What is the best monthly cross stitch subscription box?

Everyone loves a subscription box, that feeling when it comes through your door and makes you feel like it’s Christmas every month, but with more and more subscription boxes out there, it’s hard to find the best. So we brought 3-month subscriptions to cross stitch subscription boxes to review, and tell you which is the best to get! Updated November 2024.

Geeky Stitching Club – Score 9/10

$5 per month: Digital pattern download only
$10 per month: 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), 1 counted cross stitch pattern (2×2 inches), Aida, DMC Threads, Needle, Sweets, 15% shop discount, access to all previous patterns
$15 per month: All of above + 1 counted cross stitch pattern & kit (6×6 inches), Pom Pom Kit
 
The Geeky Stitching Club is our preferred cross stitch subscription box for a simple reason; stuff. You get a lot of stuff. Not content with just one pattern, you get 2 full 6×6 inch patterns and a sweet mini pattern to stitch up too. You get enough stuff to make one of the larger patterns, and some sweets (always a nice touch). The real gem with the subscription though isn’t the number of patterns you get, and not even the price, which is really low, or even that you can add ANOTHER kit for only $5 more. No, the gem, is that you get access to the full back catalog of patterns (5 years worth) for your subscription.
The patterns are well made, interesting, and vary enough to keep you at them month after month. I would say however that there is a definite theme to Geeky Stitching Club patterns; girly. That might not be much of a problem but don’t expect pop-culture references or snarky comments.

 

Caterpillar Club Subscription Box – Score 9/10

$30 bimonthly: 1 counted cross stitch kit (6×6 inches), Zweigart aida, DMC Threads, 1 DMC needle, Sweet/Cookie, magnetic clips, wooden easel, bookmark, and thread holder.
 
Caterpillar Cross Stitch has always been known for its quality and this kit backs that up. However, unlike other kits on this list, it’s not monthly, instead being bi-monthly. The advantage here is that you can buy each box as and when you see fit, so you’re not bound into a subscription with a pattern you don’t like. But if you’re invested in a subscription, that offer is here too (although there is no saving).
Each kit comes with its own set of “extras” but there is almost always some form of sweet treat and cross stitch notions and goodies to go with it. Combined with the quality is what makes this one of the best boxes out there.

 

Rag Tag Box – Score 8/10

$5 per month: Digital pattern download only
$16 per month (USA); $22 per month (Canada): 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), Aida, Wooden Hoop, DMC Threads, Needle, Link to other pattern options
 
The Rag Tag Box is what you would expect from a cross stitch subscription box. It has a pattern, all the tools needed, a hoop, and even different versions of the pattern supplied to mix it up a bit. The brilliance of the Rag Tag Box, however, is the patterns themselves. They vary. They vary like crazy. One month you might be getting a snarky phrase, the next a sweet collection of miniatures, the next month a cute animal, the month after a time-specific pattern. What makes these even better, however, is how detailed, and well-made they are. You’d genuinely want to go out and buy these patterns.
The only downsides we could come up with however were both the price and that you can’t get the kits outside of North America. But, with a $5 download-only option, it’s a nice option (if a little less special). Their patterns can be a little pop-culture and sci-fi related sometimes, but I see that as a positive.

 

Cotton & Twine – Score 8/10

£20 per month (UK): 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), Aida, Wooden Hoop, DMC Threads, Needle, Related “free item”, Sweets
 
As a UK-only subscription box, the market for the Cotton & Twine subscription box might be a little limited, however, it’s hitting off that side of the pond, thanks to its parent company, Historical Sampler Company, being at the helm. Well-known in the UK cross stitch market for over 18 years, it’s no surprise that they supply quality items each month. The patterns tend to be in the middle ground, a little bit contemporary, but also a little bit historical. In my mind, this lowers the overall interest in the box.
One of the best things about the box though is its extras. Every month you get a free item, which can range from a pillow to cross stitch on, to an Easter wall hanging, stickers, or a book. And then there are the sweet treats. Unlike other boxes on this list, the sweets are a massive part, with a heavy dose of English treats, like fudge to indulge in.

 

Mood Box by Innocent Bones – Score 8/10

£16.50 every 2 months (UK): 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), Aida, Bamboo Hoop, Paintbox Threads, John James Needle
£24.99 every 2 months (UK): 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), Aida, Bamboo Hoop, Paintbox Threads, John James Needle, 3-4 British hand made items including one specific to cross stitch
 
The UK isn’t shy for subscription boxes, and Innocent Bones’ Mood box is a good one. The box comes in two variants; just the kit for £16.50 and a ‘full’ box for £25 that includes some handmade items too.
Starting with the kit, the designs are always great, and very thematic. The quality of the items is great too, including John James needles, however, they have recently changed from DMC threads to Paintbox threads, which do rank lower on our list of best cross stitch thread brands. For the price, I would say it’s a fantastic investment.
However, the ‘full’ box is where we would say it’s hit-and-miss. An additional £8.50 gets you three to four handmade British items, with a minimum of one being specific to cross stitch. Whilst the price is great for what you get, and the quality cannot be argued with, we questioned if this was worth the extra considering not all items were cross stitchy.

 

Lakeside Needlecraft DMC Thread Club – Score 8/10

$33/£26 per month: 38 DMC Threads & free gifts on month 3, 6, 9 & 12
 
Unlike the other entries on this list, Lakeside Needlecraft aims to help you complete the full set of 500 DMC threads, including the 35 new DMC threads and 18 variegated threads. They do this by supplying 38 random threads each month for 13 months, ensuring they only send you one thread of each color. Whilst getting all the DMC threads is a fantastic thing to do, it’s a little costly upfront. This monthly subscription is a fantastic way to slowly build them up.

 

Mini Little Stitching Club – Score 8/10

$10 per month: 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), Aida, DMC Threads, Large Needle, Sweets
 
From the same makers of the Geeky Stitch Club, the Mini Little Stitchers Club follows roughly the same model, but instead of small intricate designs, offers simple designs, stitched on wooden boards, with big threads and needles. Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds. Whilst this definitely isn’t the best subscription box for adult stitchers, it’s a fantastic way of getting kids into the hobby.

 
Working more like a traditional advent calendar but for every month of the year, the Stitchybox monthly cross stitch subscription box has a gift for each day of the month. This always contains at least 19 very small patterns, but you do have to supply needle, thread, and cross stitch fabric for all of the patterns.

 

Fat Quarter Shop Quarterly Cross Stitch Box – Score 7/10

$50 per quarter: 1 counted cross stitch pattern (6×6 inches), Fabric Flair 12″ x 12″ aida, DMC Threads, John James needles, small and large project bags, & a notion
 
Coming in dead last on our review list is the Fat Quarter Shop quarterly box. However, don’t let the rating fool you; this is a quality box. With a great pattern from a well-known designer (normally It’s So Emma), with high-quality needles, a small and large project bag, DMC threads and a notion of some kind, the kit is packed. But there is one factor holding it back; price.
As the most expensive kit on the list, by a factor of 5, it’s just not as price-efficient as the others.
But on the positive side, you can buy individual boxes, so you can pick and choose the boxes for your tastes!