I last joined in with the Innocent Big Knit back in 2015. The idea is that crafters, around the UK, create little hats to go on the top of Innocent drink bottles. For each bottle that is sold, topped with a little hat, Innocent will donate 25p to the charity Age UK.
Last year, Innocent offered to send wool to anyone who fancied knitting a few hats, so I took them up on the offer. They sent three balls of Dolly Mix in red, yellow and green. Also a crochet hook and needles.
Their next campaign has been delayed until Summer 2022. Gives me plenty of time to knit a few more. Also ties in nicely with my destashing. (I’m still holding strong and resisting buying any new craft materials. Almost at the end of February!) The three balls were enough for 15 hats.
Let’s face it, who doesn’t like a quick project, with instant gratification? Cast on, knit a few lines and then cast off again. Simple.
This time round, I followed a few of their suggested patterns. I love the idea of an army of dinosaurs sitting on a shelf in a corner shop. Waiting for a young dino enthusiast to spot them. Or maybe finding a hat covered bottle in their lunch box, bought by the parents of said young dino enthusiast. I know my children would have loved that when they were younger. I’m not sure about now, seeing as they’re teens and they don’t delight in the same woolly cuteness as they used to do. More likely to greet it with rolling eyes and a hidden smile.
Next shopping day, I’ll buy an Innocent Smoothie, to test out the fit of each hat. I popped clockwork penguins inside the dinosaurs and dragon, as they refused to stand up. Bit bumpy as the wind up mechanism sticks out, as do the feet. I’m hoping the bottle tops will be more flattering to their scales.
If you’re interested in making your own, you’ll find the instructions here. Apart from my first attempt at a Dr Who Tardis. That one is still very much a work in progress in my head. Oh, and the dragon is based on the dinosaur pattern, with an added head comb and fine pair of wings.
A grand total of 17 hats so far. I’m sure I can add a few more from my stash of wool. Incidentally, is it just my box of odd wool that twists and tangles around each other, if left together for even a moment? I honestly believe that they have a life of their own.
I have a mound of wool I need to untangle, next, before I even contemplate knitting another one.
Anyone else knitting little hats? If you’ve ever bought one of these drinks with a hat on it, what did you do with the hat?
They all look great. I like the little postboxes.
Thank you. The postboxes are pleasing.
They are so cute! Yes, I do have one, my daughter bought it. I keep it in a drawer, I guess I should let it have the light of day and find something to wear it.
I suspect there are a good number hiding in drawers.
Oh, what a great idea, I didn’t know this was a thing but I’d love to get involved in the next one. Your bottle toppers are brilliant and I think the dinosaurs are pretty awesome! x
Aww! How cute are those little hats.
What a great campaign. It sounds like a lot of fun x
Those little hats are wonderful. I especially like the dinosaur ones. Will have to look out and see if we can find any smoothie bottles topped with dinosaurs when the campaign launches again. Thomas would love them. #MMBC
I have been making these Lt hats for a year and half I would love to receive some wool so that t can carry on
I was lucky to catch it on their Instagram account. Have you tried Freecycle/Freegle. Ours always seem to be advertising wool to be picked up.