Crochet Society Advent 2024 Unbox Reveal Review ( Totally Hooked Crochet Kit )

[@gagadzillart427]

just buy awesome yarn balls on sale during summer, wrap them up to not know what is inside. In fall, make an awesome decorated box with mod podge , put your unknow yarn balls inside!!! that'll be way less expensive, you'll get exactly the yarn you wanted, you'll had fun decorating a box and it is still a surprise!! ;)

[@PeggyV69]

That is a great idea!!!

[@essentialcrochet]

@@gagadzillart427 fantastic idea 👏

[@torigriggs1694]

Plus, come December I’ll have already forgotten all the colors I bought so it truly will be a surprise 💀🤣

[@essentialcrochet]

@@torigriggs1694 😂😂😂

[@gagadzillart427]

@@torigriggs1694 👌👌😁!!!

[@janhill2079]

The trolley coin is the same size as our £1 coin. It goes in a slot to release the trolley and when you return the trolley there's a piece from the previous one in the row you return it to that pushes the coin or token out

[@essentialcrochet]

Thank you😊 You explained that much better than I was able.

[@LindaScott-q9z]

Idk, but I would rather have less junk and better quality yarn. In their defense, I have yet to find an Advent calendar that gives you your money's worth.

[@torigriggs1694]

The woobles are what got me into crochet and confident with it. Their advent calendar last year was worth the cost. Nearly every day was an individual project that all became ornaments or a stuffy. First time I’ve ever had a craft advent calendar actually be worth the cost though.

[@kaylaaa6351]

If my non-crafty partner or loved one gifted me this, I would love it. Seems like a great universal gift/surprise. Buying it on my own as a “luxury” calendar would make me pretty annoyed! Not the worst thing I’ve ever seen, but it’s absolutely not luxury. 😂

[@essentialcrochet]

@@kaylaaa6351 Yes 😁

[@CalabashThreads]

To each their own. It’s a novelty. I have yet to see any ”commercial ” advent calendars that are really worth the price. Crochet Society posted the contents on their blog and in a video so people could decide if it was something for them before making the purchase. I paid $96 so it will be just around $4 per day for a small skein and a trinket a day. I’m okay with that, I did it to bring some joy into my darkness and I want to make the project. I have never gotten their subscription boxes but I always watch the unboxings. Those boxes seem to be very hit and miss. Have a peaceful Thanksgiving.

[@essentialcrochet]

I'm glad you were able to find something that brings you joy.

[@CalabashThreads]

@ Thanks. Your calendar box really was a mess. 🫤 Someone had sat on mine, the top was mushed. I think the outer shipping box needs to be sturdier. On another note, I miss your Mary Maxim Crochet Club “unboxings”. Not so many of those on KZbin.

[@essentialcrochet]

@CalabashThreads Mary Maxim is a great subscription club box for beginners, especially for the price point. Mary Maxim and Annies both do a great job for the level they target and the price point they offer their boxes at. Next year, I will be reviewing other companies, kits, and advents 😉😁 Some time around the new year, I will give a run down of the different companies I explored and what I ultimately thought and how they rated for me. Have a wonderful weekend.

[@janhill2079]

That box looked like a return sent out again.... I'm in England and without exchange rates I doubt I'll be buying it.

[@essentialcrochet]

I understand.

[@colorjunkie]

The value you estimated is still more than you paid for it, so you DID get YOUR money's worth. So I consider that to be a decent advent calendar.

[@essentialcrochet]

@colorjunkie They claimed I would receive 160 💷 value ($202.00). That is far from the generouse estimated retail value of $101.00 it actually comes out to. With shipping, I paid $121.00. But even so, it doesn't matter what I paid. They advertised a specific value they did not deliver on. So you can be happy to give them your hard earned money for crap 💩 products, but there are plenty of other people who would rather not lose money on this gaslighted calendar. I am not alone in my experience, and I am happy to help others to be more informed before making such an expensive commitment.

[@kaidragoon9844]

and the prices are coming from Temu if not from the website itself. Meaning it was sourced for the LOWEST possible price from the most unethical source. So these items in craft stores or small business might be higher and add up to additional 'value'.

[@essentialcrochet]

@kaidragoon9844 maybe, but the actual products are most likely still souced from the cheapest and most unethical sources with additional branding place on it. For example, I could contact my middle-man print shop guy who contacts the manufacturer who produces the same product and requests specific packaging and branding for pennies. However, CS is affiliated with a publisher who sales a popular crochet and knitting magazine, so I'm guessing the middle-man printer is out. I get it. The company is there to turn a profit...unethical practices or not. But I will still call BS on advertising this as "luxury," "high value," or "additional value" for my dollar. In my opinion, It simply is not 🤷‍♀️

[@tinasmith9967]

I have had a few crochet society boxes (small ones) some I've had through sales others i did subscribe to, but i did have items missing, or the wrong box sent but in fairness to crochet society they sorted everything out, replaced boxes. Then i ordered an advent calendar, and i had a drawer that wouldn't come out. I told them and they sent me a new drawer. But the thing that made me give up was i ordered last years advent. I was 16 squares in when they sent an email saying there was a typo in the pattern, and we should be using the 4mm hook, not the 4.5 hook. So, to this day, it's sat in my craft room gathering dust 😂😂 😂😂.

[@essentialcrochet]

@tinasmith9967 Oh, no 👎 I have to say, it sounds like you handled that on going frustration better than I have.

[@donnayarbrough9365]

I think for 210. I would have expected full skeins of yarn.

[@lilymae5662]

personally I think this calendar is completely worth it you get loads of items and loads of yarn I would be more than happy to receive this.

[@essentialcrochet]

@@lilymae5662 Just a heads up, I believe they still have these for sale if you are interested.

[@craftycrafter1960]

Wow for 121 US I would expect more😮

[@deborahparrott3733]

in the US, ALDI is the main place I've seen the trolley tokens. They take quarters ( I think they are thinner than 1 pound coins) you get it back if you return your cart. Saves having to pay someone to round up carts, not to mention less likely to have cars damaged by stray carts,

[@TheAndreaOhh]

I'm from the UK. The trolley coin is the size of our pound coins here, that we would need to get a trolley.

[@betsyvanek9275]

The GREY before Christmas ..😢

[@elspethmcgarey]

Just to let you know, I share your experience with this company. I gave up buying from them after purchasing the 2022 Advent Calendar. Not only was there insufficient yarn to complete the blanket, but one of my 'gifts' was broken. I contacted Customer Service, and their reply amounted to "tough". Not even any sympathy let alone an offer to send a substitute or replacement. Their subscription boxes often had missing items, sometimes missing yarn. Also pretty much every pattern I tried had some kind of error or had to be modified to make it work. I won't buy from them any more. They have destroyed my trust. I feel your pain.

[@essentialcrochet]

@elspethmcgarey Their customer service is the worst. 80% percent of the time, my emails bounced back to me, which required me to get creative in my attempts to contact them. They are very slow to respond, and one of several issues I had, they acted like I was the problem when a box I received early on was soaked through. They don't seem interested in getting better 😮‍💨 That's too bad.

[@lee-anneknight9941]

I felt the same about the item I received. The first was damaged/faulty and so they sent a replacement which was also damaged/poor quality. such a shame as its marketed as reusable but I wouldn't be able to.

[@essentialcrochet]

@lee-anneknight9941 I am sorry to hear about your experience. It's so frustrating!

[@amandajay-h8x]

Nope I’m having loads my calendar was squashed and now I can’t watch the videos

[@essentialcrochet]

Why can't you watch the videos? Since there are no images of the stitch given and parts of the pattern so poorly written, you really need to have access to the video to see what they need you to do for some of the stitches.

[@mariakristinahawl1640]

The yarn alone would make me SO mad to pay so much for this ultra cheap advent!

[@essentialcrochet]

At least if the yarn was a somewhat quality fiber and appropriate for the "afghan" in weight and yardage, I think we would be having a different conversation 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@sharonjane3920]

Can honestly say that I am unimpressed with crochet society. My partner took a sub for their amigarumi box, it arrived and it was a kit I could buy from hobby craft for £11, he paid almost £50 including shipping absolute ripoff. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the advent calendar x

[@essentialcrochet]

@sharonjane3920 I have been wondering about their new amigurumi kits, but I already gave a full year of my energy to making reviews and so didn't want to give them any more money even if it was only for a new review. So, thank you for sharing that.

[@maepixie1372]

After seeing this video i would never buy one of these. I would rather buy what i like and get what i actually want. This is me. My mother on the other hand would love something like this and the novelty of it. I think these kind of items are for people who like this kind of thing. My youngest child has started crochet. I think something like would be great for her. Not a huge project but a small project in each drawer of the box. I think she would something like that. The trinkets would really make her day and those hooks. I personally am old school and like what i call tin hooks.

[@essentialcrochet]

@@maepixie1372 I understand. Some other crochet advents have several smaller projects in their boxes. This Advent is one "lap" sized sampler afghan. And they give you a new stitch pattern every day to work towards it's completion. Thank you for your comment. Have a wonderful day 😊

[@mistytanner212]

I missed last years so bought this years and I’m so disappointed. I won’t be buying this next year. The yarn is minimal, the gifts are not surprising, my box was also broken, the right door fell off and I could not get box 16 out. It was glued to the side. The yarn is boring 6 x grey ?

[@essentialcrochet]

@mistytanner212 I agree on many of your points. I am doing the crochet along for this years sampler "lap" sized afghan. And I have to tell you, I consider myself a little more advanced than the average crocheter, and I have found the pattern instructions a bit lacking and sometimes hard to understand. I have had to watch a couple of videos to understand what it is I'm supposed to do. Are you encountering a similar issue?

[@StephRenee812]

No way would i ever get something like that for that much money. Those little balls of yarn amd not those hooks. Could have added a furl hooks idk i never saw one of these before i love the surprise but i would be pissed

[@essentialcrochet]

@StephRenee812 They could have added one quality hook, and that would have been more than worth the four cheap ones, and no one would have been unhappy.

[@DrMartenCrazy]

A complete rip off, and awful trinkets…

[@essentialcrochet]

Yep.

[@meganrortiz]

That box holder loooooks soooo bad

[@deniseflygirl]

I’m pretty new to crochet and have been watching various crochet kit unboxings. Most of the time, I look at them, like the yarn, but not interested in making about 3/4s of the patterns I see. I generally don’t like buying things not knowing what I’m getting. I ended up finding free or some paid patterns and am starting to make those. I’m not into Christmas but got the CSAC for something to do during the winter months. I’m looking forward to trying it. I wouldn’t have bought it not knowing what it was. I thought the spoiler pics were cute. It will also allow me to try some new stitches. And I like the color combinations…and that it doesn’t look Christmassy. For a one time thing (perhaps), I’m okay with what I got. But I knew pretty much what I was getting. I just wanted the fun of getting everything all together. I agree it’s a bit overpriced though. My box came ok, except the doors aren’t quite stuck onto the sides of the box like they should be. I fixed with double sided tape. I love your tattoos, BTW. In Denver, CO.

[@essentialcrochet]

As a newer crocheter, this isn't a terrible box for you if you are looking to sample a variety of crochet adjacent items and learn a variety of stitches in one project. It will give you a chance to learn what basically works for you and what doesn't in a fairly noncommittal way. If you decide to continue with crochet, you will eventually develop since of quality vs. not-quality vs. the cost vs. the value. For example, this box is represented as being a "luxury" box with high-quality tools/patterns/yarn, and most of us can tell you that this box is currated with some of the cheapest materials possible and that fact makes this box a shite box. Now, if they were honest and said this was a basic box designed for beginners with a variety of beginner crochet tools, then I would have presented this video very differently. But I suggest you watch my Crochet Society Unboxings, Reveals, and Reviews videos so you have a better understanding of my perspective, LOL It has really been an adventure 😄

[@LindaScott-q9z]

Last year's AC cost me $120 US and included shipping. That is a lot of money in my book! It only got 2 out of 5 from me involved because the pattern was way too involved to complete in 24 days, which, according to fb, hardly no one did. Yarn was cheap and splitty, and there was not enough to complete the project. Part of the video tutorials was missing, day 13. Probably the only good thing about it was the cabinet, which I am re-useing and came with a smaller chip off the corner. Won't order from them again!

[@essentialcrochet]

@LindaScott-q9z I understand. I have been reviewing subscription boxes from them for a year. I really wanted to give them a chance because I thought the potential could really be there. Boy, has it been an adventure 😂

[@DrMartenCrazy]

I’m in the uk and stopped buying from crochet society about 2 years ago… cheap yarn, cheap and plastic trinkets, £1 shop quality gifts.(dollar shop for you I think) definitely not worth the money. And to many repeat patterns in their boxes…

[@essentialcrochet]

I get it. I have given them a solid year to do better. So they've expanded their site and consolidated some other peripheral products. AND🤦‍♀️They still managed to devalue their struggling subscription box even more. Quality over quantity 👌

[@HuskyMama1009]

In US, saw a couple of these and they were positive. Is the yarn poor quality? The presentation is beautifully done

[@essentialcrochet]

The yarn isn't great quality, but it's not the worst I have encountered. While I love the idea of the cabinet presentation, this one is quite sloppily constructed, which is very disappointing. There are a lot of corner cutting with product, and it's truly too bad. Quantity does not equal quality. I would love to see more honesty and less gaslighting.

[@christinecoakley9365]

Just a lot of cheap rubbish. Shocking really.

[@essentialcrochet]

Absolutely. I am not a fan of filler.

[@annesharp3463]

after watching this I wont be getting this box and i am in the uk so overpriced and the items were very cheap versions they should have done better

[@essentialcrochet]

I agree. I would much prefer a few quality pieces over a box full of crap for the price point.

[@JayJones-bp4xl]

You seem to be a wonderful person. But you should not add the cost of the post when working out the price, as the company you buy from does not get this money. You should calculate the price on what the same item would cost buying it all, sincerely from the same company. Not from a cheaper place like Temu. As you said some of the things were similar, but not the same and yes you do need to do a follow up and include how much the patterns cost. I hope to see this in the new year. Hopping the rest of the year is full of love, joy, health and a lot of fun making wonderful things. All the best for the New Year.

[@essentialcrochet]

@JayJones-bp4xl You seem like a wonderful person as well, so I will explain my rationale for why I did what I did and how I think I could have done better. I always include shipping if I pay for shipping. This tells my audience what they can expect to pay in total given similar circumstances. Next, most of the items in the advent could not be purchased on the Crochet Society website at the time of unboxing. I looked there first and this is where the pricing for the yarn and hooks are derived from. I did make mention of this in my video. I am sorry if you missed that part. Also, most of the items were actually the same thing you could get from Tumu sans the branding. So the thing I will do differently in the future is to show an image of the product and its pricing for comparison. As far as the patterns are concerned, given my past experiences with some of their patterns, I am pretty sure they will have a fairly standard value range... a few dollars at most. I invite you to watch some of my other product reviews and sincerely hope you enjoy my next video on my 1-year adventure with CrochetSociety. Have a Happy Holiday 😄

[@fabulousjaxx]

It does but Ill look at my money first not for me I'm afraid

[@essentialcrochet]

@@fabulousjaxx I completely understand.

[@ginabena1803]

Ignoring the postage because that isn't really part of the box value, the whole thing was a bit meh. The yarn isn't exciting, you could have had more yarn and better yarn and a few nice little treats rather than the tat they sent. The box, the patterns, the curation all cost money, too, but, even so, if I had paid for that calendar then I would be gutted.

[@essentialcrochet]

I can't argue with your assessment.

[@HookedOnWishing]

☕️🍂🧶🧡

[@meriflower]

Certainly did not get your money's worth!

[@essentialcrochet]

indeed.

[@kathleenquinn8787]

Cute, but not worth the money. I suggest, if you are so unhappy with box, you cancel subscription

[@essentialcrochet]

Novel idea. But if I did that, what would I have to review 😉🙃

[@fabulousjaxx]

The yarn colours are very boring and the extras are. Pretty rubbish a load of junk you really don't need The trolley token would certain fit a trolley in the UK we use a £1 coin not much use to you on the US I wouldn't think Not very impressed It's on sale at £69 about $80 now

[@essentialcrochet]

@@fabulousjaxx I would think that if that $80 included shipping, it might be OK for a super new beginner so long as there aren't any issues with the patterns they provide 🤷‍♀️