Right Then, Right Now
There are plenty of Right Then, Right Now garments in Pendleton’s history, but by far, our most famous sweater was immortalized in the cult classic, “The Big Lebowski.”
This Coen brothers film was released to low to middling success in 1998, but quietly grew into a cult favorite. No one can quite pinpoint why. Was it Donny’s clueless questions? The dream sequence scored by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition? Was it Walter’s chin-strap beard? Or perhaps the German nihilists?
Well, it was all of these, but most of all, we think it was…
The Sweater.
Jeff Bridges wore his own clothes for this role, and though there were several sweaters hand-knitted as back-ups, he preferred wearing his original Pendleton. As the Dude, he staggers in and out of trouble, wearing alternately sweats, shorts, pajama pants, a bathrobe, t-shirts and…
…his sweater.
The original Pendleton cardigan debuted in 1974 as the Westerley.
We took inspiration from the beautiful hand-knitted Cowichan sweaters of the Pacific Northwest tribes, but ours were machine-knitted by Winona Knitting Mills of Minnesota. Here’s a little U.S.A. manufacturing history for you…Winona Mills was a two-facility company, owned by the Woodworth family. They were one of the very few knitters in the US who could do a 2gg knit. A 2gg knit is basically outerwear. You could wear it in a monsoon, and you’d stay warm and cozy.
The vintage Westerley is a 3gg knit, and it is WARM. We offered the Westerley in the western, outdoor and casual lines over the years. If your tag has a white background, it was part of the Western line. The blue labels are in the outdoor and casual lines. While down in the archives researching, I counted at least eight colorations, but that was just when I stopped counting. There are probably more.
The colors went all over the place, but the zip front, ring pull and shawl color stayed the same.
Joining the Archive
We have a few versions of this sweater in our archives, but when Kyle Anderson contacted us to see if we wanted his, we were delighted to accept it. Here it is, not quite mint but then again, neither is the Dude’s.
According to Kyle, the original owner, it was worn once. It’s in beautiful shape, it’s a great coloration, and best of all, it’s an XL so it will actually fit our modern size-large forms. Eventually, we hope this garment this will go on permanent display, but until then we’ve put this sweater to work in photo shoots and fashion shows beacuse 2011 marks the year we released a tribute version of the cardigan.
We don’t call it the Westerly anymore. We call it the Dude. This is a heavyweight sweater, designed to keep you warm no matter where you’re doing your Achieving. It’s available at our stores and our website. We didn’t exactly replicate the original. We wanted to preserve the value of the vintage sweaters that sell on eBay to Achievers everywhere.
The phenomenon that is “The Big Lebowski” continues. There are books devoted to the lore of Lebowski. All over the country, Lebowskifests draw crowds of Achievers, troupes of dancing bowling pins, and character look-alikes. You can buy stuffed animals, action figures and, of course, sweaters new or sweaters old.
The Dude abides. And so does his sweater.
Pendleton Woolen Mills 
Dude: This cardigan is righteous. I have been searching for something just like this and must have it. Colors, collar, zipper, weight – check, check, check, and check.
Yes Please! This is my favorite movie. It was forever stamped into my head at age 17 that there are movies that most people just “don’t get”, when my girlfriend at the time wanted to walk out of the film due to her boredom watching it. This movie is not boring and is smart…like Pendleton. Smart clothes for smart people that abide, indeed.
The Dude Abides! And so do Pendleton sweaters….
Is the sweater no longer available? It doesn’t appear to be listed on your website at this point.
It is sold out at the website. Please call 800.760.4844 (our Consumer Services line) for help locating one at a store, though we are getting very low and certain sizes are completely gone.
It’s sold out already? So, there will be second run of the original design, right?
Ah, we posted this some months ago, and the sweater is sold out.
is it still sold out? will there be more available?
Sorry, all sold out!
Make more
Here is the sweater on sale at Nordstrom and they have free shipping both ways in case you need to return it. There’s only size Large left though:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/pendleton-shawl-collar-wool-cardigan/3212674?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=pendleton_shawl_collar_wool_cardigan:384240&cm_pla=tops:men:sweater&cm_ven=Froogle,Google_Product_Ads&mr:adType=pla&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=0AF8EBFF-CF63-E111-8435-001517B1882A&origin=pla
Awesome, LJ, thank you!
It’s Woodworth not Woodward, but thanks for the shout out.
Fixed and thank you!
Will the sweater be making a comeback for the fall of 2012. Unfortunately this is the first I’m hearing of it and missed out. Would love to own one. Thanks Chris
Fall 2013! So, next year.
Is it true, the sweater is coming back in 2013? Same color and design, just like the Dudes? I was joyed when I found out the Dudes sweater was Pendleton. My family has been wearing Pendleton wool since the 70’s here in Portland Or. We love the stuff, having one of these sweaters will make me so happy! I just wish we could pre-order now. Thanks for bringing it back.
is there any way I can pre-order? I’ve been looking for this forever … any advice is greatly appreciated!
This was last fall, so sorry.
NOOOOOOOO! any chance you could possibly run them again? Or am I outta luck? 😥
Keep your eyes and ears peeled. 🙂
any chance for christmas 2012?
Is there a way to get notified if it comes up again or to get on a waiting list?
If it comes up again, we will post it at the http://www.pendleton-usa.com website. You will be able to pre-order there.
so it IS being re-released this year in the fall?
Ah I’m so excited for a re-release! This is my boyfriend’s FAVORITE FAVORITE movie. I will have to keep an eye open for a pre-order date so I can snag one up for birthday or Christmas or something.
Have the same problem , my husband will turn 40 this year and we’ve set out to get a real Dudde for e real dude…. Help need one delivered to the Netherlands…
Any updates for a fall release for “The Dude”?
I know! I’ve been searching for one since the movie came out 😥 no luck… If ANYONE finds a site with them, PLEASE EMAIL ME!
The dude abides
Yes! http://www.pendleton-usa.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=westerley&keyword_entry=westerley
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Hi all. We have re-released the Westerley this Fall, and will have a contest so you can win one soon; you will be able to enter on this blog.
Thank you!!!! 🙂
Any idea how long this will stay stay up for sale? I’d like to know if I need to buy it now or if I can wait a little bit closer to Christmas.
It just went up, so I think you are safe to wait a short amount of time. But this sweater will go quickly. If it sells out, don’t hesitate to call our consumer services at 800.760.4844 for help.
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What kitting technique was used to create the color transitions & patterns in The Dude’s sweater? The patterns and comments I’ve found online all say fair isle was used, but based on looking at actual Pendleton sweaters I don’t believe it for a second. Any advice for a knitter?
Is it going to be available in any color other than vintage cream?
There is a brown and navy as well.
is brown and navy yet to come out? or have i missed it, dude?
Is there some way to select the Dude’s colors online? The website is only letting me select Vintage Cream.
Lars, we made that version this year, but have plans to other versions down the line.
As a followup to my question, I made an Imgur post! Just thought I’d share. http://imgur.com/gallery/J8nMD
Hi Tara,
As far as a hand-knit version, we can’t help you with those specs. The original sweater has a very heavy ribbed knit, and it is machine made. Wold a closeup of the ribbing be helpful to you?
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Good day to you,
Would it be possible to ship overseas for a large order?
Also, will the cardigan be available in navy again any time soon?
I hope your day is treating you well!
Bart, the best way to ship overseas is to contact our home store at 503.535.5444, 10 AM – 5:30 PM Pacific USA time. They also may have the brown/navy in stock there.
Well, I dig your style too, man. Got the whole cowboy thing goin’. But when are you going to replicate the Dude’s sweater, man. Like in the original Dude colors? With the original design pattern? That’s what the people and the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers want, man. Also, my rug was stolen.
I just bought an original – exactly the same as the one shown above donated by Kyle – from an american vintage clothing store in Bristol, UK. They were selling it for £35 and clearly had no idea what they had on their hands!! He’s my favourite movie character of all time and I can t believe I just stumbled across it!!
We love stories like these and WOW! Send a photo sometime to pendletonwoolenmills@gmail.com.
I’m so glad I found your blog. And, I am so excited because as a clothing designer working with old wool sweaters and “upcycling” them, I often stop in Thrift Stores to poke around and see what I can find. Well, on Monday, I was driving in the middle of nowhere, Utah and stopped at their local Thrift Store. I happened to this this vintage men’s cardigan on a rack, and though it wasn’t what I was looking for for my project, I luckily went back and picked it up. There was just something about it, (and it was a Pendleton) and looked so vintage that I new I needed to buy it.
So, I spent a (I hope you are sitting down) a whopping $8.00 for it and brought it home. After researching online today, I realized what a score I have on my hands. It is in perfect condition and looks like it has never been worn. The only thing it is missing is the ring zipper pull……do you know if I could purchase just the zipper pull from Pendleton? Otherwise it is in mint condition. Score!
We don’t have the ring zipper pulls anymore! But what a great find. If you want to share it, send us a photo and we will definitely post it. You scored!
We host a yearly Big Lebowski Bash at Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge in Portland, OR and would love to talk about involving Pendleton. Is there someone I can contact?
Here are some photos from last year’s event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151029082516571.413095.95501931570&type=3
Sounds fun! Drop us a line at pendletonwoolenmills@gmail.com and we will get you in touch with the correct people.
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Have made a bid for one of these(white label) on E bay, will know by tomorrow, if I got it. Wish me luck;))
Hey dudes, a few questions…Are you going to reissue the Dude tribute?
As to the original Westerly in The Dude’s colours, I saw your answer re: not wanting to devalue the Feebay market, but, concerning the various knock-offs, are any of them licensed by Pendleton? Is a license required? I refer specifically to the one sold by 80’s Tees.com.
Ah, that one is an unlicensed knockoff. But we have plans for an authentic re-issue soon, so please abide.
No problemo, my wooly compadre, I would most surely like a timely heads-up on that happenstance on the email web thingy here, on account of how you folks change your fashion more frequently than I change my underpants.
We don’t have a preorder thing going yet, but I’d like to invite you to sign up for our emails (www.pendleton-usa.com, go to the bottom of the home page). Though you will get many emails that don’t pertain to you (seasonless wool separates for the ladies, etc) before you leave the email list in dismay, we WILL be making a lot of noise about the cardigan in October and November, I believe. It’s the best way to know what’s happening.
Hey there,
do anyone knows how to get the dude cardigan?
Thanx for answers 🙂
Is it true that only 190 units of “The Dude” were ever produced? If not, how many?
The Dude cardigan was a 2011 homage sweater. We don’t usually release production figures unless we are talking about a special limited edition. If you’re talking about all the iterations of the Westerley cardigan, it’s been produced in many colors over many seasons (including 2012 and 2013) in much greater numbers than The Dude Cardigan was.
Interesting Read
I find it fascinating that this blog is filled with fans of the original color and print – all willing to BUY ONE if made available. What is Pendleton’s response to not making an item that there is a clear demand for?
Achievers, please abide. We have a new version of the Westerley in just the color and pattern you’re looking for, and it’s coming this fall. It looks like October will be the month.
Yay!! I just happened to find this post, and was disappointed that it is a few years old. I am so thrilled the cardigan will be available again soon! Is there an email list I can subscribe to to be notified when it’s available for pre-order? I would hate to miss it, it looks like they sold out quick last time. Thanks!
If there is a pre-order form, please post. Woo hoo!
The best way to get information on the Original Westerley (Dude) is to sign up for our email list (www.pendleton-usa.com at the bottom of the home page). We will be talking about it later this fall. And you will be IN THE KNOW.
Hi there, i’m from Italy, any chance to buy the cardigan on your site (or, at least, in a shop) even if i live outside the USA?
any chanche to get the incoming cardigan also for international buyers? (i’m from italy)
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what is the sizing like on these cardigans? It appears that it is one of those ribbed-patterns that is prone to stretch a bit. Are these true to size or do they run big? Also what, if any, differences will be present in this next iteration of “dude/Westerly” cardigans compared to the last few ones (2012/13) I ask this because you mention “we have plans for an authentic re-issue soon”. Is this AUTHENTIC re-issue more like the original or is it the same as the last few re-issues.
They run true to Pendleton’s usual specs–which is to say, our sizing is generous. At the top of the post is a link to the re-issue so you can see it for yourself, or you can see it at http://www.pendleton-usa.com, here.
I bought one while they were still in back-log status. I am 6′ and 185lbs. A large fits very well.
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Has anyone seen Daniel Craig in cardigan? He was downright hot and sexy.
We will have to check it out!
could you provide delivery to Germany please??? (I confirm that I’m not a nihilist)
Please contact our Portland store at 01pendretail@earthlink.net and they will help you with an international shipment!
HI there,
shipping to italy is it possible?
Please contact our Home store at 503.535.5444 and they can arrange international shipping for you.
Hi, I was the luckiest dude on Christmas day to receive a genuine Pendleton “dude” cardigan. It fits really well, can tell that it has been made with care but I have a question…. There is a small iridescent button on the inside of the collar when folded over. However, nevermind found the tiny loop on the other side of the collar. Great work guys!
Why is there a small clear button on the inside of the collar? I love the sweater, use it all the time.
We have never known what that button was for, to be honest, but it was on the original so we left it in the design.
Actually there is a hidden loop along the opposite edge of the shawl collar. It is VERY well hidden. Maybe too much so.
The Dude’s cardigan is a piece of history, but I personally can’t forget the iconic v-neck Slazenger sweater that Sean Connery uses in Goldfinger, the James Bond movie.
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