Knit Picks is an online yarn and knitting supply company that specializes in providing high-quality materials at a reasonable price. Knit Picks overhauled their subscription models for 2020, and they now have a completely new line up of boxes to choose from:
- Cotton Club: $39.99 per month for one accessory or home decor knitting pattern, recommended knitting needles, and all the cotton yarn needed to complete the project
- Sock Yarn Celebration: $39.99 per month for one or two patterns and sock yarn to complete the project(s), which will range from shawls to socks
- A Year of Hats: $39.99 per month for patterns and yarns to complete hat projects that focus on teaching new skills and techniques, plus a fun tool or accessory
This review is of the Cotton Club option for 39.99 per month.
COVID-19 Update: Because of implemented safety measures, Knit Picks orders may incur shipping delays. You can get all the details here.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Knit Picks
The Subscription Box: Knit Picks Cotton Club Box
The Cost: $39.99 per month + free US shipping
The Products: A surprise assortment of yarn, patterns, knitting needles and tools, and fun extras
Ships to: the US and Canada for free, and to Australia and the UK for $10.00
Knit Picks Cotton Club September 2020 Review
Knit Picks is a fantastic online store for knitters and crocheters, and it’s always been one of my favorite places to shop for yarn and tools! The box was overhauled and re-done for 2020, and I've been excited to see what stayed the same and what changed with these new boxes (see our previous Knit Picks Box reviews here). Overall, I'm loving the new format of the boxes!
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First up we have an information card about the Knit Picks boxes in general, welcoming us to the new subscription model. While this is nice information to have, one thing I'm missing in this box is the info card detailing all of the items that were sent this month - I always like to see what the theme of the box is, or where the inspiration for the items came from.
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Knit Picks Comfy in "Celestial" - Retail Value $7.98 ($3.99 per skein)
The first yarn included in this box is Comfy, which is a fingering weight yarn that is 75% pima cotton and 25% acrylic. Each skein contains 218 yards in 50 grams, and I received a deep navy blue color. The yarn is very soft - it's one of the softest cotton yarns out there!
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Knit Picks Lindy Chain in "Clarity" - Retail Value $13.98 ($6.99 per skein)
The next yarn is Lindy Chain, which is a chainette-style constructed yarn that is made up of 70% linen and 30% pima cotton. It's fingering weight and comes in containing 180 yards in 50 grams. It's not nearly as soft as the Comfy - it has more of that scratchy linen feel. From past experience, though, I know that it will soften up with using it and with washing!
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Grinton Hat Pattern - Retail Value $4.99
Rain-or-Shine Pattern - Retail Value $5.99
We received two patterns in the box this month - one is a simple lace-patterned beanie, and the other is a two-for-one loop cowl. I like this idea, as you get to choose if you want to make a single loop cowl or a longer version that you can double up around your neck.
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Knit Picks Radiant Interchangeable Needle Tips, US Size 4 (3.5mm) - Retail Value $5.99
Knit Picks Interchangeable Cable, 32" - Retail Value $2.49
Knit Picks 6" Double Pointed Needles, US Size 3 (3.25mm) - Retail Value $6.69
We received a needle bonanza this month! If you've read my reviews in the past, you know I absolutely love my Knit Picks needle sets - I think I now have three complete sets, along with a variety of extras in different sizes! The wood on the needles is laminated onto the tips, which makes them super slick and easy to knit with. If you've never tried Knit Picks needles, I highly recommend them!
Now, a quick note before I show you what I've been working on. When I opened up this box, it was one of the only times I can remember being disappointed by what I saw inside. We have not only received both of these yarn lines before in recent boxes, but we have received these exact same colors.
I received the Lindy Chain in Clarity in my April 2019 box, which I'm more okay with since this box was over a year ago, but I received the Comfy yarn in Celestial in my June 2020 box, which was only a few months ago! Knit Picks has so many yarn lines and colors to choose from that I'm disappointed to be receiving the exact same items that I've already gotten to try out. The upside of receiving yarn that I already had received is now I have larger quantities of these yarns in my stash, and since I'm always more excited about knitting garments, that's what I decided to do this month! Both of the projects I started with both my April 2019 box and my June 2020 box have been languishing since I started them for their respective reviews, so I decided to pull both of those projects out and start fresh!
photo courtesy of Woods and Wool.
For the comfy yarn, I decided to make the Perfect Summer Poncho - it calls for DK weight, not fingering weight, but I like the looser gauge and texture that I'm getting with the Comfy yarn!
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Here's my progress with this project so far! I think this is such a versatile piece that I'll wear throughout the fall. It's been super slow going, but I remember the original wrap I was knitting with this yarn was pretty slow to knit, as well. I think the Comfy yarn just doesn't have a ton of stretch, which makes working with it a little bit slower. I don't mind, though, because the finished item is going to be so soft and pretty to wear!
Next, for the Lindy Chain yarn, I decided to cast on the Argil Tank - I'd actually thought about pulling out the wrap I was making from the April 2019 box and casting this on with my yarn already, and getting the two extra skeins of Lindy Chain this month sealed the deal for me!
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It's SO pretty with these two colors, and I'm so excited about this one! The Lindy Chain is getting softer as I work with it, and I think it is the perfect yarn choice for this pattern. I always love finding a great Knit Picks substitute for a suggested yarn in a pattern - it's usually so much more affordable, and I know that the colors are always true to what you see on your screen.
This one is flying by! I can't seem to put it down - the interesting construction details are keeping me wanting to get to each new section. I'm hoping I can finish this one in time to wear it for these last few weeks of warmer weather!
I can't wait to share more photos with you as I finish these projects up!
Verdict: Upon first opening up this Cotton Club box, I was super disappointed to see two yarns that I've previously received in a box. However, as I searched for patterns to use with the yarns and realzied that I could combine my past and current yarns for new projects, I was pretty excited to get going on my projects. Although it wasn't particularly true for this month's box, I also like that this box tends to feature more household projects, as I can get a little bit burned out on hats and scarves in yarn subscription boxes. For $39.99 we received four skeins of yarn, two patterns, an interchangeable needle cable, one pair of interchangeable needle tips, and a set of double-pointed needles for a retail value of $48.11. This is a lower valuation than the past couple of months of boxes have been, so this also was a little disappointing. I'm looking forward to seeing what the boxes bring in the next few months, and if we continue to get repeated yarns or if we will get to see new and exciting products! If you know you are a fan of Knit Picks products, or you want to try new yarn and knitting/crochet items at a discounted price, I think this box has a great value!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, if you subscribe now you will receive the October box, which will start shipping on the 1st.
Value Breakdown: At $39.99, here’s approximately what you are paying for each item:
- Comfy Yarn - $6.64 ($3.32 per skein)
- Lindy Chain Yarn - $11.62 ($5.81 per skein)
- Hat Pattern - $4.15
- Cowl Pattern - $4.98
- Double Pointed Needles - $5.56
- Interchangeable Needle Tips - $4.98
- Interchangeable Cable - $2.07
Check out all of our Knit Picks reviews and the best arts & crafts subscription boxes of 2020!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What did you think of the September 2020 Cotton Club Box?
Want to see what Knit Picks' other options are all about? Let us know if you'd like to see another type reviewed: the Cotton Club box, the Sock Yarn Celebration box, or the A Year of Hats box. Thank you!
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