Darn Good Yarn | A Subscription Box Review & Giveaway

For only $10 a month, the Darn Good Yarn subscription box is not only one of the least expensive monthly craft kits on the market – it also supports a great cause.

[Disclaimer: I received the product below free of charge, and this post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.]

A New Hobby

Those following Feast In Thyme on Instagram should be acutely aware that I recently picked up a crochet hobby. Not only does it mean I can work on my own blankets and clothing in my downtime to relax, but it also opens the door to creating lovely textured fiber pieces – dish towels, pot holders, table runners, etc. – for use in my food photography. So, while not exactly food related, I knew projects like this would be of interest to the yarnies and fellow photographers in my audience.

If you’ve heard of Darn Good Yarn or like their products already, I suspect you’d love their subscription box. I can offer you a 15% off discount when you use code FEASTINTHYME15 on your next purchase! If not, read on to see if this inexpensive monthly subscription box is for you and to learn more about the trial box giveaway I can offer.

The Company: Darn Good Yarn

As I’d been warned by fellow hobbyists, my every day life is now filled with piles of yarn, projects in various states of completion, and a possibly (un)healthy obsession with new colors, fibers, and patterns. There are just so many options out there, and it’s hard to know which companies to support, let alone which small businesses to purchase quality product from.

Darn Good Yarn is one of the companies I stumbled upon during my searching. They have a truly admirable mission statement, and the company takes pride in what they sell, sourcing products and developing supply chains that help to serve under-served populations. Additionally, Darn Good Yarn partners with Schenectady ARC in their warehouses and fulfillment centers. This private, not-for-profit organization is dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities throughout New York State. Overall, a great cause.

The Unboxing

Darn Good Yarn’fibers are bright and rich with a lovely handmade texture, so I was excited to give the box a try. Here’s what I found when I opened up my first box:

The Packaging: The Darn Good Yarn of the Month Club box is compact and easily recognizable. Each month it contains a skein of yarn, knit and crochet patterns for that yarn, and a special gift:

• The Yarn: I received a super smooth, rainbow colored skein of Worsted Weight Roving Silk Yarn in Watercolors (75 yards/50g), with a retail value of $11.99 per skein. The yarn is variable thickness and very richly dyed.
• The Gift: The box included a matching set of purple ombre knitting needles and crochet hook in size 8mm and 5mm respectively, with a retail value of $19.99 on the website. Both are made from lovely light colored wood, and while I prefer my metal crochet hooks, the lovely wooden knitting needles inspire me to take up that craft as well.
• The Pattern: One of the perks of a subscription box is that it comes with a full project. I love that the Darn Good Yarn box includes patterns for both the knitter and crocheter, making it accessible to either fiber artist. This particular box includes knit and crochet patterns to make a type of neck warmer (it looks almost like a cross between a scarf and a choker).

The Review

The Value: For only $10 dollars a month, the Darn Good Yarn subscription box I received is more than worth the retail cost of the items. I would have to try the service out for a few months to accurately assess this aspect, but as of this first box, I can at least say you get more than your money’s worth.

The Project: I really only have one complaint with this box. As the yarn is so small and thin, I’d love if the company included more pattern ideas than just one wearable item. I was sadly not inspired to make either of the featured neck warmers. Both were not only a little advanced for me, but I really don’t like things tight around my throat (I don’t wear turtle necks or chokers much either). Had Darn Good Yarn provided some links to to a few other project ideas for one skein, it would have made a world of difference to me.

This is on me of course – I could have made the provided pattern and given the neckwarmer as a gift, but I really wanted to use that beautiful yarn for myself. After flirting with making a doily or pot holder instead, I decided to craft a skinny scarf (still in progress). With its vibrant rainbow hues, I thought it would be a chic way to proclaim support for my LGBTQ friends and community.

Final Thoughts

At such a low price point, the Darn Good Yarn subscription service is perfect for people who practice a number of fiber arts and want to try out new (and random) varieties of yarn. If you decide to purchase more of the product you receive in your shipments for larger projects, you can have faith in the fact that you are supporting an ethical company and fantastic mission.

Want to try Darn Good Yarn for yourself? Head over to their website and use code FEASTINTHYME15 for 15% off your total order.

The Giveaway!

One more thing: Darn Good Yarn was kind enough to offer a FREE trial box to one of my readers! Comment below with your favorite thing to knit or crochet, and you’ll be entered into a random drawing. The Giveaway ends on January 5th, 2019 so be sure to comment before then to be entered into the contest. I’ll reach out to the winner to get their contact information then. Good luck to everyone that enters and happy winter crafting!