Pendleton Wool & Pillow Design: A Chat with Scout & Whistle

This week at Makers Market we’re excited to offer you new products from Vanessa and Darren of Scout and Whistle, hailing from Portland, Oregon. They “combine modern design, natural history, and cabin life, making housewares for your imaginary A-frame in the woods. ” You can shop their products here…

Their pillows and rugs are made with wool from Pendleton Woolen Mills, which we love (being die-hard Made in the USA proponents!) as this mill is one of the oldest remaining mills in America. Luckily for them its been located right in Portland ever since 1909, and has been family-owned and operated for over 100 years! So buying their products not only supports a US maker, but all of the mill workers as well. Preserving a piece of American heritage.

We recently chatted with Vanessa to find out a little more about the process and inspiration for Scout and Whistle.

Where did the name Scout and Whistle originate?

Darren and I spent many dog walks trying to come up with a name for our business. We wanted something that felt like it related to the outdoors, sort of old-fashioned but fun. We just kept throwing names back and forth and that one stuck!

Vanessa, I know that you are a big fan of podcasts, especially This American Life. How do those everyday stories with all their nuanced perspectives and quirky twists inspire your work as an American maker?

Podcasts and the stories of the wonderful and bizarre people of this world help us plow through the work day, first and foremost. Especially when isolated in the studio working away, it often scores our process whether designing, sewing, or doing paperwork. On another level podcasts keep us connected to the collective subconscious and foster new ways to look at the world, which then inspires new ways to design. We collect visual references, but auditory references are just as useful.

Contrary to that realism, how do imaginary worlds like that of folklore and Wes Anderson inspire you?

Ever since we were kids, Darren and I have both always loved drawing, building little dioramas and thinking up imaginary worlds. Darren’s job as a filmmaker and animator is in essence to create small worlds and curated spaces. So I think we take the inspiration of folklore and dreamy movie sets into our work by making products that not only make us happy but could be props in our own ideal space.

When did you first start using Pendleton wool? What about this company specifically stood out to you and aligned with your ethos? The factory is located in Oregon, have you visited it?

I used to collect vintage Pendleton flannel shirts when I was a teenager in Santa Barbara, CA so I was a longtime fan of the company. As an adult, I appreciate that their fabrics have continued to be produced in the States and maintained their heirloom worthy quality ever since they started in the late 1800s. When we moved to Portland in 2011 and I visited Pendleton’s Woolen Mill here in town, I immediately started making homewares for our home and our friends. Soon, they wanted to buy them for their family and friends so I decided to open up an Etsy shop. And that’s where it all began!

What inspires the designs and colors of your pillows?

Darren and I both love old books, postcards and posters from the 60s. I think the palette and the printing processes of that time influence us as well as the fun and poppy colors of growing up in the 80s.

How does the design process begin for your products? Does it start with a traditional pen and paper in your studio or do you have another practice?

The wool pillows begin with the fabric. We are very selective about the patterns we choose and those patterns sort of determine the way we will cut them. But the rest of our products begin in our sketchbooks. Some come together quickly but Darren may take months to finish an illustration. It took me years of thinking about and drawing my cacti sculptures before I finally just bought some wood and got to work! Some ideas take more time to come together and then they just won’t leave you alone until you bring them to life.

Do each of you have set roles in the business or do you collaborate on everything?

As a whole, I run the business and make a good amount of our wares. Darren is the artist behind many of our illustrations and is a sounding board for all the products I make as well. There is a lot of collaboration when we are working out ideas but we like to have our own projects.

How does Portland compare to Brooklyn as a community and a place to make things?

Portland and Brooklyn are frequently compared and I definitely feel the similarities, which is one reason we moved here. Both places are filled with creative people and makers, as well as tons of local resources, print shops and art supply stores. I think they are both very vibrant communities for makers and Portland is just a bit easier to get your materials from the shop to your studio. I have taken way too many awkward subway and cab rides with lumber, rolls of canvas and cans of paint!