StitchyBox Subscription Review + Coupon- November/December 2016

StitchyBox is a themed, bi-monthly subscription box for cross stitch and counted thread supplies.

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

This review is of the Big Picture, $36.50 every other month, box. 

The Subscription Box: StitchyBox

The Cost: $36.50/box for the “Big Picture Box” (contains one cut of 14-16 count Aida and one cut of 28-32 count linen or evenweave) or $38.50/box for the “Detail-Oriented Box” (contains one cut of 32-36 count linen and one cut of 40 count linen).

Note: StitchyBox has introduced some add-ons to the bimonthly subscription.

• “Bling It Up” (beads and crystals for $7.50 one-time purchase or $7.13 as a bimonthly add on)
• “Buttoned Up” (hand dyed buttons for $10 one-time purchase or $9.50 as a bimonthly add on)
• “Stitch It Up” (small pattern charts for $6.50 one-time purchase or $6.18 as a bimonthly add on).
• You can also subscribe to “Just the Threads” to get a selection of threads and fibers each month (this is $22.99 for a one-time purchase or $21.84 for a bimonthly subscription; this is not an add-on but a separate subscription).

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first month
CODE: SURB1

The Products: Over $40 worth of stitching goodies including two cuts of stitching fabric and a variety of threads and embellishments. (Note: patterns and instructions are typically not included.  However, the StitchyBox blog has some project ideas. And you can choose one larger piece of fabric instead of the two smaller ones when you sign up.)

Good to know: You can buy extras of supplies you liked from this box from the StitchyBox shop (while they last). I’ve taken most of the values listed below from the StitchyBox shop when I could.

Ships to: US for free, $6 international.

Check out all of our StitchyBox reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory for more great craft and DIY subscriptions!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

This month’s StitchyBox came with a card detailing the theme for the box. This box’s theme is “Teahouse at Koishikawa.” (All of this year’s color themes were inspired by famous paintings. Next year’s themes will be inspired by nature!)

14 Count Aida in Balsam Fir by Hand Dyed by Stephanie – Value $7.50?

Hand Dyed by Stephanie fabrics are a StitchyBox mainstay. But they are pretty! The price is a bit of an estimate because the smallest size available from the Hand Dyed by Stephanie shop is larger than a fat sixteenth, which is what StitchyBox sends with my version of the subscription. (I know stitchers often say once you are more experienced you will abandon aida for other fabrics but I have been doing this for something like 20 years, off and on, and I fully admit to still liking aida better.)

28 Count Lugana in Pink Dahlia by Wichelt – Value $5.50?

Again, a bit difficult to find this available in the same size as we get sent in StitchyBox. I am thinking this fabric would look good with some gold blending filament mixed in somewhere.

Au Ver a Soie by Valdani Pearl Silk in “Shady Cedar” (20 m) – Value $7

I stitched a sample square with this (see below). I did not try to separate it into strands. I would advise having soft, smooth, moisturized hands if you are going to work with this, because my dry, rough hands kept catching on it and pulling it right out of the needle!

Mill Hill Snowflake Button – Value $3.29

I have some bracelets I want to try to make with buttons for clasps so this will probably be going there instead of in a stitched project. I don’t think I realized Mill Hill made buttons too!

Glissen Gloss Rainbow Blending Thread in Dark Teal Green (35 yards) – Value $1.50

Blending filament is hard to work with but so pretty. I used this with the Valdani Pearl Silk also in this picture to stitch a little swatch. I think this is the first time I have used a blending filament that is not from Kreinik.

Ship’s Manor Silk Floss in “A Perfect Day” (12 strands, 5 yards) – Value $5.30

This was actually quite nice to work with, even though I am not typically a big fan of silk. I thought the variegated color was lovely, as well.

The Gentle Art Floss – Value $2.19

I am not sure what this color is called, but all the Gentle Art Sampler Threads seem to be priced the same. (FYI, when you get variegated threads, you are supposed to complete each stitch fully before moving on to the next to take advantage of the subtle shifts in color, which is something I did not do below in my swatch. This will look nicer if you use it correctly!)

Yli Silk Floss (6 strands, 5 m) – Value $2.50

I think this color is pretty (apparently this particular color, 190, has been discontinued) but it was a bear to work with. This kept slipping out of my needle, out of the cross stitch fabric, etc. I probably should have worked with three strands instead of two, as well.

Weeks Dye Works Colorfast Crewel Wool in “Whitewash” (30 yards) – Value $6.50

This is not technically cross stitch thread, but that’s how I used it below and it did work. (I have some Russian cross stitch kits with thread that’s more like this wool in nature instead of the cotton in most American kits. So it *does* work.) This is soft and fluffy and can also be used for crewel, plastic canvas, or even knit and crochet. If this was a little less expensive I would totally use it on my sock loom. (I think it helps with this subscription to be interested in multiple textile and/or fiber arts instead of putting yourself solely into one category. Lots more possibilities that way!)

Here are little squares stitched from each of this month’s threads. First up is the Weeks Dye Works Crewel Wool, then the Yli Silk Floss, the Ship’s Manor Floss, the Valdani silk alone, the Valdani silk with the blending filament, and the Gentle Art Floss. All are stitched with 2 strands except the Valdani, which I took straight from the spool and didn’t separate.

Verdict: I calculated a value of about $41.28 for this month’s StitchyBox. I did have to estimate values for the fabric, but I think the value is not unreasonable considering there are two pieces of hand-dyed fabric in this shipment, plus lots of interesting threads that mostly come from smaller companies. I learned about some new products and brands and I thought the colors all really supported the theme, plus the box met it's promised $40 value, so I am happy.

What do you think of the November/December 2016 StitchyBox? Would you like to see reviews of some of the new add-ons for the subscription?