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Update: Whatever Happened to ThreadCrate?
Cassandra Smith closed down ThreadCrate after having some health issues that prevented her from fulfilling orders. The refund process has been taking her over one year. If you loved ThreadCrate, IndieStitch is a great alternative. It is another popular sewing subscription box where you get to sew a new garment for your wardrobe every month.
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ThreadCrate is a sewing subscription box that launched in October 2020. Subscribers receive a box in the mail each month that includes fabric, a sewing pattern, and all sorts of sewing tools and goodies. It’s a lot of fun!
I’ve been a ThreadCrate subscriber from the very beginning. I’ve watched this little company grow from the idea stage into a thriving business. I’m sure ThreadCrate will continue to impress as it adds new products and offerings. I highly recommend this monthly sewing box to anyone that likes to sew.
If you want to learn more about ThreadCrate, and what you get each month, check out some of my unboxing posts:
- November 2020 ThreadCrate Unboxing
- December 2020 ThreadCrate Unboxing
- January 2021 ThreadCrate Unboxing
Interview with ThreadCrate Owner, Cassandra Smith
The mastermind behind ThreadCrate is Cassandra Smith. She personally curates all items in this sewing subscription box and handles all shipping and operations. I reached out to Cassandra and asked if she’d be willing to do an interview for my readers here at SewingSociety.com. Even though she’s super busy, Cassandra agreed.
Starting a business during a pandemic presents a unique set of challenges — shipping delays, item shortages, etc. Despite world conditions, Cassandra has turned up the hustle and made ThreadCrate a success. I wanted to know how Cassandra came up with the idea for ThreadCrate and what issues she’s had to overcome to turn her passion for sewing into a thriving business.
I hope you enjoy the interview…
How did you come up with the idea for ThreadCrate?
Cassandra: ThreadCrate really started when COVID happened. One day, I was attempting to sew up something and realized that I needed an invisible zipper and the colors that I had on hand didn’t match. Well… the local fabric stores were closed, and I was having the hardest time trying to color match the zipper online to the fabric that I had in my hand. That’s when I told my mom that I was going to start a sewing subscription box that has everything in it to sew up a garment! There wasn’t going to be a need for anyone to be lost on which kind of fabric to purchase or what color thread matches. ThreadCrate was born!
I think it’s really great that Cassandra takes the time to include everything you need to sew a women’s garment. Sometimes it’s hard to know what fabric to buy for a sewing project and what needle you need to use. Trying to do this online is even more difficult. ThreadCrate includes EVERYTHING you need, including the needle. That’s one reason why I think ThreadCrate is good for beginners — it takes the guesswork out of choosing fabric, getting the right notions, and finding the perfect pattern. You do need to know the basics of sewing, but all the patterns I’ve seen in ThreadCrate so far are easy to follow.
What problems have you encountered starting this business?
Cassandra: When I first started ThreadCrate, I didn’t encounter any big issues. Getting customers is always hard work, but the “issues” didn’t come until it started getting closer to the holidays. Shipping and getting inventory was a bear around that time since everyone was shorthanded. I spent a lot of hours researching and doing some trial and error before I launched ThreadCrate, so I felt pretty prepared… until it was time to ship crates in December! Ha!
Do you have a team of people that work with you or for you?
Cassandra: Currently, I am a one-woman show when it comes to daily ThreadCrate duties. When it’s time to ship, I have a few family and friends that assist. The biggest task is cutting fabric, and my mom is usually on fabric duty with me!
With how big and how fast ThreadCrate is growing, I anticipate Cassandra will have to hire a team to help with fulfillment at some point. I’m sure after customers receive their first crate, they’ll continue their ThreadCrate subscription because it is so awesome.
How do you go about curating items for ThreadCrate?
Cassandra: I am in SO many fabric, sewing, and pattern groups. I am constantly scouring them for ideas for the next month’s box. I also get some ideas from places like Pinterest. Another big thing I do is a customer survey to get suggestions on things that they would like to see in the box.
I love that Cassandra is so focused on her customers. She runs a private Facebook group for all ThreadCrate subscribers and often asks what we want to see in the box. There is even an official thread in the group where members can make suggestions for patterns.
I have a great example of Cassandra’s commitment to her customers’ happiness. I usually print the PDF sewing patterns at home and tape them together. I was jokingly complaining about how I wished that ThreadCrate could get us a discount for printing from one of the websites that prints sewing patterns on big paper. Within two days, she came back and announced that she’d secured all subscribers a 15% discount on printing from TWO companies. How awesome is that?
What are your future plans for ThreadCrate?
Cassandra: Good question! ThreadCrate has grown faster and larger than I could have ever imagined! My plans for ThreadCrate would be to maybe one day be on a shelf in Joann’s, or even be a company with thousands of subscribers!
Time will tell where ThreadCrate will go. I hope to see more variety in the types of sewing subscription boxes Cassandra offers. Right now, she concentrates on a monthly sewing box for women. There is always a size-inclusive sewing pattern to sew a women’s garment. She has also offered a holiday crate.
I’ve really enjoyed my ThreadCrate sewing subscription box. It’s been fun sewing something new for myself every month. Plus, I’m amazed at the value that ThreadCrate offers. I have discovered so many cool, new sewing tools since I started my subscription. If you’re interested in trying ThreadCrate out, you can get a 10% discount with the code: Society10. Your best value comes when you sign up for a three-month or six-month subscription.
Do you subscribe to ThreadCrate? How have you liked it? Share your experience in the comments below.
At first I enjoyed getting Thread Crate, but after 7 months all of a sudden boxes came 1 month late and now I’m still waiting on my December box and a January refund , both were promised. No one ever responds, FB page is closed. I’m very disappointed
This company gets paid upfront and then never sends anything. I emailed asking for my money back after paying upfront and never receiving a single thing she said she would process a refund and then never did. The same day that I contacted her she removed her contact from Facebook! She’s now apparently in business with someone else??? She should not be in business at all. She says she was just behind in mailing, but I saw an email where she was selling off stock…? The stock she was supposed to mail to people?? I would steer clear of this company at all costs!!!
Cassandra Smith is a liar. She took people’s money promising a monthly subscription service. Cancelled the business promising refunds. No refunds. She’s erasing her online presence. Sounds like taking the money and running.
Never recieved any boxes or a refund!