The Good, the Bad and the Wooly – My Honest Wool and the Gang Review
Unraveling the Wool and the Gang Brand
Wool and the Gang burst onto the crafting scene in 2008 with its funky blends of yarns and DIY ethos. Founded in London by two friends – Aurelie Popper and Jade Harwood – it has grown from its humble beginnings as a market stall to an internationally recognized brand today.
With their signature hashtag #GetKnitten and 477k Instagram followers, Wool and the Gang has struck a chord especially amongst millennials looking for their pandemic hobby. But how good are their products really? Let‘s analyze the pros and cons in this extensive review:
The Good
Top-Notch Yarns
The hero product for Wool and the Gang is definitely their yarn range. With quirky names like ‘Crazy Sexy Wool‘ and ‘Shiny Happy Cotton‘, the yarns live up to their fun branding. I tried out 4 of their yarns and was impressed by the softness and quality.
The 100% organic cotton ‘Shiny Happy Cotton‘ (100g ball for $13) is luxuriously smooth with a nice sheen. Great for amigurumi toys and children‘s wear. The ‘Feeling Good Yarn‘ ($17 per 100g ball) blends Italian merino wool, Peruvian alpaca and stretch nylon. Result? Incredible softness and durability. Perfect for chunky sweaters to snuggle in.
For added fuzziness, the mohair blended ‘Take Care Mohair‘ ($16 per 50g ball) is a dream to work with. And the aptly named ‘Crazy Sexy Wool‘ ($24 per 100g ball) is a chunky, quick-knitting yarn for statement pieces.
Across the range, the colors on offer are to die for! For e.g. the Shiny Happy Cotton comes in pop brights like Blu-tiful Blue and Bowie Grey along with neutrals like Princess Grace Kelly.
Beginner Friendly Patterns
Alongside the yarns, Wool and the Gang offers patterns for knit and crochet projects. Their collections like ‘Sunny Crochet‘ and ‘Woolly Makes‘ contain patterns graded from beginner to intermediate level. These are great starting points for someone venturing into the world of knitting and crochet.
The free pattern for the now-iconic ‘Golden Scarf‘ made popular by Harry Styles is a simple garter stitch project even for total newbies. For $20 you can get the ‘Sunny Crochet Collection‘ with patterns for 4 summery tops and tanks. Very beginner friendly and value for money.
Sustainability
Sustainable practices seem woven into the brand‘s DNA:
- 100% mulesing-free wool
- Suppliers vetted for ethical practices
- 63% biodegradable yarns
- 47% vegan yarns
- Over 30% recycled/upcycled yarns
- Eco-friendly packaging
As a cherry on top, they‘ve also donated £25k to charity Friends of the Earth from sales of upcycled yarns.
The Bad
Now time to unravel some not-so-great bits in this Wool and the Gang review:
Premium Pricing
There‘s no doubt their yarns and kits are at the luxury end of the spectrum. The crochet and knitting kits cost between $45 to $200 depending on complexity. And 100g balls of yarn range from $13 to $24.
While the quality and colors are superb, it left me wondering if slightly lower price points would allow more people to enjoy their products.
Limited Advanced Patterns
If you‘re an advanced knitter or crocheter looking to challenge your skills, the patterns may leave you wanting more. A fair number are great for beginners but I‘d love to see more intricate lace, cables, colorwork options.
Website Woes
The website oozes the fun, indie brand vibe with its quirky product names and neon color palette. However, a few user experience issues popped up during my research:
- Confusing navigation with kits, yarns and patterns scattered across categories
- Product detail pages lack images of finished objects
- Can‘t filter/sort yarns by weight or fiber type
- Pattern detail page doesn‘t list yarn requirements or yardage
Small tweaks in site organization and information architecture would vastly improve the shopping experience.
Unboxing the Signature Yarns
One of the joys of craft supplies shopping online is the unboxing ritual. I‘ll walk you through what you can expect when your Wool and the Gang order arrives.
The yarns I ordered came neatly packed in a sturdy cardboard box with the fun Wool and the Gang branding. The small paper stuffing pieces prevented any movement during shipping. Each yarn had an additional seal to prevent unwinding.
Along with the yarns was the packing slip listing my order details on 100% recycled paper. No unnecessary frills but overall a positive, eco-friendly unboxing experience!
Comparing the Competition
Wool and craft supplies is a multi-million dollar industry with consumers being spoiled for choice today. So how does Wool and the Gang measure up against competitors?
I compared them against Lion Brand and Bernat which are arguably the Coca-Cola and Pepsi of the yarn world!
Price
Wool and the Gang is more premium-priced across most categories be it wool, cotton or acrylic yarns. You can snag basic acrylic yarns from Lion Brand and Bernat for under $5 while Wool and the Gang‘s start at $13.
Quality
When it comes to wool and animal fiber blends, Wool and the Gang clearly trumps with their focus on organic, ethical sources. Their cotton also appears smoother and shinier than Lion Brand‘s.
Color Ranges
No competition here! Wool and the Gang wins hands-down with their on-trend shades and tongue-in-cheek color names. They make their yarns pop whereas Lion Brand and Bernat play it safe.
Beginner Resources
All three brands offer plenty of free patterns and tutorials for beginners which is excellent for those starting out. I‘d give Bernat a slight edge with their learning blog and video library.
So while Wool and the Gang costs more than the big guys, you‘ll likely fall for their top-notch quality and hipster vibe. Discerning beginners should give them a try!
Care Tips to Make Your Yarn Go the Distance
Investing in quality yarns like Wool and the Gang merits some TLC. Treat them right so you can enjoy their vibrant colors and touchable textures for years. Here are my top care tips:
1. Wash gently and reshape
Most animal fibers like wool and alpaca can handle gentle washes but reshaping is key. Soak finished projects in wool wash solution or a gentle soap. Rinse thoroughly sans twisting or wringing. Lay flat to dry, smoothing to original dimensions.
2. Block perfectly
Blocking helps set the shape and size of your finished knit or crochet pieces. Follow the recommendations on the yarn label for aggressive versus gentle blocking. Investing in foam puzzle piece blocks makes the process easier.
3. Store mindfully
Always store projects and unused yarn balls carefully to prevent dust, dirt and pests. Seal yarn inside ziplock bags with cedar blocks or fragrance-free dryer sheets to repel bugs. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight.
Follow these tips and you‘ll be rewarded with years of enjoyment from your wool and yarn stash!
Should You Buy from Wool and the Gang?
Let‘s tie everything together to answer the big question – should YOU buy from Wool and the Gang?
If you match the profiles below, then it‘s a resounding yes:
The Discerning Beginner – You‘re looking to pick up knitting/crochet as a pandemic hobby. But want top quality supplies that‘ll last beyond your starter projects.
The Conscious Consumer – Ensuring ethical, sustainable production is important to your buying decisions.
The Trendsetter – You want to craft pieces in the latest colors that pop on Instagram. Instead of neutral yarns, you love shades like ‘Blu-tiful Blue‘ and ‘Disco Gold‘.
The Quality Snob – You started out using cheap acrylic yarns when learning. But now your skills have progressed, and you want to invest in premium natural fibers.
However, if you‘re on a tight budget or love intricate fair isle and lace knitting at advanced levels, other brands may suit you better.
For everyone else – grab those hooks and needles and #GetKnitten with the gang!
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