Review and Giveaway: “Harry Potter” Knitting Kits from Hero Collector
Do you have a knack for knitting? Or are you looking to pick up a new hobby to keep you occupied during the socially distanced winter months ahead? Great news! Hero Collector, a retailer and producer of many fandom-based toys, has just come out with a line of Harry Potter-themed knitting kits that will be fun for an advanced knitting practitioner or a fun challenge for anyone brand-new to yarn crafts.
Eaglemoss Knitting Kit – House scarves
Each kit comes with the same core elements: various colors of yarn, aluminum knitting needles, a darning needle, and of course, a knitting pattern. There are even some clever touches in the packaging, like the Daily Prophet-themed tissue paper that is used to wrap all of the supplies. Since I am both a giant Harry Potter fan and a huge knitting nerd, I absolutely appreciate this little touch.
The patterns are clear and easy to follow, and the following languages are included in each box:
- European English (Metric measurements)
- American English (Imperial measurements)
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Russian
Most intermediate and advanced knitters will have no problem following the instructions, but some beginners may still have to look up a technique or two for absolute clarity. Also, the booklet and the yarn skeins are quite small, which makes them ideal for tucking into a bag for on-the-go knitting.
All of these kits would be wonderful for any level of knitter, but Hero Collector divides the kits into one of two difficulties: easy or intermediate. Although the easy sets definitely have less complexity, there’s nothing in the intermediate patterns that can’t be tackled by an ambitious new crafter.
Easy Kits
House scarf:
If you’ve never done a knitting project before, this is the place to start. It’s a very simple and clear pattern, with only two basic techniques required in order to create a scarfy masterpiece. The kit even includes a very cute sew-on patch to help make your scarf look just like the ones you can buy in the shop.
House slouch socks and mittens:
Eaglemoss Knitting Kit – Gryffindor Slouch Socks & Mittens
The coolest thing about this pattern is that you’ll have a veritable house wardrobe by the time you’re done. The socks and the fingerless gloves are worked flat, which greatly lowers the complexity but does mean that you’ll have to sew a few more seams.
Intermediate Kits
Teapot and egg cozy:
Of all the kits I got to review, this is the one I was the most excited about. The pattern here is designated as more complicated because it introduces the concept of stranded knitting, which isn’t a technique used in the easy kits. One of the coolest things about this particular pattern is that it includes letter templates for each letter of the English alphabet, so you can craft your own customized “Weasley” sweater. I also loved the finished size of the tea cozy, since it fit around my 6-cup teapot nicely. For those of us on the American side of the pond who maybe wouldn’t use the Weasley sweaters to keep eggs warm, they can also translate very easily into holiday ornaments or warm mug coasters.
House backpack:
Eaglemoss Knitting Kit – Gryffindor Backpack
This kit also includes stranded knitting, which puts it firmly in the intermediate category. In this kit, the pattern booklet includes the insignias for all four houses so you can absolutely craft whichever house you fancy, in case you should want a Ravenclaw bag in Gryffindor colors. A bonus with this kit is the plastic breakaway clasps, which will help the twisted cord straps move freely.
Hogwarts Express draft stopper:
Eaglemoss Knitting Kit – Hogwarts Express draft stopper
If you’re an advanced knitter and you’re looking for a project that will take you some time to finish, then this is the kit for you. First of all, this is the only kit to include more than two colors. The body of the train is knitted in the signature Hogwarts Express red, but there are also yellow accents, black roofs, and gray windows and wheels. In the pattern book, you’ll find that there is an individual pattern for each car of the train, plus some additional instructions for connecting everything together at the end. Despite its large size, novice knitters shouldn’t be daunted, because each piece is worked flat and then sewn up at the end – very similar to techniques used in all of the other kits. The last thing to note here is that there is also a stuffer/filler material included with the rest of the supplies to ensure that your train retains its shape long after you’ve put the final touches on it.
Overall, these are absolutely excellent kits that hobbyists of all ages and abilities will thoroughly enjoy. They are available for pre-order in Europe and the US.
We are giving away a Knitting Kit Prize pack from Hero Collector! Our contest to win is open to the US and Europe only starting today, October 31, and running through November 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Enter through the Rafflecopter below. Winners will be contacted via email after November 7, so make sure to check your junk or spam folders just in case our e-owl goes astray. All winners must respond within 24 hours, or another winner may be chosen.
A set of Harry Potter knitting kits was provided by Eaglemoss. All opinions belong to the reviewer.