The Pickle Pant lady (Kristen) had server issues, which was why she didn't get my emails. I have her personal email now (which does not go through the server) so we shouldn't have problems contacting her.
To recap the group order details:
Soakers are $20 each plus $1 shipping to me. I'll then charge actual shipping to you. We need to order at least 5 to get the discount. Soakers are regularly $32 plus $2 shipping.
Soaker main page: http://www.thecucumberseed.net/picklepants.htm
Colors at no extra charge: http://www.www.thecucumberseed.net/woolcolors.htm
Hand-dyed colors $1 extra or $3 for rainbow: http://www.www.thecucumberseed.net/handdyedcolors.htm
Before we "lost" her temporarily, there were about 14 people interested. She's said she will send the soakers out in groups of 5 as they are ready, but the longest it should take for the group is 5 weeks.
Here are her responses (I think you can gather the question from the answer :)):
1- Yes, any yarn color is fine and we’re getting so close to shearing I may have more yarn colors available than is online right now. Once you check and see if everyone is interested I’ll check and see how long for other colors as well- but all custom yarn orders are welcomed in the Five For’s
2- If you have 14, I’ll just charge you minus $20, does that sound fair? Meaning $280 (plus shipping)- and I’ll take a $1 off of that last lot for shipping so each shipping charge will come to $5 per Five For except for the last which will be $4 ($1 per pair) Also, I can send out each 5 as they are finished rather than waiting for the entire 14.
3- I don’t’ consider the yarn scratchy but some lots seem less “smooth” than others. Everyone who has used our wool wash (which is Doodlebottoms) says it softens up beautifully. Since this is natural wool it hasn’t been processed as much as the commercial wool you get in the stores. It goes from the sheep to be washed and spun and then to me. So, there have been no lanolin treatments and no conditioning treatments. Some people say that they have soaked it in a conditioner to get it buttery soft. However, others like the thicker, heavier duty of it and use it only for outside so I think it’s also a bit personal taste. I could always send you a sample if you are interested.
4- Yes, I had some personal life issues that are cleared up and I am back on track. It affected some orders in the fall- mostly my tester orders and I sent out apologies and did send everyone’s items to them with a voucher for a free pair of PP’s. I then took a few months off to get my life in order and everything is 120% better right now! I am in the middle of a large order and it looks like I will be 1-2 weeks early in getting it out. I have 2 girls who crochet for me plus myself and if you can get me your color list as soon as possible the longest part is getting the colors in and the hand dyed yarns dyed. So, in answer to your question a 5 week turn around for 14 pairs is a definite time frame that I can meet right now.
*****
If people are still interested in a group order, post here or PM me. If you have any questions I can pass along to Kristen, also post here.
Thanks!
Anna
Mama to Gracie (Sept '03)
and a BOY! (coming July '05)