Herders to Home 2024: Luxury Mongolian Yarn and Fiber

Backerkit Surveys Coming Soon!
4 months ago – Wed, Jul 17, 2024 at 08:47:59 AM

Hey Everybody,

Backerkit Surveys will start going out after I post this update. First, a small number of people (5%) will receive surveys that are used as a smoke test to make sure I put everything together correctly. If there aren't any issues, the rest of the surveys will go out about 24 hours after this update is sent.

If you haven't received your survey by Thursday, July 18th at 11:00 EST, please check your spam/junk/promotional folders in your email. If it still can't be located, please send me an email at [email protected] and we will get it figured out!

Available Options and Colors

While Backerkit is easy to use, the amount of colors and options we have available can be a bit much! Here's a photo with all colors together as well as a spreadsheet that has the different weights.

Items marked with a asteriks (*) denote production from 2023.

Backerkit FAQ

• When adding on packages in Backerkit, you will be asked to select your colors/weights AFTER leaving the add-on page. When in doubt, just keep clicking next!
• You will be prompted to select your weights and colors for each individual skein. For example, if you select a 800g cashmere package, you will need to select the weight/color option 8 times. On a computer, there will be a menu on the right side that shows which skein you're on to keep track/go back and make changes if needed. On mobile, you can find this list by clicking the '# of #' text between "next" and "previous"
• I'm planning to lock Backerkit orders and charge cards for added on items around August 20th. I'll send out updates and emails with plenty of warning for that date

Platinum Gray and Mulberry Baby Yak Wool

Although these were listed as being at limited quanities for choices this season, I'm a bit lower on stock than I was anticipating as we're about to open up Backerkit. I'm attempting to find some more baby yak wool to do another batch of each this year, but I won't have a final answer on it until middle of next week or so. It's possible these will be hidden soon on Backerkit as my current stock sells, but I will send an update next week to announce if there will be a restock or not. I'm about 80% sure we'll be able to get more wool! You can always go back and change your yarn choices at a later date. If this creates a huge issue for you that can't be changed out for different colors, please send me an email at [email protected]

Spinning Fiber Bags

For those purchasing spinning fiber bags in Backerkit, please do so BEFORE August 1st. As the fiber for bags needs to be selected before spinning starts for the yarn and it's not possible to add orders after spinning starts, these counts need to be finalized first. I won't be able to guarantee inventory for fiber bag selections not made before August 1st.

Production Update

Everything still going as planned, but not a lot to share or report at the moment as things really slow down during the Naadam break. Our yak wool is starting to be dehaired tomorrow and I'll be visiting the factory for some pictures of that. Our cashmere is finished with dyeing and at the spinning factory, so I'm also planning to stop over there tomorrow and get some pictures and videos of the process while I'm in the industry area. 

That's about it for me! I'll be in touch again in the next week or so to share pictures and videos of dehairing and spinning. Please feel free to send me an email at [email protected] with any questions!

Thank you!

Jon

Thank you for another succesful campaign! What's next and our dyed cashmere
5 months ago – Tue, Jul 02, 2024 at 09:59:08 AM

Hey Everybody,

Just a quick update from me to thank you all again for joining me in another campaign! I'm sure some of you are very happy that you won't have to see my ads any longer, but big thank you to everybody that shared the project and help spread the word.

Backerkit

Just to get everybody that backed in the last couple of days up to speed, the next step is to wait for Backerkit to open. In 14 days, you'll receive an email inviting you to your own account on Backerkit that will be preloaded with your pledges from Kickstarter. There, you will select your yarn colors, weights, add shipping information, and also add on any extra items and packages that you would like. Until then, there's not much to do!

Cashmere Dyeing

As for our soft stuff, we're already getting moving. Our yak wool and camel wool should be in the city shortly to start the washing and brushing (guard hair removal) processes before spinning. I plan to get some photos and videos of that process. Mongolia celebrates their summer festival (Naadam) in mid-July, so there will be a bit of a pause around then.

We have already received our cashmere and the natural colors (cream and warm gray) are set to start spinning this week. Our Robin's Egg has already been dyed and our Azalea is in process right now. Here's a video and a couple pictures of the process!

This was actually the first time for me seeing everything in motion, so it was pretty cool. They do it in 50kg batches.

The lighting in the factory is challenging to say the least, so don't judge the fiber too much on the color. We're still right on compared to our swatches! And yes, it is indeed absolutely beautiful in person.

That's about it for me for now. You'll hear from me again when Backerkit surveys are about to go out in a couple of weeks. As always, please send me an email at [email protected] with any questions.

Thank you!

-Jon

Final 72 hours, and we've got our cashmere!
5 months ago – Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 09:19:49 AM

Hey Everybody,

Almost to the end of the campaign but just getting started with the season! Everything has been going great and we're definitely going to make all of our origional and stretch goals. It looks like we had everything planned out pretty close!

Colors and Weights

These colors are in additon to the robins egg cashmere, moss camel, evergreen yak, dark chocolate yak, and aegean sea wool blend. We're also going to spin more of some natural colors to make sure we have enough in stock, so we're doing another batch of the natural sand camel wool and cream cashmere as well. I'm hoping to get some more platinum gray yak wool as well, but that's not completely confirmed yet.

Everything will be available in fingering and DK weight. For the lace and bulky options, here is the final lineup:

Lace Options - Warm Gray Cashmere, Evergreen Yak, Moss Green Camel, Aegean Sea Sheep Blend

Bulky Options - Robin's Egg Cashmere, Evergreen Yak, Moss Green Camel, Aegean Sea Sheep Blend

Getting our Fiber!

And a bit ahead of schedule, we already have our cashmere! We're getting the base for the azalea and robin's egg sent out on Monday for dyeing, and our warm gray and cream cashmere will start spinning next week. Not the most glamourous of the fiber showing up, but here's what we've got!

Larger amounts of fiber are sometimes pressure packed for easier transfer, which is what you see in the last photo. That's about 75kg where the other bags are around 10kg. The writing translates to '1 - Color', as white cashmere has the code 01. Tan is 02, and warm gray is 04.

I missed the washing and dehairing of our cashmere, but yak and camel will start processing at the beginning of July, so I'll be sure to visit the factory for videos and pictures of that process. I'm also trying to arrange to be at the dyeing factory to show that process. Our sheep wool will be last to process in August.

What's Next? Extra add-ons and Backerkit

The campaign will end on July 1st. 14 days after the campaign ends, you will get an email invite to a pledge management program called Backerkit. In Backerkit, you will select your yarn weights and colors, as well as add on extra items if you'd like at the same prices offered through Kickstarter. This is also where you will provide shipping information for your purchases.

For those that haven't been through the process before it can sound a bit strange, but it's really very straight forward.

That's it for now! You'll hear from me shortly after the campaign ends and then again when Backerkit is about to go live. Feel free to send me a message or email at [email protected] if you have any questions in the meantime.

THANK YOU!

-Jon

Awesome first week!
6 months ago – Sun, Jun 09, 2024 at 12:28:10 AM

Hey Everybody,

Thank you again to everybody that joined the campaign and got us off to a great start. We've already unlocked most of our extra colors and I'm definitely expecting to reach the other goals. Here's the updated stretch colors!

Fiber Buffer

I will say after the crazy first 24 hours I decided to ask the coops if it was too late to reserve some extra fiber. I'm trying not to carry as much inventory this year, but I did sign up for some extra camel, cashmere, and yak wool to make more natural cream cashmere, natural sand camel, and (hopefully/maybe) platinum gray yak wool if we need it. I also picked up a bit more yak wool to increase batch sizes of the mahogany and evergreen if needed, as I have the least yak wool inventory from past seasons.

Adding extra rewards and Backerkit

For those that are interested in adding extra items to your order, you will be able to do this after the campaign ends in a pledge manager called "Backerkit". Two weeks after the camapign ends, you'll receive an invitation to your personal Backerkit account via email. This will have record of your Kickstarter pledge. You will first select the colors and weights for the yarn you purchased on Kickstarter as well as provide your shipping address. Then, you will have the option to purchase additional yarns/packages at the same prices offered through Kickstarter.

For those that haven't been through the process before it can sound a bit strange, but it's really very straight forward. But long story short, all colors/weights/options/extra items will be selected in Backerkit after the campaign ends!

That's about it for now! As always, please reach out if you have any questions either through Kickstarter or directly via email at [email protected].

THANK YOU!

-Jon

Price Reduction for Variety Pack Backers!
6 months ago – Wed, Jun 05, 2024 at 10:27:37 PM

Hey Everybody,

Although this update is pubic to all, only those that backed the Kickstarter variety packs are getting email nofications. In short, I made a mistake calculating and didn’t include the 10% discount for these items. It’ll be a refund of $9 for the 400g packs and $18 for the 2x packs.

There are two things we can do to get the pricing correct!

Option #1 - The easiest: Automatically get credit for add-on purchases on Backerkit

If you are planning to purchase more items in Backerkit after the campaign ends, it's easiest to just do nothing and wait! It's an easy process for me to issue credit to those that pledged specific rewards, so your extra credit will be waiting for you in your personal Backerkit account after the campaign ends for more yarn or other addons (like socks, hats, and spinning fiber). If you'd like to chat you're free to comment or send an email to let me know, but this will be the default automatic action and you don't need to let me know this is your choice!

Option #2: Change your pledge

If you do not plan to add more items in Backerkit, I’d suggest changing your pledge level to the properly priced package. In order to change your pledge, the process is slightly different depending on your device.

On a computer or mobile browser:

There will be a green button on the top right of the page when viewing the campaign to ‘Manage your pledge’. On the next page, click the blue ‘Change your pledge’ button at the bottom of the page. You’ll then be able to select the same reward (Kickstarter Variety Pack 400g or 2x Kickstarter Variety Pack 800g) with the updated pricing.

On the Kickstarter app:

Click the blue button at the bottom of the page labeled ‘Manage’. On the top right, there will be a 3 button menu. In the menu, select ‘Choose another reward’. You’ll then be able to select the updated reward package.

Sorry for the confusion here. If you have any questions or issues, please send an email to [email protected]. If you'd rather not deal with switching your pledge around, I promise the credit will automatically be waiting for you in Backerkit to use towards other purchases as it's an easy process for me to issue credit to those that pledged specific rewards.

Thank you!

-Jon