Short version: Everything is ready to go for the bacon kits except for the reprint of the cool thing that the printer messed up and so had to send again and now UPS has mislaid the package. I’m currently working on it, but it may not be resolved in time to get these in the mail tomorrow. I’ve got options for you if this means you don’t want it anymore (see below where it says options)! And honestly I suspect most people won’t mind if things go in the mail a few days late, but I wanted to update everyone just for transparency.

Long version: I am engaged in an epic three way battle of politeness and logistics with the printer and UPS.

I’ve got all the bacon kits packed, labels ready, tape gun fully loaded. And have for quite some time now! But the cool wee gizmo I got made is holding things up.

First, the printers had a little misunderstanding about ‘leave that spot clear’ versus ‘fill that in with white ink,’ and that meant we had to get them reprinted. So we did that! And the package was supposed to arrive Friday, which would have meant these were all going in the mail today. But then UPS had some sort of mishap, and the package is currently in limbo.

Both the printer and I are currently doing all within our power to exert gentle pressure on the vast and complex machinations of the giant global shipping conglomerate. And I suspect the package will show up here today or tomorrow. The printer and I are also looking at what’s involved in printing this again (which would be the third time for anyone counting along at home) and overnighting it to me (but it is probably actually faster if we can get UPS to bring me the already existing ones).

Which means right now, we’re in a bit of a holding pattern. As soon as they get here, I can get everything taped up and out the door in a couple of hours. But I can’t make them get here on an exact schedule.

Proof the troublesome little delight does exist & I do like it. Or rather will, just as soon as that whole clear vs white thing is resolved!

And I’d said I’d mail these ‘the first week in October.’ Which I feel like comfortably gets me to at least tomorrow (October 7). But I get to feeling like I’m not doing what I said I’d do if it turns out it’s a couple days later than that. And if we have to reprint, it probably won’t be till Friday or Saturday that I get them and can mail them.

Options: Which brings us to options for anyone who bought a kit and is currently having a concern. We’ve got a couple of choices, one of these should work for most everyone!

• If you bought a kit, and now you’re like ‘yup, I knew going in it was a preorder, stuff happens, I deeeeeeeeply don’t care if you ship it the second week in October instead of the first week in October,’ you don’t need to do anything at all. This is what I assume most people will want. If I don’t hear from you otherwise, I’ll just ship your kit as soon as I can and assume we’re good!
• If you bought a kit and you’re on a tight timeline (like for a birthday present or something), and you need me to send you the rest of the kit now (before I get the wee toy out of logistics limbo), I can do that. To make that happen, send me an email to [email protected] and we will sort that out. Please not a comment anywhere, an actual email (so I can keep track of it and cross reference it with your order). I figure there might be a couple folks who need this, and I am happy to make it work because wow do I know how bad it feels to miss a deadline.
• If you bought a kit and you don’t want it now that it’s going to go out a couple days later than expected, I can send you a refund. To make that happen, also send me an email to [email protected] and we will sort that out. Again, please an email, it’s the best way for me to find your order. I sort of suspect not many folks will want to do this, but it does look like I’m going to be a few days later than I planned, and if that causes anyone a problem, I want to give them that option.
• If you didn’t buy a kit and now want one, I’ll be putting the extras up for sale just as soon as the preorders are out. I won’t have many (probably about a dozen with yarn, half a dozen without). I’ll let folks on patreon know about them first before I open it up more generally. But there will be a chance to grab one if you’re bummed you missed it the first time around!
• If you just want the pattern, that will be available in all the usual ways and places once the kits are in the mail.

Quick recap:

• I’m ready to go as soon as this package gets here!
• If you ordered a kit and don’t mind waiting an extra couple days, you don’t need to do anything!
• If you ordered a kit and waiting a couple extra days is a problem, email [email protected] and we’ll get you sorted out!

I’m bummed! I feel bad to miss the schedule. I had plenty of buffer time built in to handle one problem (reprint) but not two (aaaand then UPS doesn’t deliver the reprint on time). But also I know these things happen, y’all are nice, and there is no such thing as a knitting emergency. So it’s an irritation, not a crisis.

But I wanted to let everyone know, just to be safe! Fingers crossed that posting all this makes UPS show up today and they all still go out tomorrow as planned!