Darn Good Yarn

Darn Good Yarn delivers ethically sourced, artisan-crafted yarns that you won't find in typical craft stores. Each monthly box includes 2+ skeins of unique yarn - from recycled silk to handspun wool - plus exclusive patterns designed specifically for the included materials. Perfect for knitters and crocheters seeking inspiration.

Darn Good Yarn began in 2008 with a mission to create opportunities for women artisans while offering crafters something special. Their yarns are sourced from cooperatives in India, Nepal, and Turkey, providing fair wages while delivering truly unique materials.

Pricing Plans

Box Type	Price	Contents
Yarn of the Month	$20/month	2 skeins + pattern
Regal Box	$35/month	4 skeins + notions + pattern
Ultimate Box	$65/month	8+ skeins + premium extras

What’s Included

Depending on your subscription tier:

• Artisan and recycled yarns
• Downloadable patterns (knit & crochet)
• Fiber information cards
• Crafting notions (higher tiers)
• Access to member patterns library
• Community Facebook group

Featured Yarn Types:

• Recycled silk sari yarn
• Handspun banana fiber
• Organic cotton blends
• Merino wool varieties
• Novelty textured yarns

How It Works

Darn Good Yarn’s monthly subscription cycle celebrates surprise, ethical sourcing, and artisan craftsmanship:

1. Choose Your Subscription Tier: Select the plan that matches your crafting appetite:

• Yarn of the Month ($20): 2 skeins plus exclusive pattern - perfect for sample-sized projects like cowls, hats, or small accessories
• Regal Box ($35): 4 skeins plus notions (stitch markers, buttons, etc.) and pattern - ideal for medium projects like scarves or baby blankets
• Ultimate Box ($65): 8+ skeins plus premium extras - enough for sweaters, large blankets, or multiple coordinated projects

All tiers include access to the member patterns library and community Facebook group. You can change tiers month-to-month based on current project needs.

2. Monthly Curation Behind the Scenes: Darn Good Yarn’s team works with women’s cooperatives across India, Nepal, and Turkey to source each month’s yarns. They select:

• Seasonal color palettes (warm tones for fall, pastels for spring, jewel tones for winter)
• Fiber combinations that work together aesthetically
• Textures balanced between smooth and novelty
• Weights appropriate for featured patterns

This curation process happens weeks ahead, allowing time for ethical production and international shipping to their fulfillment center.

3. Surprise Delivery: Boxes ship mid-month, arriving within 5-10 business days domestically (international 2-3 weeks). The surprise element is intentional - discovering palettes you might not have chosen yourself often leads to the most creative, unexpected projects. Packaging is eco-friendly with minimal plastics.

4. Unbox and Discover: When your box arrives, you’ll find:

• Skeins labeled with fiber content, yardage, and suggested needle/hook size
• Fiber information cards explaining the artisan source, ethical production story, and care instructions
• Pattern link or printed pattern (for higher tiers)
• Notions that complement the yarn (Regal and Ultimate tiers)
• Company newsletter featuring artisan spotlights and member project showcases

Many subscribers report that the unboxing ritual becomes a monthly creative recharge - the tactile experience of touching new fibers and imagining possibilities.

5. Research Your Yarn: Before starting projects, read the fiber cards carefully:

• Recycled silk sari yarn: Requires gentle tension, celebrates beautiful imperfections
• Banana fiber: Eco-friendly, soft, slightly shimmery, requires care to prevent pilling
• Handspun wool: Irregular gauge adds rustic charm, needs blocking
• Organic cotton: Durable, machine-washable, great for accessories and home goods

Understanding fiber characteristics ensures successful projects and prevents frustration. The Darn Good Yarn website has extensive fiber care guides.

6. Access Your Pattern: Patterns are specifically designed for the included yarns - if you receive recycled silk, the pattern accounts for its drape and texture. Patterns include:

• Clear stitch-by-stitch instructions
• Multiple size options (when applicable)
• Helpful notes about working with the specific fiber
• Estimated completion time
• Suggested modifications

Even if the pattern doesn’t interest you, many crafters save them for future use with similar-weight yarns from their stash.

7. Join the Community: Access the Darn Good Yarn Facebook group to:

• See what others received in the same month (color variations are common with artisan dyeing)
• Share finished projects and get feedback
• Trade yarns with other members if you dislike your palette
• Get troubleshooting help for tricky fibers
• Discover pattern hacks and modifications

The community aspect significantly enhances value - experienced members mentor beginners through artisan yarn challenges.

8. Create Your Project: Work through your pattern or freestyle with your yarns. Artisan yarns often work beautifully for:

• Cowls and infinity scarves (2 skeins)
• Shawls and wraps (4-6 skeins)
• Baby blankets (4-6 skeins)
• Market bags and accessories (2-4 skeins)
• Sweaters (8-12 skeins, depending on size and gauge)

The inherent beauty of recycled silk and handspun fibers means simple stitch patterns (stockinette, garter, single crochet) showcase yarns beautifully without complex cables or colorwork.

9. Care for Finished Items: Most Darn Good Yarn fibers require hand washing and flat drying. This care investment becomes part of the appreciation for ethically-sourced, artisan-crafted materials. Finished items often become cherished pieces with stories behind their creation.

10. Build Your Stash Intentionally: Over 6-12 months, you accumulate:

• Diverse fiber experiences (silk, banana, wool, cotton, novelty blends)
• Color palette knowledge (discovering unexpected color loves)
• Pattern library for future projects
• Community connections with fellow fiber enthusiasts
• Supporting sustainable livelihoods for women artisans globally

Many subscribers report that Darn Good Yarn transformed their crafting from “use whatever’s on sale” to intentional, ethical purchasing across all their fiber arts.

Who It’s For

Best For:

• Adventure-Seeking Crafters: Knitters and crocheters who thrive on color and fiber surprises, viewing monthly boxes as creative inspiration rather than controlled project planning
• Ethical Consumers: Those who research company values and want their purchases to support fair wages, women’s empowerment, and sustainable practices in developing regions
• Texture and Fiber Enthusiasts: Crafters specifically interested in exploring unusual materials like recycled silk sari yarn, banana fiber, handspun wool, and artisan blends unavailable at chain craft stores
• Stash Diversity Builders: Those intentionally building varied yarn collections for future projects rather than buying single-project quantities
• Pattern Library Collectors: Crafters who appreciate exclusive, yarn-matched patterns and enjoy expanding their pattern archives
• Story-Connected Creators: People who value knowing the story behind materials - which cooperative made the yarn, why this fiber matters to local economies, how traditional techniques are preserved
• Intermediate to Advanced Crafters: Those with enough experience to adapt to artisan yarn quirks (uneven gauge, texture variations, special care needs) without frustration
• Community-Oriented Makers: Crafters who engage with online communities, share progress photos, and help fellow members troubleshoot projects
• Gift Yarn Purchasers: Those who gift handmade items and want meaningful stories to accompany presents (“This scarf is made from recycled sari silk, supporting women artisans in India”)
• Color Theory Learners: Crafters wanting to discover palette combinations they wouldn’t choose independently, expanding their color vocabulary

Not Ideal For:

• Color-Specific Project Planners: If you’re mid-sweater and need 8 more skeins of specific teal blue to finish, Darn Good Yarn cannot provide that - you have zero control over monthly color palettes
• Absolute Beginners: While Darn Good Yarn offers beginner-friendly patterns, the artisan yarn irregularities (thick-thin spots, texture changes, unpredictable dye variations) can frustrate new crafters still mastering even gauge
• Machine-Wash-Only Crafters: If you exclusively make items for toddlers, athletes, or busy people requiring machine washing and drying, many Darn Good Yarn fibers need hand wash and flat dry
• Specific Weight Requirements: Planning a pattern requiring worsted weight? You might receive bulky one month, fingering the next - artisan fibers don’t conform to standardized yarn weights
• Smooth Yarn Preference: If you dislike slubs, texture variations, and the “imperfect” aesthetic of handspun/recycled yarns, the artisan nature will frustrate rather than delight
• Minimalist Crafters: Monthly boxes mean accumulating 24-96+ skeins yearly - if you’re trying to reduce possessions or craft with zero stash, subscriptions work against minimalism goals
• Budget-Limited with Project Backlogs: If you already have 3 years’ worth of yarn stash, adding monthly deliveries exacerbates the “too much yarn, not enough time” problem
• Instant-Project Starters: Those who want to start projects immediately will struggle if the pattern doesn’t appeal - you’re paying for both yarn and pattern, even if you only use one
• Control-Focused Shoppers: People who need to see, touch, and choose exact colors before purchasing will find surprise subscriptions stressful rather than exciting
• Production Crafters: If you sell handmade items and need consistent yarns for repeatable products, artisan yarn variations make creating identical pieces impossible

Darn Good Yarn works best for intermediate-to-advanced crafters who view fiber arts as creative exploration rather than controlled production. The 3.5/5 Trustpilot rating (65 reviews, mixed: 54% 5-star but 24% 1-star) reflects divided opinions, ethical crafters who appreciate the mission love it, while some report quality concerns. The company is not BBB accredited. The 17 years in business demonstrates staying power and consistent fulfillment. Starting with the $20 Yarn of the Month tier lets you test whether artisan yarn surprises delight or disappoint before committing to higher-tier subscriptions.