Darn Good Beads Subscription Review – August 2019

Darn Good Beads of the Month is a monthly subscription for jewelry makers from Darn Good Yarn. (You don’t have to be able to knit or crochet for this subscription!) Every month you’ll receive materials to complete a quick beading project. You will need some basic tools of your own (pliers, crimping pliers, glue) but they provide all the findings, beads, and stringing materials!

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 Darn Good Beads of the Month

The Subscription Box: Darn Good Beads of the Month

The Cost: $10/month plus shipping

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 15% off your first order when you sign up for the newsletter. No coupon needed - just use this link.

The Products: Materials and instructions to complete one beading/jewelry making project.

Ships to: The US ($4/continental US) and international ($13/Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, and other countries)

Darn Good Beads of the Month August 2019 Review

I’ve been receiving Darn Good Beads of the Month for a few months. I know I will get a simple project with instructions that will be easy to complete in under an hour or two, but the projects have been pretty varied:

The package came with this paper, which contained instructions for this month’s project. We need to talk about the instructions. There were some issues:

• The materials list says two strands of beads are provided but we only got one
• The instructions say a 1.5 mm crochet hook is “suggested” but I am going to go out on a limb and say this is something that not a lot of people will just randomly have around (I did have one, but my craft supply stash should by no means be considered typical) and also, it shouldn’t be “suggested” because there is really no way to do this project without a hook
• In fact, the thread provided does not work with a 1.5 mm crochet hook; I tried a 1.7, a 2.0, and finally a 2.5, and I got it to work with the 2.5 (it was thick and didn’t even fit under the hook part until I got to the 2.5)
• The thread was waxy and stuck to itself as well as my crochet hook (I used an aluminum one) and was actually very difficult to do much with
• The instructions neglected to tell you that in bead crochet, you string all the beads on BEFORE you start, you don’t add them one at a time, but I knew this so I was prepared
• But the instructions also neglected to show you how to crochet (all this was, was chain stitch, but I didn’t remember it because I stink at crochet so I haven’t tried for a long, long time) so I had to look this up online

Beaded Crochet Necklace

So you may be wondering, if the instruction book says “necklace” and the project title says “necklace,” why you are seeing a bracelet. There are two reasons. One, I was very frustrated trying to do anything with this thread (which left a coating all over my fingers, by the way) and two, since I was using a hook much larger than suggested, I was a bit worried I would run out of thread before I was finished and that I would end up with a lopsided necklace. So I just opted to make a bracelet instead.

I really don’t know if crochet anything is a good idea for a simple, beginner subscription like this. And if they are going to have you do crochet, they need to provide a crochet hook and also instructions on how to crochet. Because not every beader who doesn’t know how to crochet has like 20+ crochet hooks, only weird people like me.

Anyway, normally I am very happy with this subscription, I just think this was an off month in terms of equipment and skill level and also the instructions left out some key information (like stringing the beads before beginning – it just said to lay them out in a pattern, but you can’t make a pattern with only one type of bead).

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Darn Good Beads of the Month because the materials were unbranded/not labeled. The beads and charm were nice quality (the beads usually are great, so that is no different from any other month). I did not like the waxy coating on the thread and found it hard to work with (although you don’t need to glue knots, as the thread sticks to itself pretty well). Also I’ve talked at length about some of the other issues. I will say, if you were thinking of signing up, don’t let this month’s shipment scare you off, as this was quite unusual. Most of the time, all you need are pliers and scissors and maybe a bit of superglue (and no special skill set).

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you'll receive the September box. In general, you’ll get your first box at sign-up and then you’ll move to the regular shipping schedule after that. More from Darn Good Beads:

If you place your order by the 1st then your box will ship on the 20th (or next business day during weekends). If you place your order after the 1st then your box will ship the next month.

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 15% off your first order when you sign up for the newsletter. No coupon needed - just use this link.

Value Breakdown: This box costs $14 (including shipping to the continental US) and you get all the materials to make one (usually jewelry) project.

Check out my past reviews of Darn Good Beads of the Month and see the Craft Subscription Box List for more great beading, 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 August 2019 Darn Good Beads of the Month? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?