KnitCrate is a monthly yarn subscription box for knitters and crocheters! Each box includes a new exclusive yarn and corresponding patterns for knit and crochet projects.
They offer four different subscription options:
- Membership Crate: $24.99 per month, for two skeins of their in-house premium yarn plus exclusive knit and crochet patterns in a booklet
- Artisan Crate:$39.99 per month, for two skeins of indie dyed yarn in a limited edition colorway, exclusive knitting patterns in a booklet, and a bonus extra item
- Sock Crate: $19.99 per month, for one skein of their in-house premium fingering weight yarn and exclusive knit and crochet patterns in a booklet
- Sock Artisan Crate:$27.99 per month, for one skein of indie dyed fingering weight yarn, exclusive knitting patterns in a booklet, and a bonus extra item
This review is of the KnitCrate Sock Crate, $19.99 a month.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About KnitCrate Sock Crate
The Subscription Box: KnitCrate
The Cost: $19.99 per month (other plans available from $19.99 to $39.99 per month)
The Products: One skein of premium sock yarn plus a pattern booklet (contains 3 patterns!)
Ships to: US and worldwide for free!
Good to know: All members receive 25% off shop purchases, and earn points for every dollar you spend on your subscription and any orders from their shop. You also can earn points for reviewing the yarn on their website! Points can be redeemed for cash off of shop purchases or can be used towards your regular subscription.
KnitCrate Sock Crate December 2018 Review
KnitCrate Inspirations Booklet, December 2018- Retail Value $40
The pattern booklet included a download code so that you could add the PDF version to your Ravelry library. When I used the code it listed the booklet as having a value of $40, but at the time of our review, the booklet is not currently for sale as a separate item.
The theme for this month was “Handmade Holiday,” and the inspiration page in the booklet is just adorable! I love this crafty take on the holidays and think it’s great that the theme this month feels festive without being too overly Christmas-y. Bring on all the cozy yarn that reminds you of twinkle lights and homemade cookies!
There were two colorway options for this month’s Sock Crate. Both are self-striping and go through five large stripes of color. Holly is primarily red and burgundy with a bright teal accent, and Honey & Jam is primarily gold and burgundy with a bright pink accent. Both colors feel so festive for the holidays!
The sock pattern featured in the booklet this month combines textured stitches with color blocking. The instructions are super clear on how to achieve the right color blocks with your yarn!
The booklet also has bios for the designer behind the pattern. I always enjoy reading these behind-the-scenes descriptions!
The booklet also contains two other patterns that go along with the Membership Crate yarn. (review coming soon!)
Vidalana Ember Sport Yarn by KnitCrate - Retail Value $24.00
I received the Honey & Jam color, and I couldn’t be more excited! When I look at this skein all I can think about is being toasty by the fire with a mug of mulled wine (and a great knitting project, of course!).
This month the yarn is a sport weight, which is slightly thicker than traditional fingering (or sock) weight yarn. KnitCrate states that they sent sport weight yarn so that you would be able to knit up a pair of socks quicker this month in time for the holidays! I love that they thought of that, as a lot of knitters out there are rushing to finish projects at this time of year.
The yarn is 70% merino wool, 20% nylon, and 10% silk. It is extremely soft and smooth! The skein contains 340 yards in 100 grams.
KnitCrate sent a cute enamel pin out to all subscribers this month as a holiday gift! This yarn ball and needles pin is perfect to add as decoration to your knitting bag!
Photo courtesy of Joe Hancock for Interweave
I have been loving colorwork or Fair Isle knitting lately, and I’ve been wanting to better my skills at doing stranded colorwork! I had seen someone suggest winding each individual stripe of the yarn this month into separate balls and using them individually, and I was excited to try that this month.
I searched many online patterns and knitting books for a sport weight sock pattern that had Fair Isle patterning and finally found one in the knitting book called Northern Knits, which I already owned. The Ravelry page for this particular pattern can be found here.
Here’s my progress so far on these socks! I’m knitting them two at a time toe-up. After last month’s KnitCrate learning how to knit socks toe-up, I’m forever hooked on the method! The colors are just absolutely gorgeous together - I love how great the colors look contrasted next to each other.
Verdict: I loved this month’s KnitCrate Sock Crate! I think the self-striping yarn is so fun, and it’s so different than the yarn we have received the past couple of months. I love that it gives you so many options of a finished look - you can either make a color block project like the pattern included, knit from both ends of the skein to give smaller stripes, or do a stranded colorwork pattern as I did. Overall, if you are a knitter or crocheter who likes to try new yarns, I think this is a fantastic subscription box! I love getting the chance to try a yarn that I might not necessarily pick out for myself, and I think the quality of materials they include is top notch.
A few other things that are good to know: if you follow KnitCrate on Instagram or join their Ravelry group, they reveal spoilers at the end of each month (usually around the 20th) before the subscription renews on the first. If you are pickier about what fibers you like to use or want to avoid certain colors, these would be great to check out. Otherwise, you won’t know what the theme, yarn, or patterns will be before they renew your subscription for the month. (But if you sign up during the month of December, you’ll see the December yarns and patterns before you join, so you WILL know what your first box will be).
For $19.99, we received two skeins of yarn and five knitting and crochet patterns, with a total retail value estimated around $64.00. I think this is a very reasonable price for what you receive, since the high-end premium yarn is usually around $25-35 per skein in a local yarn store, and most patterns on Ravelry are $5-10 each.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, if you sign up anytime during the month of December, your first box will be the December box (while supplies last).
Value Breakdown: For $19.99, we received one skein of yarn and three knitting and crochet patterns, with a total retail value estimated around $64.00. I think this is a very reasonable price for what you receive, since the high-end premium yarn is usually around $25-35 per skein in a local yarn store, and most patterns on Ravelry are $5-10 each.
At $19.99, here’s approximately what you are paying for each item (not including the pin):
- Vidalana striped skein - $7.50
- Pattern Booklet - $12.49
Check out all of our KnitCrate reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory for more great knitting, craft supply, and DIY project boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What did you think of the December 2018 KnitCrate Membership? Which color did you receive (or want to receive!) and how are your projects coming along? Let us know in the comments!
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