shaping, those little “teeth” along the edge. However, this pattern has just clicked with me.  It always looks great and is just brilliant.

I love that there is also a literary connection. The name of this shawl is a playful nod to its origin. It is designed to include 42 “teeth,” a subtle reference to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and its famous answer to life, the universe, and everything.


My first Hitchhiker in 2016

It is the perfect “just one more row” project

The rhythm of this project makes it ideal for knitting on the go, traveling or just unwinding after a long, mentally full day. The pattern is built on a simple sequence of increases and decreases over eight rows, which is easy to memorize. Those signature “teeth” give you constant little milestones to work toward, keeping it engaging without ever feeling demanding.

What I love most is how flexible it is. You can pick it up for just a few minutes when that’s all you have, or settle in and knit for a longer stretch on a sunny afternoon or a cozy snowy day indoors. It’s easy to pause and return to without losing your place, making it a truly low-effort, high-enjoyment project.




It is the perfect pattern for that one skein of beautiful yarn you bought

I love visiting new yarn stores when we are on vacation and buying a beautiful skein to bring home.  This pattern is perfect for showing off some of those holiday purchases. Gradients, speckles, hand-dyed skeins all look good in a Hitchhiker. It is simple so it let's the yarn shine!  Each shawl ends up looking and feeling unique.

I’ve made versions where I just wanted something easy to match an outfit, and ended up with something that looked far more impressive than the effort required. It is incredibly wearable and seems to work with all types of outfits. In fact, I would say that these are my most worn scarves - I use them all the time.



Some patterns are a one-and-done. This is not one of them.

The Hitchhiker is the pattern I reach for when I have a gorgeous single skein, when I need a comfort knit to keep my brain calm after challenging days at work, or when I just want something I know will turn out beautifully. It’s reliable in the best possible way but best of all it is a lot of fun to make.

I am a big fan of Martina Behm's work but the Hitchhiker (and its reverse - the Hitchhiker Beyond) are my all time favourites.

If you haven’t knit it yet, I’d highly recommend it. And if you have, you probably already know exactly what I mean.

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