Maker Crate is a monthly craft box from KiwiCo, which provides makers and crafters ages 14 to 104 with projects that introduce new craft techniques and design tools. Each box will include materials and tools for the project plus a booklet that shares the real-world applications and the history behind each art form or design. They also promise that the end product for each project is always fun and functional. Some of the skills you can learn through this subscription may include paper marbling, metal sculpture, dip-dye painting, macrame, loom knitting, hand lettering, embroidery, and more. The subscription is $24.95 a month, with free shipping in the US.
DEAL: Save 30% on your first month! No coupon code needed, just use this link to subscribe! (also valid on the other KiwiCo family subscriptions Kiwi Crate, Koala Crate, Panda Crate, Atlas Crate, Doodle Crate, Tinker Crate, and Eureka Crate).
The box arrived with a small dent on one side. Still, all the items are in good condition!
This month’s theme is Punch-Needle Pillow!
Explore punch-needle textile art and design a tcozy, colorful pillow!
Everything is placed inside this sturdy red box!
The box welcomes us with Maker Crate’s exclusive Maker’s Guide magazine and card.
Kiwi Crate includes all the necessary supplies for the featured activities.
YOU CAN’T USE UP CREATIVITY. THE MORE YOU USE, THE MORE YOU HAVE.
– Maya Angelou
Like the other crates from KiwiCo, Maker Crate also includes a booklet.
The back of the magazine presents KiwiCo’s goals for the next generation of innovators!
KiwiCo, Inspiring young innovators with seriously fun and enriching hands-on experiences.
The booklet has an overview of this month’s project. Full step-by-step video instructions for the project are available on their website!
According to this part of the booklet, the punch needle is a favorite among crafting beginners and pros. Through this, you can make a yarn masterpiece without even tying a single knot. The booklet also includes some images which you can use as an idea in creating your own design.
This part of the booklet features two full-page articles discussing the history of punch needle. They even included some fun facts and trivia related to the project.
Here are all the materials for this month’s Punch-Needle Pillow project!
This month’s project includes a pillow and three sheets of punch fabrics.
The crate also provided the threader, fabric tape, disappearing ink, carbon paper, thread, and sewing needles.
This is the exclusive punch needle from Maker Crate.
The tip of the needle is adjustable in four different levels, so you can easily play with how high you want your loops to be.
You can adjust the length of the tip between 1 to 5 centimeters long.
Here are all the design templates from the crate!
Also included in the crate are 8 colors of 50-yard yarns.
Of course, they didn’t forget to send some plastic frame pieces!
We started the project by preparing all the necessary items we need to use to create a punch-needle design.
The first step is to draw the sketch design on the blank template paper. You can also watch the instruction video provided by Maker Crate to see the next step. Maker Crate also provides design templates but omg, isn’t she the cutest?
After finalizing the design, put a label on the template to know what color of yarn you’re using on each part.
The next step is to transfer the design from the template to the punch fabric. Just put the template on top of the fabric with the carbon paper placed in between them. Then, re-trace the drawing using a pen.
Tip: Make sure to trace the drawing pretty hard!
Using the disappearing ink pen, go over the design left by the carbon paper. This ink will make it easier to see what we’re punching.
Grab the frame pieces and fit them together to form a square, lay the punch fabric over the frame with the design facing up, and lock it using the frame lock.
Once done threading the needle, it’s time to punch the design! First, hold the needle just like a pen, punch it on the fabric and then slowly pull it up and punch it again on the next hole.
Repeat the same procedure while also following the line on your design. Continue the process until you totally fill-out your drawing with punched yarn.
This project takes a lot of time and patience to finish, but it’s surely worth it!
When you’re done, take off the punch fabric on the frame, stick the fabric tapes on the fabric’s edges, and peel off the backing.
Fold the flap over the design and press it quite hard to stick it down. Then, you can finish it off by stitching the edges of the fabric!
Tip: Make sure that the tape sticks flat to the fabric and not on the yarn loops.
After making sure that the edges are stitched, carefully flip the pillow case inside out.
Using the leftover yarns, we made tassels for the pillow case!
You can attach the tassels by sewing them on the edges of the pillow case.
Turn the pillowcase upside down and then insert the pillow inside the case.
It’s so soft and very fluffy!
In case you find some yarn that is longer than it should be, you can simply cut it using your scissors.
Here’s the finished Punch-Needle Pillow! I love how it turned out!
Maker Crate from KiwiCo is an awesome activity subscription for crafters, whether teens or adults! This month’s project is all about punch-needle embroidery, and the crate provided everything we need to make a beautiful punch-needle pillow! It really took us a lot of time, patience, and courage to finish this project. The steps were very easy to follow, but the procedure was time-consuming. Still, the end result is worth it! The pillow makes a nice accent piece for our couch, plus my daughter learned new crafting skills that she can use even in the future! Also, since the crate provided a lot of yarn and templates plus our own punch needle, we can even make other punch needle pieces that we like because the tools are sturdy and can be used on any punch needle craft. If you’re looking for fun crafts to do at home, this subscription is a great fit! Everything is enjoyable and gives us our money’s worth!
What do you think of this month’s box?
Comments
So cute! It turned out nicely.
It did! She was super proud and so were we (doting parents)!
Good to know that it is teen-friendly. My nieces would love it! The unicorn design is super cute and sweet!