Yarn Unboxing! Today I get to do the big Mother’s Day Surprise Box reveal.
If you’d prefer to watch the full yarn unboxing video, please click the button above.
In my eagerness to get these boxes shipped out to their recipients, I didn’t think to record a video carefully showing each item. But, I did at least remember to record a quick unboxing. You can watch the quick 1-1/2 minute video by clicking the video below.
Continue reading if you’d like a full run-down on the yarn box.
I’ve mentioned several times over the past few weeks how much fun these boxes are to curate and this year was no exception. I put a lot of time into planning these to be a delightful, soul-fulfilling treasures. I hope the recipients feel the same.
So let’s get to it.
This year’s gift is packaged in a simple, classic brown goody box dressed up with a bit of blue and white baker’s twine.
Once you get it opened, there’s a sweet little bookmark with a reminder: You are an awesome mom. I know this is a knitter’s box, but I know many knitters are also avid readers so a bookmark feels like a fun extra. You could even adhere it to a mirror or wall because we can never be reminded of our awesomeness too often.
On the top, there is a special Mother’s Day card filled with heartfelt thanks and encouragement. Now, I know I don’t know anything about your parenting or how you’re doing in your role as a mother, but, listen. I truly believe each and every one of us is doing the absolute best we can at this thing called parenting. You are doing the best you can and it is perfect. You ARE a great mom. Anyway, I really like to include a personal note because this is such a personal business for me.
Next is a handpainted card by me. I really went back and forth on whether to include this or not. In the end, I opted to include it. My watercolor skills are still fresh so this feels very vulnerable to share my developing skills with you, but like with the Mother’s Day card, I wanted you to have something extra personal. Each card is one of a kind and signed by me.
Okay, now we’re getting the knitting goodies!
There is a handcrafted stitch marker by Barbara of Woollyside. She made these especially for your box and they are so lovely. Barbara also designs beautiful knitwear patterns and sells handmade accessories in her shop. Click here if you’d like to check out more of what she has to offer.
Next, we have cable locks by Dawn of Twice Sheared Sheep. When I approached her about including something from her shop in your box, her first suggestion was these great tools. They’ve been such a hot item in her shop, I thought you’d love them as well. There are instructions for how to use them on the back in case you’re scratching your head a bit. But they keep your stitches from falling off your needles in between knitting sessions. Especially helpful for those of us who like to set our knitting down on the sofa and have curious and/or slightly oblivious children or pets! You can also use them as cord stops with your interchangeable needles. I can absolutely see why these have been flying off Dawn’s shelves. Such a simple tool, but so practical. These come in two sets to a pack and retail for $7 in her shop. Dawn has so many clever knitting tools and accessories in her shop including her famed row counter that I’ve shared many times because I love mine so much! Visit her shop here.
I included a few small goodies too. Two tea packets and some scrumptious shortbread cookies. Because knitting and tea with cookies just go together so well.
Each box also included a small bottle of Soak wool wash. This 3-ounce bottle is good for at least 18 washes, but I find these bottles last me a very long time. I grabbed an assortment of scents along with unscented ones. This particular box received a scent called Lacey. Shipping these always makes me nervous that they might leak in transit, so I taped around the lids and also put them in sealed bags. I know how sad I’d feel if I opened a much-anticipated box only to find everything soaked in, well, Soak.
Okay, here’s the yarn finally!
You had a choice of either fingering/sock weight or worsted weight. This box has the fingering/sock weight. I wish I would have taken proper photos for you. But here is Mother’s Day Love 2023. It is various shades of purple and pink and has yellow and blue and even some pink and purple speckly bits. Some white pops through too. If you’re in the Knit Many Together Community, I used the same techniques to dye this colorway as I did the colorways in the Desert Bloom collection. Basically, I sprinkled on the dyes and gave them a good steam. It was so fun to create for you!
Oh, and this year I couldn’t settle on just one suggested pattern, so I provided two for you to choose from. For the fingering/sock weight box, there is Nurmilintu by Heidi Alander. It’s a single skein shawl with some beautiful lace sections offset by garter stitch rows. I think this pattern will highlight this colorway really well. Also in the box is an oldie but a goodie, Justyna Lorkowska’s Close to You shawl. The simplicity and design of this shawl are a great way to show off variegated colorways. Since it’s knit on the bias and the stitch count is always changing, it will help prevent any potential color pooling.
The worsted weight box received its own pattern suggestions. And, again, I like options, so I provided two. The Cozy Cuffed Mitts by Karen Everitt and A Neck Snuggie by Marji’s Yarncrafts. It’s a bit trickier to find patterns suitable for one skein of worsted weight, but I loved these as options. The mitts would be so fun and colorful in Mother’s Day Love 2023. But I’m always a sucker for a soft cowl or this may be more of a neck gaiter. It would be lovely either way.
So that was the Mother’s Day Surprise Box for 2023.
It was priced at $47. One skein of Henlia Handmade yarn retails for $36, so with all the other special goodies in the box, it felt like a good value. This year I didn’t offer yarn upgrades, but if there’s interest in adding an extra skein or two to your box, I’m open to doing that in the future.
What do you think? Anything you absolutely loved or didn’t care for so much? I’d love to hear your feedback so I can make next year’s box even better!
I’ve sold out of these boxes for this year, but if you’d like to check out my selection of naturally dyed U.S. yarn, shop here.
If you’re new to Henlia Handmade, I’d love to give you 20% off to give naturally dyed yarn a try. Grab that by clicking here.
And if you’re looking to join the kindest, most friendly group of knitters, I’d love for you to join the Knit Many Together Community. Being a member helps keep Henlia Handmade running and helps me continue to write blog posts such as this one. Please click here.
Thanks for being here. Please leave your comments down below and have a wonderfully woolly day!
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Mindy Kingery
When I'm not dyeing, designing or dreaming of yarn, you can find me painting, digging in my garden, hiking with my family or working on one of my many, many WIPs.
Absolutely loved the Mother’s Day Box….Decided to splurge on myself and so glad I did.
The yarn is beautiful and the goodies fabulous. Can’t wait to start knitting away.
Thank you,
Debbie Ferenchak
Hi Debbie. Thank you so much for the feedback. I’m so, so happy to hear you enjoy your box! Happy knitting!