StitchyBox Craft Subscription Review – May/June 2017

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

Beads, embellishments, and threads come in their own little envelopes.

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: $36.99/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 $38.99/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 bimonthly add on)
• “Stitch It Up” (small pattern charts for $6.50 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).

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: U.S. 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 “Sunflower Field.” (All of this year’s color themes will be inspired by nature!)

Sunflower Quilt Fabric - Value $3.55 (value includes beads below)

This is the first time I think I’ve received any cotton quilt fabric. The obvious choice for this is to embellish with some of the threads and beads provided in the box. That would add some nice texture and maybe a bit of shine and create some definite visual interest.

Honeybee Charm

Czech 10 mm Faceted Avocado Round (3)

Vintage Orange Flower Focal Bead

10/0 2-Cut Czech Beads (aqua)

You’ll always get a few beads and/or other embellishments with this subscription. I am looking forward to adding some of the seed beads to a piece of fabric that came in the box (see below). I actually think all the embellishments were well-curated this month.

Medium Avocado Green Floss from NPI Silk  - Value $5

Normally working with silk irritates me but this was wonderful. It didn’t tangle or get caught on anything, it was easy to separate, and it moved so smoothly through the holes in my fabric. I’m a fan.

Black Kreinik Micro Chenille - Value $3.40

I’m not sure how I would stitch with this so I did something else with it instead. (See below.) If you get an unusual fiber in this box, you can do a Google image search to see some things people have done with it. Although I warn you, it will make you want to go out and buy a lot of supplies to try some of those projects…

Acid Green Floss from Pure Palette Soy Silk - Value $4.50

Weeks Dye Works Crewel Wool in Dusk (limited edition) - Value $6.50

These felt slightly different to stitch with and were somewhat different thickness. Both reminded me of crewel wool, even though only one had that in the name. I also have a Russian cross-stitch kit with a fiber similar to this instead of cotton floss. So this is versatile. And these are both good colors for a sunflower theme!

Tempest from Picture This Plus (16 count aida, fat 16^th) - Value $5.40

Summer Sky from Fiberlicious (28 count lugana, fat 16^th) - Value $5.40

With this version of the box, you’ll get two fat 16^th cuts of stitching fabric. I’m not going to lie, I am still loyal to aida fabric after 20 years; I’ve never outgrown it. (Regardless of what fabric I stitch on, I have to use a lighted magnifier these days.) Anyway, both of these are beautiful colors and I’m already trying to decide what designs to put on them.

Gentle Arts Sampler Thread Limited Edition Cotton Floss in Wildflower - Value $2.40

Ship’s Manor Cotton Floss in Sunflower Field - Value $2

Both of these makers are often present in StitchyBox, but that’s OK. There’s always a place with me for simple 6-stranded cotton floss. These are both variegated in bright, warm hues. My tendency is to complete halves of the X in one direction and then go back and finish them all at the same time, but with variegated floss, you achieve a better effect if you complete each X before moving on to the next.

Here are simple squares to show off the threads from this month. From left to right, the cotton floss in “Wildflower,” the cotton floss in “Sunflower Field,” the avocado green silk, the acid green Soy Silk, and the crewel wool in “Dusk.” All are stitched with two threads except the last one. (I probably could’ve stood to do the 4^th with only one thread, as well…)

For something different, I tried using my tassel maker with the chenille. It is kind of hard to see here and my technique is not so great yet (this was the first tassel I ever made). But don’t feel you need to limit yourself to stitching or embroidery with the threads you get with this subscription!

Verdict: This month’s StitchyBox has a value of $38.15. I will say, I think this was a representative month from StitchyBox in terms of curation (I further note that most of the small artisans from which the supplies are sourced require you to make minimum orders or charge shipping, which is not the case with a StitchyBox subscription.) I think the fabric is beautiful this month and love the idea of embellishing the quilt fabric with some stitching and/or beads.

What do you think of the May/June 2017 StitchyBox? Would you like to see reviews of some of the new add-ons for the subscription?