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Sew Sampler Subscription Box Review – August 2016

Bekki Menzies
ByBekki MenziesMay 12, 2017 | 3 comments

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Sew Sampler Box
4 overall rating
9 Ratings | 0 Reviews

Sew Sampler is a subscription box from the Fat Quarter Shop that includes sewing notions, fabrics, and patterns for quilters!

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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.)

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The Subscription Box: Sew Sampler

The Cost: $0.99 to join, and the box is $24.95 plus $4.95 for shipping for US customers, $12.00 for shipping for Canadian customers, and $16.00 shipping for International customers.

The Products: "At least 5 specially chosen items which may include fabric, notions, patterns, thread and anything in between."

Ships to: I don't see any restrictions for countries they don't ship to, which is exciting!

Check out all of our Sew Sampler reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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I received an info sheet for the included products, along with a Sew Sampler sticker and additional advertising for the theme "Happy Go Lucky." Sew Sampler consistently has an amazing selection of items included and there haven't been many duplicates at all!

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Sew Sampler includes a block 'recipe' card for a quilt each month. They put it this way: "Each month you will also receive a Block Recipe to make a quilt block with three size options; 8”, 12” and 16”. Collect all twelve of the recipe cards plus a bonus card with instructions for putting them all together in an adorable quilt! We even have a special fat quarter bundle available for these blocks." 

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I decided to go in full force with the quilt blocks and purchased fabric for a full quilt. I will say that it is a little frustrating for an inexperienced quilter to try to guess how much fabric you need for the full quilt, since it isn't indicated on the cards. It has been a fun experience so far though! 

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This month, I wasn't able to get my quilt block completed before the review because of work and vacation, but the picture above is my block from last month to give you an idea of the color scheme. It's not traditional but I love it!

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Sundrops Jolly Bar by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics - $18.98

This fabric is so pretty: the colors and the patterns are absolutely up my alley! There is also a free quilt pattern on the back of the Jolly Bar to make a 50.5 x 59 inch quilt. These colors are perfect for August - still summery but with a nod to fall in the color scheme. 

The Jolly Bar Book by Fat Quarter Shop by It's Sew Emma - $9.98

Jolly Bars are a Fat Quarter Shop exclusive precut set of fabric, similar to a fat quarter. This book has 20 patterns published for Jolly Bars! 

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I really appreciate that Sew Sampler includes patterns and fabric to make those patterns come to life. It's really a fun concept.

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Quilters Perfect Stick Klips by KlipIt - $6.48

These clips provide a damage free way to hang your favorite quilts. They hold 5-6 pounds, and they are clear. They have a sticky tab on the back of them (similar to Command strips) that attach to the wall, and then you can clip away! These are a great idea, because there are few options for hanging a gorgeous quilt without damaging it.

The Binding Tool by The Quilters Mercantile - $9.98

This binding tool is designed to help quilters create angled seams to reduce bulk at the corners of their quilts. One thing I love about Fat Quarter Shop is that they have a vibrant YouTube channel that shows how to use many of the items sent in Sew Sampler, and they have a YouTube video demonstrating how to hand bind a quilt using this tool. You can find that here.

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Bobbin Nests by Ever Sewn - $9.48

These bobbin holders are genius. I have the hardest time keeping bobbins corralled. It seems like I always just end up using the same bobbin and wasting thread by pulling off one color and adding another because I can't find another bobbin. This seems like it would solve that! It sits flat on a desk, and it's made of flexible silicone, so it's easy to add and remove bobbins.

Fat Quarter Shop Tin - Value $3.33

This little tin is my surprise bonus item this month! This would be perfect for pins, needles, bobbins, chalk, threading tweezers and more. This was a very functional item to throw in as a bonus!

Verdict: This month's Sew Sampler by Fat Quarter Shop is worth $58.23. Sew Sampler consistently has a high value, with high quality items that any quilter or seamstress could use. The variety is great and I always look forward to getting my box!

Have you tried Sew Sampler yet?

Starting at $24.95
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At least 5 specially chosen items which may include fabric, notions, patterns, thread and anything in between. The retail value of your items will always be more than your monthly cost! Each month you will also receive a Block Recipe to make a quilt block with three size options; 8”, 12” and 16”. C... read more.
Bekki Menzies
Bekki Menzies
Bekki first discovered subscription boxes in 2014 and they quickly took over her life! (Not quite, but pretty close.) She started with POPSUGAR Must Have, then moved to Little Lace Box, Birchbox, Hamptons Lane...the rest was history. Her favorite product find is Beekman 1802 Fudge (so, so good) and her favorite boxes are Birchbox and Hamptons Lane...but she's always looking for a new subscription to try!

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3 comments

Margaret

I am a quilter, and this has become my absolute favorite subscription! Fat Quarter Shop has the most gorgeous assortment of quilting fabric along with great tools and notions. They do an amazing job of selecting a fun and useful assortment of items for each box.

Donna, the fabric pack in this month’s box is cut to a special size. The edges are pinked to keep them from unraveling. The book included in the box has patterns using the fabric in this exact size. So, you can make a quilt quickly and not have to fuss with cutting fabric first. Which is just what I did last weekend!

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Donna

Thanks, Margaret. I’m not a quilter (yet) but I got my first pair of pinking shears in high school, as a requested birthday present!

I don’t know if the idea is not to unravel, unless it’s a knit…but rather to have less material in the selvedges, and to make corners less bunchy. It’s always done after sewing, so the seamstress has straight lines to sew.

I’ve only seen flat quarters with straight cuts, but perhaps quilters like zig zag edges when they sew.

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Donna

The fabrics you chose at the top are the best, Bekki!

The bobbin tchotchke thingy is hideous, and I can’t imagine what use it could be, or who would want it.

I don’t like the way the fabrics they give you are already pinked – makes it harder to hold and work with the fabric. I mean, if you’re going to cut it into shapes, you have to keep cutting off the zig-zag edge, right?

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