We Make Collective Subscription Box Review – February 2016 part 1

Subscription: We Make Collective

Cost Levels [currency converted from British Pounds to USD on 03/30/16, though I can only find how to get the regular sub now so I’m not sure if the other options still exist]:

  • £30 [$43.03] every other month: subscription
  • £35 [$50.20] one time kit purchase [sub box + 5GBP shipping]

What to Expect: “We Make Kits are not designed to make one, three or even ten different items. They’re made to encourage creative freedom and explore each of our individual ideas of design. The kits are packed full of the very latest in DIY and craft materials you might be struggling to get your hands on elsewhere. ”


 

I wrote this a month ago and was going to do the dyeing this week, but even though it’s actually sunny I don’t know if I’ll have time! When I get around to the dyeing I’ll post part 2 with my finished products.

we make february 2016

One of my favorite DIY bloggers makes me want to craft 110% of my day. Her name is Fran, and she runs the site Fall for DIY. This box is bimonthly and instead of giving you the materials for one craft, they want to teach you a new skill. It seems spendy, but I think the time spent curating the box, the materials used, and the cost of shipping [which is actually free] makes me think you really get your moneys worth.

“Creativity is something we practice and learn. Not something we are born with.” [Fran]

we make february 2016

Everything was wrapped in fabric. Very clever use of packaging!

 

we make members area

The supplies come with a secret password that gives you access to the members only area with the content. These are the tutorials so far: left is February Dyeing, the middle is the December Brush Lettering, and the right is October’s Weaving kit. Once you join you click on the current month and enter the password that is on the interior of the box.

 

we make february 2016 bags

The kits inside. I wasn’t expecting three mini kits! I’ve been wanting to learn how to do shibori dyeing for a long time, so I am super excited for this box and to try the other types!!

we make february 2016 shibori

Materials to do shibori dyeing. I am confused that there’s no dye in here, but it must be the indigo that is used. You use the rubber bands and string to band the fabric with the wood pieces pressed in different spots to create patterns.

we make february 2016 indigo

Indigo dyeing came with two different types of plastic glove pairs, indigo dye, and soda ash. I believe the soda ash helps to set the color. Actually, I think this bag is just dye and the other bag had the utensils…

I really  wish this box came with information!

we make february 2016 batik

Batik dyeing. I love batik! My mom uses batik fabrics in her quilts, and I always thought it looked like a lovely watercolor, so now I’m excited to learn how to make it.

The waxes are melted and stamped onto fabric, or painted, and then you dye the fabric. I just found a Brit+Co tutorial that I’m definitely using because I love constellations!

we make february 2016 natural dyeing

All of the materials. They’re in my office at home… waiting for me next to my Darby Smart sun dyeing kit! As if we’ve had any sun for 6 months, haha.

wemakefebruary08

Here’s the fabric–it’s a long narrow piece.

 

shibori table cloth

This is my brother’s mother-in-law’s tablecloth that I have been in love with for YEARS! I don’t know where she got it, but it is shibori, hand dyed with a technique that involves sewing. It’s way too ambitious, but I would love to make one to fit her new rectangular table.

Someone suggested getting lots of fabric from Value Village to practice, then some cheap pillowcases from Target. I’m excited to start!

 

Natural-dyeing-46

This is from a We Make tutorial for natural dyes made with food! I loved the picture and had to share.

beets

I actually almost kept some beet juice the other night but it was already almost midnight and I didn’t really have anything to dye. How lovely would that be? It would be lighter, of course, but still!

 

April’s box will be Lino and Block Printing.

I have no idea how I found that link last month… there’s no way to get to it from the header…

lino printing

I wish I hadn’t already been charged at the beginning of March for April’s, because I need to take a little break and also I don’t like printing. Years of art classes turned me off of it. BUT who knows?? Perhaps We Make will get me interested in it again.

 


 

Verdict: This shipment’s price could be anything since it’s all taken from bulk and put into bags and such. Though I found an indigo dye kit on Amazon with similar items from the shibori and indigo kits and it was $16.

People still aren’t super zesty about sharing their project pictures. I think it’d be neat to have monthly hashtags like #wemakecollectivedyeing/weaving/lettering so that you can see specific to that month pictures, as opposed to everything from all the people ever. I don’t know anything about marketing though so I’ll be over here, looking at my cat while she glares at me mid-bath.

The website is still frustrating. I tried poking around for the pricing area, and couldn’t find one main page. Also, the footer links don’t work and some of the header ones have redundant content. From the FAQ page, for example, you can click on the bottom and go into some of the Members Only Tutorials [but you need a password], which is really weird.

After taking a website design course last semester I pay attention to website structure. #nerd

 

What did you think? Have you dyed and gone to indigo heaven?

 

Click to see past We Make Collective reviews here!

Disclosure: This box was paid for by me. There are no affiliate links.

  2 comments for “We Make Collective Subscription Box Review – February 2016 part 1

  1. March 31, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    Yay! I can’t wait to see what you make. The contents of the box make me a little nervous. I have a feeling there are a lot of directions.

    • Onderria
      March 31, 2016 at 10:31 pm

      You know, perhaps I should try to do a little video?? I really like that you do that for Darby Smart. It might be better if mcboyfriend films though since I will be covered in indigo

      PS: am thinking about your block printing idea.

Leave a Reply