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 Artisan Crate, $39.99 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 Artisan Crate
The Subscription Box: KnitCrate
The Cost: $39.99 per month (other plans available from $19.99 to $39.99 per month)
The Products: Two skeins of indie dyed yarn, an extra item, 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 Artisan February 2019 Review
This is the last month KnitCrate is offering the Artisan Crate and the Sock Artisan Crate.
The company is moving to a pop-up style shop that will feature different indie dyers each month instead. Multiple exclusive colorways will be available, and the corresponding patterns will be available. From KnitCrate:
“At KnitCrate, our goal has always been to provide a good avenue for partnerships between dyers, designers, crafters, and us. Each dyer’s business is unique, and within the confines of the crate, it’s sometimes hard to work with all the dyers who approach us. Too often, the quantity of skeins we want is too large to really properly showcase unique dyeing techniques, or the exotic blend a dyer is known for doesn’t fit within our crate budget.”
KnitCrate has answered many questions about this change via their Instagram account and their Ravelry group, and the main points to understand are:
- Indie dyed yarns from two different dyers (one regular and one sock) will be available in the KnitCrate shop starting around the third week of each month
- There will be colorways for each that coordinate with the KnitCrate theme of the month, and there will also be additional colorways available (some or all will be exclusive colors to KnitCrate)
- Patterns created for each yarn will be available to purchase, or if you are a KnitCrate Membership or Sock Crate subscriber, you will receive a free PDF download of these patterns
- If you are a current Artisan Crate subscriber, your subscription will transfer to a KnitCrate Membership subscription on March 1st, and if you are a current Sock Artisan Crate subscriber, your subscription will transfer to a KnitCrate Sock Crate subscription on this date (if you already subscribe to the corresponding box, your Artisan/Sock Artisan subscription will just be canceled)
The KnitCrate Artisan crate is always one of my favorite subscription boxes to receive, and this month was no exception! The box comes with a pattern booklet containing patterns perfectly suited to the yarn sent this month. The pages relevant to the Artisan crate are included below (note: the booklet also contains information and a pattern that go along with the Sock Artisan Crate, not pictured here).
KnitCrate Inspirations Artisan Booklet, February 2019 - 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.
This month the theme was “Good Vibes Only,” which is described as having a positive outlook and diving into a “palette of happy, energizing tones.” I think having a unique and fun theme each month is something KnitCrate really excels at, and I always love how they have a fun twist on their ideas. As you can see from the theme board, the colors this month are electric brights with lots of fun patterns and textures.
On the opposite page, you can read the letter about Artisan and Sock Artisan’s changes in its entirety.
The yarn featured this month is from The Fiber Co., which is a very well-known yarn company with a reputation for luxurious yarns. They used the box this month to launch two new colors - Lantana, a hot pink, and Love-in-a-Mist, a pale blue. In each box, you will receive three (three!) skeins of one of these colors.
The Artisan box typically includes two knitting patterns (one rated beginner and one rated intermediate/advanced) that play off the same theme. The intermediate/advanced-level pattern is a cabled shawl that buttons in the back for easy wearing. The beginner-level pattern is a textured scarf that cleverly turns into a cowl with just a few buttons. I thought this was a very fun idea and a great way to get more wear out of your knitted items. See more of my thoughts on this pattern below!
The back of the booklet shows a sneak peek of the theme for March! The theme will be “Whisper,” and it looks really lovely!
The Fiber Co. Canopy Fingering Yarn in color Love-in-a-Mist - Retail Value $42.00 ($14.00 each)
First of all, this color is absolutely beautiful. It’s the best delicate, pale blue that doesn’t border too close to baby boy blue. Each strand has a subtle sheen that makes this yarn look very elegant and very much like a luxurious yarn to work with!
This fingering-weight yarn is a blend of 50% alpaca, 30% wool, and 20% viscose. There are 200 yards in 50 grams, giving us a total of 600 yards in this box. It is unbelievably soft!
Iridescent Two-Hole Buttons - Estimated Retail Value $5.00 (based on similar sized button packs - we were unable to find anything near these exact buttons for sale)
I love that the extra this month was a set of buttons that go along with the patterns! I especially like that they gave us four - this way you can make both of the patterns included if you wanted (since the shawl takes one button and the scarf takes three). The buttons themselves are really beautiful. They are primarily clear but catch the light to reflect a rainbow of hues.
Here’s the start to my Gradient Ripple scarf! I am absolutely loving knitting with this yarn. It’s so soft and squishy, and the knitted fabric has a fantastic drape and feel to it. The scarf pattern creates a gradient effect by varying the space between the purl-texture rows, and I think it’s going to be a very versatile and easy to wear piece once it’s finished!
Verdict: This was a great KnitCrate box! I loved the yarn included, and both patterns were unique and fresh ideas. The buttons included are gorgeous and round out the box well. The Artisan box has always been a personal favorite of mine, so I’m sad to say goodbye to it in its current form. However, I’m excited to see how this new model opens up new avenues of projects for me, and it sounds like a lot of people in the KnitCrate community feel the same way. I was talking to a friend of mine who is also a KnitCrate subscriber and she had a great point I would like to share here - this new model will allow people to plan their projects better and purchase the right amount of yarn that they need. I’m hopeful that this will be a good change for the company and I can’t wait to see what they do next, as KnitCrate has been one of the standouts in the yarn subscription box field. I look forward to their innovation and unique perspective!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, if you sign up anytime during the month of January, your first box will be the January box (while supplies last).
Value Breakdown: For $39.99, we received three skeins of yarn, three knitting and patterns, and four buttons with a total retail value estimated around $87. I think this is a great 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 $39.99, here’s approximately what you are paying for each item (not including the pin):
- The Fiber Co. Canopy Fingering Yarn - $19.30 (or $6.44 per skein)
- Pattern Booklet - $18.39
- Buttons - $2.30
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 February 2019 KnitCrate Artisan Crate? What are your thoughts on the changes to this box? Let us know in the comments!
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