Product Review: My Newest Hobby

One of the best ways to support your mental health is to take part in an activity or a hobby. It can be very active such as running, taking a walk, and doing yoga, or it can be more creative like drawing, journaling, or this newest hobby I recently started. I took interest in this hobby when I was working at my last job. One of the clients decided to come and teach some crocheting basics. I was intrigued at first because it seemed like a fun activity to have regularly, but we were all struggling with the techniques when the client taught it. Therefore, I wanted to find some way to master my crochet skills, and that is when I came across my Instagram feed (@pressure.shock). I saw this crochet kit that looked fun, and guaranteed to have any master crocheting skills while making cute pieces. That is when I gave in and decided to buy one of their kits on Amazon, and that is when I became obsessed with crocheting. From that point on, I felt like it became my newest hobby all thanks to the client from my last job, but more importantly these crochet kits called “The Woobles.”

You may all be wondering what are these “Woobles” crochet kits. Well, this post where I talk about my new crochet hobby now just turned into a product review where I will explain and give my thoughts on them. To give a little disclaimer, this post is not sponsored by “The Woobles” company so it isn’t monetized (none of my posts are). The opinions that I give on these products are based solely on my experience, and not others. Hopefully by the end of this post, I have encouraged you to try your hand at crocheting, and maybe pick up one of these “Woobles” products?

What are “The Woobles?”

“The Woobles” are these crochet kits that teach you many crocheting skills while making these creatures or characters called “amigurumi” which is Japanese fiber art. They are available for all levels of crocheting, whether you are a beginner or more advanced. These kits are meant to reduce anxiety and stress while helping you gain confidence in learning a new skill. The company started when a couple pitched this product on Shark Tank (not really familiar with this show btw), and it turned out to be a complete success. There are many different creatures/characters kits to choose from, including kits from different franchises like Harry Potter, Barbie, DC superheroes, Lord of the Rings, Minecraft, and many more. The example kit I am going to show you is one I completed recently which is Snoopy from the Peanuts franchise.

Woobles Crochet Kit Exterior

How Does It Work?

All of “The Woobles” crochet kits come with all the materials so there is no stressing about going out to buy separate supplies. The materials include yarn, stuffing, crochet hook, eye pieces, and a card that has a link and QR code to instructions on making the crochet piece. The yarn is a specific type called easy-peasy yarn that makes crocheting easy to do without any fraying. The piece is even pre-started with a magic loop so beginners don’t get frustrated when starting out. For every kit, the crochet hook has a personalized design based on the specific theme/franchise. As for the instructions, they are very easy to follow along and it teaches you all the basic stitches every time you start a piece. They even have a Youtube channel that has videos of the basic crochet stiches, so if you want to crochet a non-Wooble project in the future, you can use those videos to practice. If you are having trouble while making your piece, you can contact support either by emailing, texting, or signing up for an office hour through video call. While I was crocheting one of the parts for my Snoopy piece, I accidentally cut off the excess yarn needed to attach to the body. I emailed support for the issue, and they were able to respond quickly. Eventually I was able to fix the issue and was able to continue making the rest of the piece. I read somewhere that these kits can be completed in 8 hours, but you really have to commit a lot of time if you want to finish the piece in one day, and that is if you have mastered the crochet skills. For me, I have done a few of these “Woobles” and they have taken me more than a day to complete. I am not complaining about it, it is just that I don’t have a lot of time to finish a piece in one day when I have other things to do. It only matters that I finish the piece so I can get my money’s worth. You can also buy crochet kits where you can make little accessories for your piece, but the piece isn’t pre-started and those are intended for those at the intermediate level.

Woobles kit includes yarn, hook, stuffing, and instructions

Pre-started piece of "Woobles" kit with stitch markers

Where Can I Buy These?

These “Woobles” kits are available on their main website. Some are available to purchase on Amazon, and you can also get them in retail stores like Walmart, and Target. I have only purchased the kits on their main website, and Amazon since I never seen them in Walmart and Target when I get the chance to go there which is rarely. There is also the option to buy full bundles of their easy-peasy yarn on Amazon (not sure if it is available in other places) if you want a specific color for a different project rather than buying an entire kit. I will go over the cost of these kits later on in my review.

How Does it Compare to Other Crochet Kits?

  I have actually tried out another crochet kit that was similar to “The Woobles.” In fact, it looked like a knock-off brand which did come with all the materials and instructions and even the pre-started piece. However, the online videos did not have a user-friendly interface compared to the videos from “The Woobles.” Also, sometimes the sound would cut-out especially during the most important parts of the steps. Fortunately, I was able to finish the piece despite those issues. If I hadn’t learned crocheting from “The Woobles” first, then I would’ve had a more difficult time following along on that platform. Therefore, I would prefer “The Woobles” if you are a crochet beginner since all the steps are broken down and there is their Youtube channel for the basic stitches.

The Pros

Going off on the previous part, one of the main things “The Woobles” does best is that the instructions for every kit has a user-friendly interface with the videos being easy to follow along. It is broken down into several steps so you can get the basic stitches down. If you need further help, there is a separate FAQ section under each step. Or you can also contact the support center, and it has a quick response so far. The yarn made specifically for these kits is easy to maneuver as it doesn’t fray, and you can easily see the stitches. With the many options to choose from, they make learning crochet fun as you also make a cute character/creature in the process. Once you do finish a crochet kit, you are already thinking about getting another one. I did notice that when finishing a kit, there is some excess yarn and stuffing left over but you can use that yarn to make another version of the kit or for a different project!

The Cons

Back to where I purchase “The Woobles” kits, the main issue of them is the overall cost. On the main website, they don’t really have a lot of deals except that they offer free shipping IF your order is $50. Considering, I come from a place where everything has to be imported and exported to and from, I highly benefit from free shipping. However, I am not buying over $50 for my “Woobles” order just so I can get the free shipping. I just wished they had more deals on their main website.  I also don’t recommend buying the bundles set which are very expensive considering they are comprised of several crochet kits. On Amazon, the prices are the same, but there are better deals especially those that have Amazon Prime. Unfortunately, Amazon does not sell everything the main website sells, so I wish they would expand on that storefront. I can’t say what is sold in the retail stores since I never saw any kits myself. I know I mentioned in the pros that you can make a cute amigurumi crochet when learning, but not all of them are cute. I would say that their human crochet kits like Barbie, or Powerpuff Girls don’t look aesthetically pleasing. Maybe it is because of how the stitches are situated in the overall piece. Another minor con is that they have no Marvel or Disney crochet kits like they said in their Shark Tank pitch. That could be due to a licensing copyright issue, but the company is still expanding with their franchise collaborations so you never know.

Final result of Snoopy "Woobles" kit

Overall Thoughts

After going through a few of these “Woobles” crochet kits, would I recommend “The Woobles” to someone who wants to learn how to crochet? Yes of course! I’d say it is a great brand to start learning how to crochet because they go into detail about the basic stitches and holding the yarn. Plus, after you finish the kit, and you want to keep practicing the basics there are Youtube videos for that on their channel. Once you master the beginner kits, you can move on to the advanced kits or the accessories. These crochet kits are for everyone of all ages and skills, and it definitely reduces stress and anxiety. I know “The Woobles” is planning on expanding with future collabs with different franchises, but I just hope they will be ones I will be highly interested in like Disney or Marvel. I am going to try one of the intermediate kits since I have started getting the basic techniques down. Even beyond “The Woobles,” I plan to continue my crocheting hobby by making other things like a crochet version of Captain America’s shield or ornaments for the holiday season. My overall rating for “The Woobles” crochet kits would be a 4/5. Again this rating is based on my opinion, and this post is not sponsored so please don't come after me even if you work for "The Woobles" company.

Tips for Learning How to Crochet

For those that want to learn how to crochet through any means besides “The Woobles,” I am going to share a few tips so that you can have an easier time starting crochet, and not get frustrated.

1.    Make sure to follow the instructional videos closely as you are making your crochet piece or doing a project

2.    Keep track of how many stiches you have make in each round by having some scrap paper and a pencil.

3.    Be patient and take your time when crocheting. You don’t want you stitches to be botched up when starting out

4.    Keep practicing the basic stitches. That is the only way you will improve if you just keep doing it

Hopefully this product review will encourage you to try out crocheting by buying one of these “Woobles” kits or even picking up some yarn and a hook. It is one of the many activities that can support your mental health.