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A crochet subscription box is supposed to do one thing: get you making. New yarn shows up, there's a pattern that fits it, and the question of "what should I make next" is answered before you've finished your coffee.
Some boxes do that. Some send a hook you already own and a skein of something you'd never pick. One of us here has subscribed to most of them over the years, so this guide is written from the receiving end.
What's actually in a crochet subscription box
Most monthly crochet boxes fall into one of three shapes:
- Yarn-first boxes. Two to four skeins, usually from a small dyer or mill, plus a pattern written for that yarn. The yarn is the point. These are the boxes experienced crocheters tend to keep.
- Kit boxes. One complete project a month: yarn, hook, stitch markers, pattern. Great for a first year of crochet, less great once you have a drawer full of 5mm hooks.
- Goodie boxes. Stickers, a mug, a tote, maybe one skein. Fun to open. Not much to make.
Before you subscribe, decide which shape you want. The most common reason people cancel isn't price — it's getting a kit box when they wanted a yarn box, or the reverse.
Six questions to ask before you sign up
1. How much yarn, in yards? "Three skeins" can mean 150 yards or 600. A good box tells you the yardage range so you know whether you're getting a scarf's worth or a sweater's worth.
2. Do you pick the colors, or do they? Surprise is half the fun for a lot of members (and the thing that gets you working with colors you'd never choose). If you're particular, look for a box with a swap option or a color preference.
3. Is the pattern written for the yarn in the box? A pattern that calls for worsted when the box sent DK is a box that didn't try very hard.
4. What's the cancellation policy? Month-to-month with a one-click cancel is the standard you should expect. Anything requiring an email or a phone call is a flag.
5. Where does the yarn come from? Small-batch and hand-dyed means every skein is a little different. Mill yarn means consistency. Neither is wrong; just know which you're paying for.
6. What's shipping? Some boxes bake it into the price, some add it at checkout. Compare the delivered price, not the headline.
The boxes crocheters talk about
These come up most in crochet groups and forums. Prices change, so check each site for current rates.
Darn Good Yarn — Yarn of the Month® Club
Our own, so take this with the appropriate grain of salt — but it's also the one we can describe most accurately. $29 a month, shipping extra. Every box has three skeins of small-batch recycled silk yarn, hand-dyed by artisans in India (around $54 worth), a surprise tool or notion, a crochet and knit pattern written for that month's yarn, and a booklet about the people who dyed it. Weights vary month to month, which members either love or learn to love. Members also get a monthly coupon code, double reward points, and first access to new products. Cancel anytime.
See what's in this month's Yarn of the Month box →
Hooks & Needles
A kit-style box: one project a month with yarn, pattern and the tools for it. A good fit if you're in your first year or two and want everything in one envelope.
Indie dyer yarn clubs
Many hand-dyers run their own clubs — SweetGeorgia's Secret Stash Club and Frabjous Fibers' yarn clubs are two long-running ones. These are usually yarn-only (no pattern or notion), skew toward sock and fingering weights, and sell out fast when a round opens. Beautiful yarn; you bring the project.
Mystery yarn boxes (one-time)
Not a subscription, but worth knowing about: a one-time mystery box is the way to try the surprise-yarn experience without committing. Our Editor's Box is nine or more skeins of recycled silk, packed by hand, at $119 to $129 for $162+ of yarn.
Which one is right for you?
If you want to grow as a crocheter: a yarn-first box with a monthly pattern. You'll work with weights and fibers you'd skip at the store, and the pattern keeps the yarn from becoming stash.
If you're brand new: a kit box for six months, then switch to a yarn box once you own the basic tools.
If you already have a yarn you love: that dyer's club, if they run one.
If you're gifting: pick the box with the clearest "what's inside" page, so the person receiving it knows what to expect. (More on that in our gift guide for crocheters.)
What members tell us about Yarn of the Month
The line we hear most: "I'd never have bought this color, and now it's my favorite scarf." The second most: "The pattern means I actually use the yarn." That's the whole idea. Three skeins, a pattern that fits them, and a little envelope of surprise on the porch once a month.
Join Yarn of the Month — $29/month, cancel anytime →
Crochet subscription box FAQ
Are crochet subscription boxes worth it?
If the box sends more yarn value than it costs and includes a pattern you'll actually make, yes. Compare the retail value of the yarn to the box price, and look for a cancel-anytime policy so you can try one or two months.
Can beginners use a crochet subscription box?
Yes, especially kit-style boxes or any box whose patterns are rated easy. Yarn of the Month patterns are written for both knit and crochet, and most are rated easy to intermediate.
Can I gift a crochet subscription?
Most boxes let you buy a fixed number of months as a gift. Yarn of the Month can be shipped to the recipient's address; reach out to us if you'd like to set up a fixed number of months as a gift.
