One of the things we love about midcoast Maine is the unique community of talented artisans, storytellers, farmers and chefs — people who share in the same love of process, craft and history that underlines our own work and mission at Swans Island. In our community, we share stories and ideas with each other. We collaborate. And when the seasons change, we get excited about new harvests and sit down to meals together. Sometimes we even share recipes. Our friends at Salt Water Farm, owner/chef Annemarie Ahearn and sous chef/garden manager Ladleah Dunn, shared two of their favorite springtime eats.
Images of Salt Water Farm by Kristin Teig, courtesy of Salt Water Farm.
Spring Herb Omelet
At Salt Water Farm, I know that spring has arrived when the chives, lovage and sorel show their first green growth through the dried pine boughs that keep them insulated through the winter. Our slow, but steady egg production affords us three eggs a day, just enough for an omelet laden with spring herbs. A little French technique goes a long way in omelet production. First, make sure to use a small, non-stick frying pan. Ideally, one would use clarified butter to make the perfect omelet, as it has a higher smoking point and will not brown the bright yellow flesh. If there is none in the house, a fresh, unsalted butter will do. Then, whip three eggs with vigor. Whip them some more. And then some more. This is what gives your omelet lift, like a soufflé of sorts. Next, get your pan quite hot and add the butter. With a non-metal spatula in hand, add your eggs and quickly move the spatula across the floor of the skillet a few times until the eggs begin to set. Toss in your roughly chopped spring herbs. Let cook for about 30 seconds more, flip and roll onto a plate. Garnish with another small handful of roughly chopped herbs. The omelet should be thick and fluffy and taste of what's to come.
—Annemarie
French Breakfast Radishes
Spring time for me equals French breakfast radishes. They are one of the first fresh tastes to come out of my garden. Don't get me wrong: I adore the carrots and sweet parsnips that I've been able to dig up since the ground has softened, but that crisp tang of the first radish that doesn't even make it up to the house, dirt rubbed off on my jeans and crunch between my teeth, is sublime. Once the initial ecstasy wears off I will give them a proper wash, shave them thin on a mandolin I bought for twelve bucks at the Sun Market in Portland. Then I'll chop up some parsley, crumble a little feta, zest and squeeze a lemon into a bowl. A couple solid splashes of olive oil, pinch of sea salt, fresh ground pepper — toss it all together and eat with a nice warm buttered toast. Heaven to munch that on the front porch in the sun.
—Ladleah
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Breean Elyse Miller is the talented designer behind three of the knitting patterns in our 2011 Swans Island pattern collection: the Open Book Hat, the Snow Bowl Hat and the ever-popular Anna Cowl, which was featured as a Knit-A-Long for Jimmy Beans Wool a few months ago.
Breean Elyse Miller
We love the textural quality of Breean's work, as well as her inventiveness — which comes through quietly but cleverly. And her designs and color schemes are gorgeous. Breean, who lives and works in Chicago, recently published an E-book of knitting patterns called "Hot Child In The City." She chatted with us about what inspires and informs her designs. Scroll down for the Q&A.
The Swans Island Anna Cowl
The Swans Island Snow Bowl Hat
What's your design philosophy?
I try to design items that I would enjoy knitting and wearing myself — simple and straightforward, but still interesting enough to keep the project from getting dull. Also, I typically like to include notes in my patterns so that people can easily customize them according to their preference — stripes or no stripes, different gauges, and endless possibilities for embellishment and embroidery, like with the Open Book Hat. It is important to me that my patterns are sophisticated enough for advanced knitters but still accessible for beginners.
How long have you been knitting? Designing?
I think I began to self-teach myself knitting around 8 years ago, though I didn't learn to purl until much later. Surprisingly, I'm still not sick of garter stitch. As far as designing goes, I guess it depends on your definition. Did I use patterns in my early knitting years? No. But I wouldn't call those early projects "designs." I suppose my design process is much more haphazard than most, because I'm very visual. In many cases, I need to see the piece physically take shape before I know whether or not I like it or if it needs more work. I guess you could say I started actually designing around 2008.
What inspires you or triggers ideas toward your designs?
I am inspired by a lot of things — color, weather, fashion — but mostly by yarn! I conceptualize designs in my head often, but for me designing really begins when I select a yarn, swatch with it, and understand how it feels and drapes after blocking.
What inspired the designs for the three Swans Island patterns?
I was very inspired by the theme developed by Michele Rose Orne (Swans Island's Director of Hand Knit & Yarn Division). She described it to me as “classic, modern and wearable.” I also researched Maine and Swans Island and found some very inspiring imagery. And, of course, the yarn I was sent for the designs was amazing and inspiring!
Are you from Chicago? How long have you lived there?
I am originally from Ohio by way of West Virginia, but I have lived in Chicago for a little over five years now. I absolutely love Chicago — even the nasty cold weather — because it gives me more knitting time.
Who are some of the designers you are excited by/about?
I have several favorites on Ravelry, of course. I love the quirky and interesting accessories designed by Alexandra Tinsley, unique construction for hats and shawls alike by Carina Spencer, texture by Michele Wang, and I love pretty much everything that Gudrun Johnston designs.
What are on the needles now?
I have a major garter stitch fascination right now. I think it's mainly because I'm not getting much knitting time due to the unseasonably beautiful weather! Also, I'm doing a lot of swatching for new fall designs.
A big thank you to Breean for taking the time to chat with us. To learn more about Breean, and to check out her other designs, visit breeanelyse.com. To view or purchase the patterns in "Hot Child In The City," click here.
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Earlier this month, we had the privilege of being featured on the up-and-coming, design-centric lifestyle blog The General Aesthete. David Tripp, who curates and writes the blog, covers a gamut of genres, from food and film to fashion and design, and he hones in specifically on work that is beautiful, intelligent and innovative. His gift guides are particularly fun (not to mention great sources of inspiration and ideas), and his roster of interviews, which for now includes Matt Costa (Costalots) and stylist Linda Rodin, are interesting and insightful.
To view The General Aesthete's post about Swans Island, click here. For more information on David Tripp's blog, visit generalaesthete.com.
Some of the work profiled onThe General Aesthete: Vipp salt and papper mills, tea from Bellocq Atelier, Chris Marker's 1962 film "La Jetee," and Alberto Seveso’s ink and water photography.
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One of the perks of being on the Swans Island team is that every year, you get to create and keep a blanket of your very own. Check out the blanket that our talented seamstress and monogram designer Becky designed for herself. It's a beautiful oatmeal base accented with alternating stripes of raspberry, brown, and early thyme — inspiration enough to customize your own Swans Island blanket.
To view and purchase from our complete wovens collection, click here.
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Posted in Staff Blanket Spotlight | Tagged staff blanket spotlight swans island blanket | 12 Comments
This month's featured knit is from Lily Fox from Ewa, Hawaii. She designed and knit this gorgeous set of mittens for her friend's son, James, using Swans Island fingering weight yarn in beetroot and marine.
Of Swans Island yarn, Lily wrote:
Knitting with the Swan's Island was such a pleasure . . . it's so comfortable and soft. The subtle color variegation, especially in the violet, is gorgeous. I'll definitely be making more in the future!
We love Lily's design and have been coveting larger versions of these mittens ever since she sent us photos last year. Thanks for sharing, Lily. Check out some of Lily's other work on her Etsy page — click here.
Photos of the James Mittens courtesy of Lily Fox.
If you've recently finished knitting a garment in Swans Island yarn, send us a photo and notes about your garment, and we may post it in an upcoming Featured Knits. Email irene@swansislandblankets.com.
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Congratulations to our Facebook 'Win A Custom Throw' contest winners.
Our first place winner is Anne from Kenosha, Wisconsin, who wins a Swans Island throw that she will customize with her own color and stripe configurations. Our second place winner is Rosanne from Los Gatos, Calfornia. She wins a $75 Swans Island gift certificate, good toward any item from the Swans Island woven or yarn collection.
Thank you to all who entered.
Custom throws from Swans Island
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Right now through our website, get a free copy of the Atlantic Cowl pattern when you purchase two skeins of our bulky weight Winterberry yarn. The pattern, written by Antonia Shankland, knits up beautifully in our Winterberry and is a fun and easy project — perfect for beginners.
Order now, as quantities are limited. Click here to order, or for more information.
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Posted in | Tagged atlantic cowl winterberry yarn winterberry bulky antonia shankland | 5 Comments
Don't forget to enter our Swans Island 'Win A Custom Throw' contest on Facebook. This is a great opportunity to create your own unique Swans Island throw. Work with one of our designers to come up with color and stripe configurations to suit your taste.
The contest ends February 26, so enter now. Click here for more details.
Some examples of custom wovens: A throw for Thos. Moser (top), blankets for Levi's (bottom left) and a blanket for a Swans Island customer (bottom right).
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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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© 2011 Swans Island Blankets. All rights reserved.