I’ve never purchased from an Instagram ad before, but after seeing The Woobles pop up in my feed for several months, I decided to take the plunge. The Woobles is a company that sells beginner friendly crochet kits specializing in amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small, stuffed animals. I’ve crocheted for nearly 20 years, but I’ve never mastered amigurmi. In fact, I find working on these small projects quite frustrating! That being said, when I saw the cute Rainbow Billy the Unicorn design, I knew I had to make it as a gift for my unicorn-loving niece. In this post I will share my experience with The Woobles, and whether or not I think it’s worth the price tag.
First, let’s talk about what comes in The Woobles crochet kits. I appreciate that the kits contain all of the tools you need to make your project:
- Yarn
- Stuffing
- Crochet Hook
- Eyes
- Weaving Needle
- Stitch Markers
- PDF pattern and video tutorials
This kit is a beginner level, and recommended for ages 12+. It comes in a really cute and resealable holographic bag. I have a full unboxing video on Instagram if you want to see the materials up close.
The materials themselves were good quality. The yarn is advertised as “Easy Peasy yarn, custom-made for beginners.” I actually found that it separated quite easily, and was a bit too large for the crochet hook provided at 4mm. I also had a huge clump in my white yarn. It is common to see a small knot in yarn skeins due to the manufacturing process, but this knot was tricky to get around on such a small project. That being said, I actually really liked the crochet hook. The rubbery handle was very comfortable to hold compared to the metal hooks I typically use.
When it comes to the crochet process, I appreciate that we get both the PDF of the pattern and the step-by-step tutorial videos. Because I already know how to crochet, I used the pattern and would only use the videos when needed. The videos were very helpful, and I did refer to them quite a bit. However, it was surprising that in most of the videos the instructor was using a very different texture of yarn, and working on a separate project. It would be more helpful if the instructor was working on the same project in the kit.
The crocheting itself went relatively smoothly for me. What I do not like about amigurumi, however, are all the tiny parts that have to get sewn onto the project. For Rainbow Billy, the arms, ears, horn, mane, bangs, and cheeks are all separate parts that have to be sewn onto the main section (here, the head). I find it super frustrating to make these little bits and connect them together. The sewing aspect is challenging, and it never looks quite right for me (as seen in this top-down view of Billy’s head). My poor little Billy looks a little wonky!
I completed my Rainbow Billy in about 5 hours. The packaging states that this project will take 3-8 hours. I honestly think if you’ve never crocheted before, this will take you even longer as you try to learn all the stitches through the videos.
Additionally, I am surprised with how many supplies were left over when the project was completed. I have a good amount of yarn and stuffing, as seen in the above photo. While it’s great that The Woobles gives you sufficient materials, I think they could easily reduce what is provided so we do not end up with any waste. This would also save the company money.
Speaking of price, this kit costs $30.00. At first, I suffered a bit of sticker shock when I saw the website listing. However, I do think this is a fair price. If I were to buy all of the included materials from Joann Fabrics, it would cost me $25.00 before shipping. Of course, that price does not include the pattern and tutorial videos included with The Woobles. Thus, if you are looking to try crocheting without accumulating a lot of materials, this is a great way to do it.
Overall, I think The Woobles Rainbow Billy the Unicorn crochet kit is a fun crafting project. That being said, I do not plan on purchasing from this company again. I just don’t enjoy the amigurumi process, and prefer to work on other projects like scarves and blankets. However, if you would like to dip your toes into the crochet world, this is a great way to do that! The Woobles offers a variety of amigurumi kits on their website. I am very glad I gave this company a try, and my niece really loves her little stuffed unicorn made by her aunty!
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