One of the unexpected yields of blogging is coming across other people’s good ideas. Yesterday, for example, the Dorset Finca mentioned that she has been growing living stones (Lithops) and I was so excited that I immediately found out where to get the seeds and ordered some. These little succulent plants have fascinated me ever since I was a child, but I have never owned any. That, hopefully, is about to change if my seeds germinate. Without that chance reading of a blog post, I probably would never have thought to have a go at growing these little plants, despite my long-standing interest.
Other blog posts have inspired me with recipes, gardening tips and creative ways to reuse and recycle. But perhaps my favourite inspiration comes from the folks who knit and crochet and then share their patterns, ideas and links. And so, when Nice Piece of Work posted her guide to making a Bonbon hat a couple of weeks ago I was smitten and knew that I must have a go. All did not go to plan to begin with and I had one false start, but I’m not easily put off and my second attempt has been much better:
The finished BonBon
The technical bit
The yarn I used was double knitting wool acrylic blend and I worked with a 4mm hook. I followed Jill’s basic instructions with the following modifications: I increased 7 times on round 9 and 3 more times on round 12. I worked 23cm from the top before I started the brim. To make a snug brim, I crocheted front post trebles (fpt), but I missed every fifth stitch on the first round… that is on alternate ridges I only worked one stitch rather than two:
Detail of the start of the brim
I worked about 6cm of fpts, which I folded over once to expose the horizontal reverse.
Finished hat
If I was making it again, I think I would use a slightly larger hook, perhaps 5mm, for a floppier texture (this will depend on your tension). Once you get going, it’s a really straightforward pattern and very adaptable, as this post from Jill demonstrates. It’s certainly a pattern I would use again – thank you Jill!
The Snail of Happiness 
davidprosser
/ April 10, 2014Heavens, reading about crocheting and knitting is like trying to absorb a foreign language that deals with higher equations via the fingertips alone. I love the sound of the lithops.
xxx Mega Hugs xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 10, 2014All knitters and crocheters are mathematicians… whether they know it or now!
LikeLike
TheDorsetFinca
/ April 10, 2014Thank you so much for the link! I hope those Lithop seedlings do some good growing for you… am now going to consider knitting a bonbon hat!! 🙂
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 10, 2014I love reciprocity!
LikeLike
fallfromgrace349
/ April 10, 2014looks lovely, a lot more flattering than a standard hat I think 🙂
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 10, 2014It’s very warm too… probably won’t get much use until the autumn (at least I hope I won’t need it).
LikeLike
fallfromgrace349
/ April 10, 2014hehe well if you do need to at least you will look snazzy 🙂
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 10, 2014I am with David Prosser and I crochet! My sad attempts would not do justice to that gorgeous hat. I might have to give it a (secret) go. I hope it doesn’t end up in my “failed crafts” cuboard along with all of the collarless jumpers and half frogged temper tantrums! I bought some lithops with high hopes as we live in a warm dry climate but alas, they just withered up and disappeared despite my best efforts to give them what they wanted. I did grow some Dioscorea elephantipes and some Madagascan palms from seed but then got into Permaculture and edibles so I haven’t explored much more about the world of exotics. Isn’t nature amazing? 🙂
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 10, 2014Our garden is full of edibles, but I think I can spare a corner for a few living stones indoors!
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 11, 2014I thought so too till mine croaked 😦
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 11, 2014Never had any luck with carnivorous plants either…
LikeLike
katechiconi
/ April 10, 2014C’est si bon, and likewise, muy bonita! I have photographed the most extraordinary tree today, which I will share in a later post. I’d love to grow it, but can’t import the seeds into Australia, besides which, the blessed thing grows enormously tall. I’m with you on the lithops, but my succulents garden is getting rather full for the amount of available soil, and I haven’t been able to find any here. 4 more days in paradise, then I’m heading home to Cyclone Country – yes, there’s another one lurking meaningfully up the coast from home…
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 10, 2014Hope you are having a wonderful time still… looking forward to seeing lots more pictures and hearing of your adventures x
LikeLike
katechiconi
/ April 10, 2014…Brace! Post follows shortly…
LikeLike