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Fall 2008
Swans Island at Pop!Tech 2008
Every October an extraordinary conference called Pop!Tech sneaks under the radar screen and is convened in Camden, just down the road from our Northport studio. In fact Pop!Tech is losing its ability to hide out in Maine due to the tremendous national profile it has earned. The 2008 conference theme is “Scarcity and Abundance” and Swans Island was approached by the organizers seeking appropriate gifts for participants: something local, sustainable, unique, and memorable. As a result we are happily weaving scarves for all conference attendees and some special throws for speakers and professors. On October 22-25 Camden will be filled with Pop!Tech’ers enjoying the conference and Maine foliage, protected from the fall chill in their Swans Island scarves.
The Rhythm of the Loom
Everything Swans Island sells is made at our studio and our customers tell us how important that is for them. We are very lucky to have a staff of dyers and weavers and finishers who love and respect their art. One of them is Marguerite Buyer who recently wrote a poetic letter to her colleagues; “For the Women I Know Who weave”. Excerpts: “Observation: when you weave
timing is everything. It’s called rhythm, the dancing of feet, hands, and head to the beat... Questions for my sister weavers: when you weave do you listen to the rhythm of another's loom, composing rap songs to the syncopation, or do you hear in your own loom an intimate, conversational whisper? Do you scan your stripe count by stripe color or by the bands of white between them? I have found on a REALLY good day the blanket weaves itself, like the
stories of our youth; fleece spun into gold, or arriving the next day to find the magic blanket has been completed while I slept!”
Our New White on White Blanket
We have begun weaving a new white on white blanket combining five alternating bands of natural white merino and corriedale wool. It displays a subtle variation in tone and texture that makes this one of our most understated creations. The contrast is produced because merino is a pure white, spun as a worsted yarn with all hairs combed in the same direction while corriedale
is a more beige white spun on the woolen system, yielding uncombed hairs that go in every direction. Both yarns are organic and spun in Maine and like everything we make, the blankets are hand woven and hand finished at our studio.
Visit Us
If you have any plans to visit Maine this year, please include us in your itinerary. On the way up you could stop in Freeport to visit the Thomas Moser store where our blankets are on display, or even stay at the Harraseeket Inn's new Moser-furnished suite, where you can sleep under a beautiful Swans Island blanket.
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