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 Membership Crate, $24.99 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 Membership
The Subscription Box: KnitCrate
The Cost: $24.99 per month (other plans available from $19.99 to $39.99 per month)
The Products: Two skeins of premium 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 Membership January 2019 Review
KnitCrate Membership is the flagship box from the KnitCrate brand. In my opinion, it’s the best box to start with if you’re looking to expand your knitting knowledge or expand your yarn stash! The yarn they send is from one of their in-house brands, and it’s always very high quality.
KnitCrate Inspirations Booklet, January 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.
The theme this month was “Sleepy New Year,” which I think is absolutely perfect for January! After the hustle of the holiday season, it’s the best thing to settle down for some relaxation and knitting with thick, cozy yarn!
This month there were two color options that you could have received from this box - Whiskey, a warm golden brown color, and Dawn Blush, a soft coral color. KnitCrate focused on sustainability and eco-friendly yarn this month, and this page details how the yarn has been sourced, spun, and dyed all in the same country. I love that the company is striving towards a low-impact way of sending us fabulous yarn!
The opposite page in the booklet shows the knitting pattern for this month. It’s a chunky cowl with a loose basketweave texture, and it calls for you to hold the yarn doubled - I bet this would work up very quickly!
The Membership box from KnitCrate always includes a crochet pattern, so if you are a crocheter this would be a great box for you! This month they included a crochet pattern for a handwarmer muff - it’s so cute! The muff reminds me of something from the 1930s or 1940s, and I love the modern twist with the bobble texture.
The booklet also has a short article on Peruvian Highland wool, which is the fiber featured in both the Membership and the Sock Membership KnitCrates this month. I didn’t know much about this type of fiber, and I think it’s so interesting to read about the different breeds of sheep! I always appreciate when the pattern booklets include fresh and unique information for us to learn from!
The booklet also contains a third pattern for the Sock Crate sock pattern. See our review on the Sock Crate for more details on this one!
Vidalana Ambient Worsted Yarn by KnitCrate in Whiskey - Total Retail Value $48.00 ($24.00 per skein)
I received the Whiskey colorway in my box. f you have been reading along with my other KnitCrate reviews, you may remember that I received very similar toned yarn in both my November Membership box as well as my November Sock Crate box. Warm gold is one of my personal favorite colors, so I don’t mind too much that this color feels a little bit like a repeat, but I do wish there was more variety in the colorways that are sent out.
The yarn is 100% Peruvian Highland Wool and each skein contains 201 yards. It’s a worsted weight yarn, and each strand is very round and full. The yarn is very “wooly” feeling, but not too scratchy like some pure wools can be. It feels slightly crunchy, but based on my experience I think once you wash or block your knitting it will soften up incredibly well!
Although I love the look of the cowl pattern included in the pattern booklet, I have a personal preference of not really liking to knit with yarn held double. I like to get as much length/mileage out of the yarn as possible, so I knew this pattern wouldn’t be for me. I found another cute cowl pattern on Ravelry called the Dovetail Cowl, and the larger size called for 400 yards - exactly the amount sent in the KnitCrate box!
The stitch definition of this yarn is amazing! I love how my knits and purls are showing up so clearly. I can’t wait to have this cowl finished!
KnitCrate also sent us the alternate colorway, Dawn Blush, to show you! The coral is much brighter than it appears in the pattern booklet photos. It’s really pretty!
Verdict: I thought this was a great KnitCrate! I like the focus on low-impact yarn, and I really liked the chance to try a unique type of fiber (Peruvian Highland Wool). If you are a knitter or crocheter who is open to trying new types of yarn, this would be a great subscription box to check out!
For $24.99, we received two skeins of yarn and three knitting and crochet patterns, with a total retail value estimated around $88. 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.
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. The February 2019 Sneak Peak page is available here. 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 January you’ll see the January yarns and patterns before you join, so you WILL know what your first box will be).
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: At $24.99, here’s approximately what you are paying for each item (not including the pin):
- Vidalana Ambient Worsted Yarn - $13.64 (or $6.82 per skein)
- Pattern Booklet - $11.36
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 January 2019 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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