Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

B. Lucky & Sons opens in Brisbane!

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Arcade Bars are becoming a big deal. While a lot have that retro feeling we all crave, or rely on their cocktails being named after Sonic the Hedgehog characters, B. Lucky and Sons hits a lot of those marks the others don’t.

Hidden in the newly revamped TC Beirne Department Store off the Brunswick St Mall in Fortitude Valley, you could easily miss it. From the outside, it looks like a pawn shop. But it’s by design. Created in the spirit of an illegal gambling den, you pass the pawn-shop-but-really-a-prize-hall, to the sparkling games within. The neon lights and whirling and howling noises of the games will easily show you where you are.

B. Lucky and Sons is the second of its kind, after a successful launch in Melbourne about a month ago, and from the minds of those who brought us Holey Moley and Strike Bowling. It’s certainly scratching an itch you didn’t know you had. With new games based on the Tomb Raider and Rampage movies, and old arcade favourites like Dance Dance Revolution and Space Invaders.

And the owners know their audience. Want to hang out with your friends? Want a place to take a date? Want some good food? Want to spend some fun times winning some great retro prizes?

There’s certainly an audience for it. Want somewhere to bring a date? Why not try win them a kitchy prize of let them beat you at skee-ball. Want somewhere fun to hang out with your friends? Why not beat them at Mario Kart. Want some great food and cool cocktails while sitting in a replicated tie fighter cockpit? Well, B. Lucky and Sons definitely has you covered there.

Want to check out the newest drawcard for Fortitude Valley? B. Lucky and Sons opens on Thursday September 27. Get in quick and win the retro Return of the Jedi puzzle!

Written by Brice Fallon.

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Pattern Review: Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

The Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern is one of those fun wearable crochet projects that has just the right mix of retro charm and modern festival style. If you have been seeing granny square bucket hats popping up everywhere and thinking, “I could make that,” this pattern is a lovely place to start.

This crochet bucket hat is worked in the round using granny-style clusters, giving it that familiar textured look without requiring you to join lots of separate squares. That is a definite win if, like me, you enjoy the look of granny motifs but don’t always feel emotionally prepared for a mountain of seams and ends.

The pattern uses worsted weight #4 yarn, with cotton or a cotton blend recommended, which makes sense for a summer hat. Cotton gives the hat a bit more structure and keeps it feeling breathable rather than floppy and sweaty. You’ll need around 80g of yarn, a 5.5mm crochet hook, scissors, and a yarn needle. The finished hat is designed to fit a head circumference of approximately 51–55cm / 20.1–21.7 inches, which puts it in the adult small/medium range.

What I like about this pattern is that it includes practical fit notes rather than pretending every head and every crocheter’s tension is magically the same. The granny mesh has stretch, and the pattern suggests trying the crown on after Round 5 before continuing with the body section. That is such a useful little check-in point, especially with hats, because nobody wants to finish the whole thing only to discover it either perches on top like a teacup or slides down over your eyes like a lampshade.

The instructions are written in US crochet terms and include a clear stitch key covering chains, clusters, double crochet, repeats, slip stitches, and spaces. The pattern also explains how the rounds are closed, how the beginning chain functions, and how to count the clusters at the end of each round, which is helpful for keeping the shape on track.

The construction is straightforward: you begin at the crown, continue down into the sides, and then work the brim. The brim shaping comes from an increase round that helps kick the edge outward into that classic bucket hat shape. Rounds 15–17 then hold steady to smooth out the brim edge, giving the hat a neat finish without making the shaping feel overly complicated.

I would call this an easy to confident beginner crochet pattern rather than a very first crochet project. You’ll want to be comfortable working in the round, counting repeats, and making double crochet clusters. Once the rhythm clicks, though, it becomes a relaxing, repeat-friendly project — the sort of crochet you can work on while half-watching TV, provided you don’t lose count during the increase rounds. Ask me how I know.

This pattern also has great colour-play potential. The yellow version feels sunny and wearable, the scrap yarn version has brilliant festival energy, and a red-and-green version would make a surprisingly cute Christmas market hat. It would also be a good stash-busting crochet project if you have leftover cotton yarns hanging around from dishcloths, bags, or summer tops.

Overall, the Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat is a cheerful, wearable crochet pattern with strong Etsy appeal. It hits that sweet spot between nostalgic granny square style and modern handmade fashion, making it a great pattern for festival outfits, summer wardrobes, handmade gifts, and market sellers looking for a trendy crochet accessory.

Best for: confident beginners, granny stitch lovers, summer crochet projects, festival fashion, scrap yarn makes, and crocheters who want a wearable project that feels fun rather than fussy.