Cynthia Kuhn

Just a Friendly Note (kit edition)

Dear Kit Maker:

Just found this picture in my photos and had a minute of confusion.

Then it all came flooding back…

Ah yes, the Great Cape Kit Conundrum.

Initially, when I saw this at the store, I thought: hey, a cape kit seems like a cool idea!

It could come in handy for costumes!

(The kids seemed to have endless opportunities for dressing up at that time).

Bonus: it said right on the package that it was “sew easy”!

Not only was that at my sewing level–the most beginner of beginners–but also the little sewing pun made my English teacher heart happy.

I was pretty much sold on it.

Until I noticed the Just add fabric! part.

Wait, what?

Isn’t a cape pretty much…um…fabric?

According to the “see side panels for kit contents” instruction on the bag, this is a self-identified “kit.”

But the term “kit” typically implies that all required elements are included.

Thus, shouldn’t this “kit” include cape ingredient number one–fabric?

 If it’s just a pattern, it should say so; in that case, everyone knows that supplying one’s own fabric is a given.

But calling yourself a “kit” raises a whole different set of expectations.

What’s next?  Water kit: just add water?

Back on the shelf you go…you will not trick me, tricky kit.

Dear readers, what purchase have you made or almost made that stands out for some reason? 

43 thoughts on “Just a Friendly Note (kit edition)”

    1. Jen:

      Those salad kits are a rip-off! The few times that I buy a salad kit, I do make sure the mixed greens/lettuce and dressing are included!

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    5. That’s hilarious, Jen! I’ve never seen a salad kit like that. My problem is cake mixes. I rarely use them and when I do, I’m so confused because they only make you add, like, an egg and a splash of milk. That just seems wrong to me. Seems like there should be much more work to them. I mean, you’re trying to make an entire cake, for heaven’s sake. But the CAPE “kit” that needs fabric … well, that’s just wrong, Cynthia!

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  5. Or the cocktail kits, where you just add….the alcohol. Nope. Huh-uh. I’m not falling for that.

    And BTW, that cape doesn’t look “sew easy” to me at all–you need to cut, and sew, and then add those stripey things, which all look “sew hard” to this non-sewing gal.

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  6. I actually had the reverse experience recently where I was relieved something wasn’t included! I bought a cool wheeled carry-on that’s supposed to go under the seat (fingers crossed, I haven’t used it that way yet.) I felt something inside and realized it had charging cords, which sent me into a bit of a panic. Whenever you check in for a flight, they ask if you have lithium batteries in your luggage and tell you to remove them (for checked bags mostly, but sometimes carry-on). Well, I had NO idea where the battery might be on my new case. Then I read in the fine print on the bag’s label “Battery not included.” Phew! Because I still have no idea where it would go.

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  7. Oh, my gosh, Cynthia, this made me laugh out loud — I’m chuckling again now as I type this. “Sew” the perfect scam.

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  8. I would expect at least enough fabric for one or two capes in a kit like that. As you said, however, if this were a pattern….

    As to your comment on water, I’m still waiting for them to start selling dehydrated water. Just add water….

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  9. That is definitely not a kit! I just bought a Woobles beginner’s crochet kit, which appears to include EVERYTHING! All the tools, yarn, instructions and videos (these you have to go to a website for). Not sure how good I’ll do, but it’s a true kit.

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  10. Cynthia,

    kits? What a rip off that was. Just add (insert item here) are not a kit!

    my fav is some of the spice kits I order (check out Savory Spice where you live, the HQ is near you). They call them starters, just add meat (for savory) or apples or juice (for sweet). That’s a much better word. They “start” you rolling on the recipe.

    but I bought this spice kit from uncommon goods that I am glad I read the instructions before it was bought. 15 spices to make those bread dipping oils. They only gave 5 recipes of different nationalities! What if I wanted more varieties. Or some other flavor nationality? I had to look up other combos, but at least I got labeled mini tins, so I know what spices to replace them with when they run out.

    a water kit? We’d make a killing on it if we could figure it out! Flavored water kit! You get various flavorings, just add water

    Hestia

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  11. Well, I learned the hard way at Christmastime that kids’ toys sold online are rarely the sizes in the photos. They blow up the truck or doll image into a huge size relative to the kid in the photo playing with it. For a birthday coming up this weekend, I wanted to buy a mountain tunnel pass for a well-known kids’ wooden train set. The non-wood accessories from cheaper brands looked very cool. But I did check out the negative reviews (no the positive ones, b/c most appear to be fake). Turns out the “tunnels” were so small (hence the cheaper price) that the tiny wooden trains couldn’t FIT through them. And they were nonreturnable. Um…no. Delete from cart.

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  12. I remember those days with my son! I used to buy the Halloween costumes printed on fabric so you just cut & sew, no kits needed. One year he was a vampire, the other a devil – both with capes. Having a sewing kit that says “just add fabric” is totally false advertising.

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  13. Haha! Love this, Cynthia!

    I recently saw an ad that featured this incredible deal: “Buy one for $10–or get two for $20!!” I’m no math professor, but that doesn’t sound like much of a savings to me….

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    2. “I’m no math professor but” = tee hee. Me neither, but I just ran the numbers and concur.

      Here’s my Girl Scouts selling story: walked by their table outside a store recently, and someone’s little brother was there wearing a shirt that said “Official Cookie Inspector.” (So cute.)

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