StitchyBox Craft Subscription Review – December 2017

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

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

This review is of the Big Picture, $36.99 every other month, box. 

About StitchyBox

The Subscription Box: StitchyBox

The Cost: $35.14/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 $37.04/box for the “Detail-Oriented Box” (contains one cut of 32-36 count linen and one cut of 40 count linen). One time boxes are also available for $36.99.

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)
• "Buttoned Up" (a variety of buttons for $5.00 bimonthly add on)
• "Thread It Up" ($17.50 worth of threads for $15.00 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, International for $6

StitchyBox November/December 2017 “Northern Lights” Review

StitchyBox is bi-monthly and sends out your package usually in the second month of the two months each subscription period covers (I got this one in late December 2017, probably a bit delayed by holiday shipping issues):

This month’s StitchyBox came with a card detailing the theme for the box. This box’s theme is “Aurora Borealis.” I always think of cold, Northern climates when I think of the Northern Lights, so it seems appropriate for the winter months.

Dinky Dyes Silk in “Amager Blue”

I think this is my favorite floss color this month. The blue is just so vibrant. Also, although I am not always a fan of silk (it’s not as easy to work with as cotton), this was a breeze to handle. I didn’t find that the colors in my photos of the flosses came out great, but I think the swatch I stitched below gives a better sense of what this looks like in use.

Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in “Snow-Topped Pines”

This is a limited edition cotton that is exclusive to StitchyBox. It is a forest green color with a bit of variegation going on (you can see that better in the sample I stitched below). This is a standard 6-strand cotton.

Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in “Winter Morn”

This is another exclusive colorway for StitchyBox and is also 6-strand cotton. This is also variegated but in light purples. You will see this brand fairly often in StitchyBox but I’ve always found the maker to produce quality materials, and it’s fun to get items from smaller companies and indie makers.

NPI Silk Floss

This is a light blue-grey (it may be more of one than the other, but the lighting in my living room is terrible). Regardless of which side of the spectrum on which it falls, it is a lovely color for winter-themed projects, and is not too difficult to use despite being silk.

Planet Earth Silk Ribbon

Lately, in StitchyBox we’ve been getting a thread or fiber that isn’t necessarily meant to be stitched with but is instead meant as an embellishment. This color goes perfectly with the other threads/flosses from the shipment and would be wonderful for adding textural interest to a piece of embroidery.

Preciosa Crystal Banding (1 foot)

I’m probably going to steal this from my stitching supplies stash and use it in some bead embroidery (I’ve seen some wonderful examples of bead embroidery with rhinestone cupchain and this is a very similar product). Preciosa is a well-known Czech manufacturer of glass beads and crystals.

Vintage Cotton Ribbon (1 foot)

StitchyBox is good at making me think of ways to incorporate new materials into my work. The blue and white of this ribbon are very wintry and would make a nice border on a cross-stitched card or another small project.

Preciosa Crystal Snowflakes (3)

These are a little smaller than dime-sized so they wouldn’t weigh down a piece of embroidery. I think the different shades of blue are pretty and they could be used all together or separately. I may try to track down some more of these to make jewelry with.

14 Count Aida in “Glacier” by Picture This Plus

Subscribers receive different cuts and types of fabric depending on preferences expressed at sign-up, so not every package will have the same fabric selections. I learned how to stitch with craft store cross-stitch kits and I am still partial to aida fabric, which is why I received this selection. Although the brands included in StitchyBox are a little pricier than what you might find at a craft store, I think the fact that you get such interesting colors and patterns, often from small or independent manufacturers, makes up for it! This is a pretty blue that would work for winter designs, or possibly patterns associated with water.

28 Count Lugana in “Aerial” by Picture This Plus

I don’t use 28 count fabric often or in large pieces because I would totally go cross-eyed from trying to see it. So the fat 16ths that you get in StitchyBox are great because they only arrive every couple of months, and there’s enough fabric to do one small design, and the rest of the time I can stick to aida. I definitely notice the softness and drape to this fabric as opposed to the aida, though, and can see why people would choose this type of fabric. And the pattern is also quite lovely.

Here are squares stitched with the “Snow-Topped Pines” cotton, the “Amager Blue” silk, the NPI Silk, and the “Winter Morn” cotton.

Verdict: The StitchyBox shop did not yet have these items available (in fact, there was a note that it had been closed for inventory starting on January 1). There were 10 items, which works out to about $3.51 per item. Fat 16ths of fabric are worth a lot more than that, of course (if you can even find a place that will sell them to you), as are some of the exclusive floss colors, so I think the value was good. What I like about this box is that it encourages me to break out of my comfort zone in terms of stitching – I try new threads, I add embellishments, I adapt patterns or create my own instead of using a kit, I learn about new types of fibers, etc. It also exposes me to some products from smaller companies I might not have encountered otherwise. I thought the color coordination among all the items was especially good this month.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, StitchyBox ships on a bimonthly schedule and this was the November/December package. Sign up by February 10^th to get the March/April Halloween-themed package (embroidery supplies for a holiday are typically sold quite early so you have time to complete projects). And watch the StitchyBox Shop for when inventory ends, as some of the exclusive products may become available for sale.

Value Breakdown: This box cost me $35.14 + free shipping, which means that each of the # items in the box has an average cost of $3.51.

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!

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