I got the bundle as a present. (I’m a huge LOTR fan…have the Lego Barad Dur if that tells you anything) Gollum was my first crochet anything I’ve done and the first Wooble I completed. Everything needed came in the kit and there were step by step tutorials all the way.
I made my Gollum more frowny because I didn’t think it looked right the “right” way for the kit. My fish doesn’t look like a fish, but I made it so it’s great! It felt so cool to have completed a project, start to finish, when I hadn’t crocheted before. I struggled with tension and had to undo rows several times when I didn’t come up with the right number of stitches, but that’s part of learning. Take notes on what you’re doing and when possible quit at the end of a round. I typed notes on my pad to keep track. If you’re having trouble, put it down and come back. A fresh start helps. And don’t do it when you’re tired. More stuff goes wrong.
For those complaining about price, please remember each kit comes with the yarn, hook (customized for the kit), a needle, safety eyes and holders, stitch markers, hosted step by step videos for each kit, and a downloadable pattern. There are also considerations for licensing and customized packaging for the yarn, the kit, and the woobly bits. Some would argue that once you buy the accessories you don’t need another one, which is true. The kits are designed to come with everything needed. Just buying the yarn, safety eyes, hook, stitch markers and needle would probably cost close to the cost of the kit. Then there’s the cost of making and hosting all the videos and patterns. Somewhere in there, they also need to make a profit. Are they for every budget? No. Overpriced? I don’t think so.
That said, I had a blast making this and doing the red Pierre kit I won from McDonald’s Monopoly. I’m looking forward to completing the rest of the bundle…Frodo, Gandalf and the Balrog.