The Westerley. It’s What He Really Wants.

November 30, 2022 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

Gifting the Westerley

Are you wondering what to get that special someone on your list? We have an idea for you. Our Westerley cardigan has been a hit since we introduced it in the 80s, and reintroduced it in the “aughts”. This year, we even have a new Taupe color for you.

The Pendleton Westerley Sweater in clay, red and black.

This joins our other colorways, the original tan, the charcoal grey, and the (very) popular Navy. You can see all three here: The Original Westerley

Original History

You may know it as The Dude’s cardigan or the Big Lebowski sweater, but we debuted the Westerley cardigan in 1974 as part of our High Grade Westernwear line.

The Westerley drew inspiration from beautiful Cowichan sweaters that are hand-knit by Pacific Northwest tribes. Our version was machine-knitted by Winona Knitting Mills of Minnesota, a two-facility company owned by the Woodworth family. Winona Mills was one of the very few USA knitting mills who offered a 2gg knit, a term meaning only two knit stitches per inch. A 2gg sweater is heavy enough to work as outerwear. As the long-time leader of our menswear division expressed it, “You could wear it in a monsoon, and you’d stay warm.”

The vintage Westerley was knit in 3gg, and it was almost as impressive as the 2gg for thickness and warmth. The Westerley was one cozy sweater. We offered it in the western, outdoor and casual lines for over ten years. Over its run of production, the zip front, ring zipper pull and shawl collar stayed the same, as did the Greek key-inspired pattern. Archival visits show that the Westerley’s color variations are surprisingly wide.

A collage of six photos of vintage Westerley cardignas in a variety of color combinations.

The sweater went out of production in the 1980s, but found the limelight in the early 2000s, thanks to an obscure movie that didn’t stay obscure. The Westerley came to fame thanks to “The Big Lebowski,” as worn by Jeff Bridges as The Dude. Jeff Bridges wore his own clothes for this role, and though there were two sweaters hand-knitted as back-ups, he preferred wearing his personal Pendleton Westerley.

Jeff Bridges as Jeff Lebowski, AKA "The Dude," sits at the bolwing alley bar with a white Russian in front of him.

Revivals!

In Fall 2013, we brought back the sweater in the original 3gg knit under the Westerley name. We went to the archives, and settled on two versions: a archival version that was cream with red and black pattern, and a desert brown version with navy and gold pattern. The knit pattern on the placket of these sweaters was horizontal, so if you have a sweater with this horizontal ribbed placket, it dates from this revival.

A collage of two photos--one is an ad run by Pendleton in the 1980s that features the tan, red and black version of the Westerley. Next to it is a Pendleton promo photo of a man wearing a remake of this version, leaning against a fence.

We offered the Westerley in another archival coloration in charcoal and blue early in the fall of 2014. These were all great Westerleys. They were beautifully made and selling well to fans of traditional menswear. We stand behind these Westerleys! But this was not the sweater the Achievers wanted, and the Achievers would not be denied.

The Original Westerley Returns

In 2015, we went back to the archives and studied the movie to capture the coloration as best we could for the version known as The Original Westerley. This is 100% lambswool in 3gg knit, and it’s ready to take you through your next monsoon, or maybe to your next Lebowskifest. We restored the original stitch pattern to the placket, and attached a small bowling pin keychain. We think it really pulls the sweater together.

A man sits in a rocking chair on the porch of an oder home, holding a book and wearing a Pendleton Westerley cardigan sweater.

It’s what he really wants.

See all the Westerleys for men and women at www.pendleton-usa.com.

Cole Haan and Pendleton Woolen Mills for 2022

November 22, 2022November 23, 2022 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

The Partnership

Cole Haan Pendleton laofers chukka and oxford

Pendleton and Cole Haan are proud to announce a collaborative seven-piece footwear and bag collection that draws inspiration from Acadia National Park in Maine. This limited-edition collection is grounded in heritage and united by craftsmanship. With Pendleton’s distinctive fabrics and Cole Haan’s designs, these are iconic American products that will stand the test of time.

The Plaid

The collection—inspired by Pendleton’s Acadia National Park Blanket—features a plaid inspired by blanket stripes, in colors that echo the landscape of Acadia. As part of this collaboration, Cole Haan will contribute to Pendleton’s longstanding partnership with the National Park Foundation.

Acadia National Park

Label: Bass Head Harbor Light catches dawn’s first rays on Mount Desert Island.

Blanket: The dark sky waits for sunrise above Maine’s seaboard, where Acadia’s Cadillac Mountain catches the first daylight in the continental United States each New Year’s Day.

Sustainability

Both Cole Haan and Pendleton have taken steps towards eco-consciousness and this collaboration reinforces both brands’ commitment to sustainability. The virgin wool used in this collection is a biodegradable, renewable resource woven in Pendleton’s Washougal, Washington. Both Pendleton’s mills have been certified STeP by OEKO-TEX® (21001295 HOHENSTEIN HTTI), a certification system for production facilities in the textile industry that allow brands to communicate environmental measures.

Cole Haan is a member of The Leather Working Group, a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to driving excellence in sustainable leather, and the leather used in this capsule is from BLC Leather Technology Centre Ltd (BLC) gold medal-rated tanneries. Both men’s and women’s ØriginalGrand Longwing Oxford feature Cole Haan’s patented FlowerFoam™ soles made from a minimum of 25% natural dandelion rubber, which debuted earlier this year.

Learn More

The Cole Haan Pendleton collection of bags, shoes for men and women.

The Cole Haan x Pendleton collection is available now at Pendleton: Cole Hann and Pendleton and at www.colehaan.com and in US and select international stores.

Photo by Nikolai Karlov – @nikarlov

Caring for Pendleton Wool – washing, dry cleaning and more

June 29, 2021July 29, 2021 / pendletonwoolenmills / 22 Comments

LET’S GET STRATEGIC.

Five fluffy white sheep stand before a bay. Image - Pixabay.com

Here are some strategies to prolong the life of your Pendleton wool garments and blankets.

CLEAN BEFORE STORAGE – Safely clean all spills and residues from wool blankets and wool garments before putting them away for the summer.

SUMMER OUTINGS – Taking stored garments or blankets outside every few months for shaking, brushing, and exposure to sunlight will prevent damage!

COLLECTOR STRATEGIES – Store blankets in plastic airtight boxes and bags that seal completely. Air out, shake and refold your treasures every few months.

REPEL – Cedar heartwood and chemical products repel moths, but don’t fully protect against damage. Follow the above steps to keep woolen goods clean, safe, and lasting for generations.

BLANKET CARE – CAN A WOOL BLANKET BE WASHED?

No. Washing will shrink the blanket and ruin it. Pendleton’s traditional wool blankets should only be dry-cleaned.

The exception is the washable Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool® bedding line. These blankets and throws have been woven and treated to be washable: refer to the care instructions on the blanket.

HOW SHOULD WOOL CLOTHING BE CLEANED?

First, refer to the care instructions! if a garment is dry-clean only, then follow that direction and have it dry cleaned. Dry cleaning once a season will keep wool garments fresh.

To freshen a wrinkled wool garment, hang it in a steamy bathroom. Wool is naturally odor-releasing and anti-microbial.

If the garment is labeled as washable, we recommend hand-washing with these steps:

Treat small stains by rinsing with cold water or seltzer and blotting dry with a clean cloth.
If the garment is labeled “hand wash,” use specially formulated mild soap and wash by hand.
Keep agitation to a minimum, as it can cause the scales of wool fibers to knit together in a process called “felting.” This cannot be undone!
After hand washing, gently roll the garment in a towel. You might want to do this several times, with a fresh towel for each turn.
For a knitted garment (sweater or scarf or shawl), lay the knitted garment out in the shape you want it to have after it dries. This is called “blocking.” A drying screen is a nice option for allowing both sides of a sweater to dry.
For a woven garment, lay it on a flat surface to dry.
Always avoid direct sunlight on a damp wool item, and always avoid direct heat.

AREN’T ALL PENDLETON WOOL SHIRTS WASHABLE?

No, they are not! Many Umatilla Wool shirts are, indeed, washable, but Sir Pendleton shirts are dry clean only. Refer to the care tags for any Pendleton wool shirt to determine the best way to clean it.

Pendleton’s washable wool shirts are made with a fabric that has been treated with a special process to seal the scales of wool fiber. These fabrics are clearly labeled as washable, and once washed, should not be dry cleaned.

If you would rather dry clean a washable wool shirt, it should not be washed after. Dry cleaning removes the washable finish. Always choose one method and stick with it.

REMEMBER WOOL’S ENEMIES

Bleach and Detergent – A little bleach causes wool fiber to stiffen and discolor permanently. A lot of bleach will dissolve wool fiber. The alkalis in soaps and detergents remove wool’s luster, strength and softness.

Moths – The best prevention against moth damage is regular use. When not in use, periodically shake or brush items, and re-fold or hang. Keep closets and storage areas swept, making sure to inspect for dead moths and larva casings. Sunlight is another helpful tool against moths—sun blankets now and then to kill any missed eggs.

High Heat and Shrinkage – Exposure to high, direct heat will damage wool fabric.

ENJOY YOUR WOOL

Caring for wool correctly can give you generations of use and wear. And speaking of generations, Please note: If you have purchased a vintage Pendleton wool garment that does not have care tags, we recommend that you dry clean these items. And send us photos!

Made in USA label with eagle for Pendleton

Guest Post: Greg Hatten on a trip to Fort Bridger

November 13, 2020 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

Guest post ahead!

Please enjoy a guest post from our friend, Greg Hatten, of wooden boat and river running repute, who took our new Bridger Stripe Blanket for a spin in the area where his namesake traveled so many years ago.

Jim Bridger 1824 – 1871

During the era of exploration of the American west in the mid 1800’s, Jim Bridger was known as an expert trapper, hunter, and marksman among his fellow mountain men. Among the the Flathead and Crow tribes, he was known at the “Blanket Chief” after a beautiful multicolored blanket he wore around his shoulders on special occasions. Within the military, Bridger was known as an outstanding scout, translator, negotiator, and map maker. Jim Bridger had an enormous impact on the western migration of the United States

Jim Bridger was also called “Old Gabe.” He has always been one of my favorite personalities in the long list of colorful characters that explored the mountains, rivers and plains of Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Idaho. He left a mark on the west by mapping trails, guiding wagon trains, and building a trading post that would expand into a fort. He was respected by allies and enemies for his unmatched skills as an outdoorsman and his ability to stay calm under fire.

A Trip Out West

On my recent trip to Oregon, I began from Kansas City, where Jim Bridger is buried near his former farm in Westport. Traveling west on Interstate 80 (which is “roughly” the route of Lewis and Clark and the old Oregon Trail), I stopped by Fort Bridger in Wyoming and took my Pendleton Bridger Stripe blanket along for the adventure.

The rustic fort that bears his name is a nearly exact replica of the original – complete with trading post that was first built in 1842. For several years it was the center of the universe in the western territory as the host of annual trade Rendezvous, a vital resupply stop for the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails, figured prominently in the Utah War of 1857 and was a Pony Express relay station in 1860.

The Fall colors in Wyoming wrapped around the fort and were a perfect match for the colorful stripes on the Bridger Blanket. I paired the blanket with some historic artifacts and imagined the bustle of the fort as the emigrants on the trail resupplied and double checked their maps before heading off for the last legs of the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails.

A tribute and lasting legacy of that westward migration are the ruts by iron wagon-wheels, and from intentional cutting by emigrants in an attempt to ease the grade from the lower level of the North Platte River.

We love this photo because it shows how different the front and back of this blanket.

The Blanket

The Bridger Stripe Blanket was a perfect compliment to my simple style of camping in canvas and wool on Rogue Wild and Scenic River. Sometimes I used a canvas fly because of the heavy dew but mostly it was open air sleeping under the stars beside the river… and the view was outstanding.

Thank you, Greg! It’s always a pleasure to see our products out in the wild. Enjoy a few more shots below. It wouldn’t be a Greg Hatten post without seeing our blanket in the prow of his beautiful wooden boat. And look carefully at the photo below the river shot. Can you imagine camping there? We can!

click on this to make it bigger–wouldn’t you love to camp here?

The Bridger Stripe blanket has the same soft hand and all-wool construction of a Pendleton park blanket, with a distinctly different stripe on each side for two looks in one versatile blanket. The pattern is named for a famed explorer, trapper and scout in the 1800s. Jim Bridger was part of the second generation of mountain men who followed Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery journey in 1804. His Rocky Mountains expeditions took him from southern Colorado to the Canadian border.

See it here: Bridger Stripe Blanket

Holiday preview: New Cotton Quilts

October 23, 2020 / pendletonwoolenmills / 2 Comments

What’s new for the Holidays?

Pendleton’s popular cotton quilts are here in new styles for the holidays, and all year long. We’ve brought our classic patterns, like Harding (seen above and below) to life in cotton. Nothing beats a virgin wool blanket from Pendleton, but cotton can be the perfect choice for you. Do you sleep warm? Do you have an aging pet who shares your slumbers?

These sets are carefully dye-controlled to coordinate perfectly with Pendleton wool blankets to layer over or under when the weather gets extra chilly.

Harding coverlet set: see it here

Classic Patterns, Classic Beauties

We’ve brought some of our most popular patterns to cotton, like White Sands and Wyeth Trail. And what could be more classic than a tartan?

Vintage Dress Stewart Tartan bedding set

Yes, that’s the Vintage Dress Stewart tartan in a holiday preview shot. We also have some gorgeous pieces quilts with center medallion patterns, like Pinos Creek and Chief Star. We are crazy about Canyon Ranch, made with the colors of our Grand Canyon National Park blanket.

Come see them all.

We have only scratched the surface of our quilt offerings. There are so many patterns and styles, from traditional to modern.

See the full selection here: Pendleton Cotton Quilts & Coverlets

Pendleton Wool Shirts On Sale Now!

September 23, 2020September 25, 2020 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

Almost a Century

Pendleton Poster of a man paddling in a canoe

We’ve been making wool shirts for over ninety years—in fact, we’re nearing our 100 year anniversary of making Pendleton wool shirts.

Yes, the Pendleton wool shirt story started in 1924, when the Bishop family decided to enlarge their business from trade and bed blankets into men’s apparel. Back then, wool shirts were utilitarian items; warm, durable, an excellent first line in the defense against the elements. They were uniformly drab. Of course, all that was about to change.

At Pendleton Woolen Mills, Clarence Morton Bishop envisioned a different kind of fabric for a man’s wool shirt. Pendleton’s sophisticated weaving capabilities were producing vibrant trade blankets. Why not bring that same weaving and color know-how to flannel shirting?

He wrote to his father, Charles Pleasant Bishop, “I believe we should add such goods as shirts and hosiery.” C.P. Bishop agreed, replying “I am more and more impressed with the opportunity we have here in Oregon.” While his son investigated production options, C.P. Bishop did the early marketing work. He wrote to his son that “I am impressing it on the minds of my employees and patrons…that we are putting a new fabric on the market, something better than other mills can or will make.”

A vintage Pendleton poster featuring the slogan, "A man never has enough Pendletons."

After much weaving experimentation and hard work, Pendleton’s innovative Umatilla shirting fabric rolled off the loom. The positive response to Pendleton’s rich colors was immediate. It has also been enduring. Our Umatilla wool shirting fabric is still woven in the USA, using lofty wool fleece raised by local sheep ranchers.

Friends & Family Sale

We are offering some great deals on wool shirts during our Fall 2020 Friends & Family event, with an extra 25% off the sale price of select men’s styles:

Board Shirts

Lodge Shirts

Trail Shirts

Canyon Shirts

See them here: Pendleton wool shirts for men

Select women’s wool shirt styles are also on sale, and can be found here: Pendleton wool shirts for women

Fall is here, and so is Pendleton. Wrap yourself is something warm, wonderful, and woolen.

Warriors’ Circle of Honor

June 17, 2020June 18, 2020 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

The Artist

Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne/Arapaho) is an Oklahoma artist who works in painting, sculpting, wood carving, bronze, and graphic design. He served with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam. He has worked in law enforcement for fifty years and is one of the foremost forensic artists in America. He currently serves as the chairperson of the Interior Indian Arts and Crafts Board, and as a traditional Southern Cheyenne Peace Chief.

The Memorial

Mr. Pratt designed the National Native American Veterans Memorial, at Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC. This memorial commemorates the service and sacrifice of Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Veterans—past, current, and future. The memorial is a place of honor, recognition, reflection and healing for all Native veterans and their families.

For a deeper look at Mr. Pratt and his work on the memorial, please enjoy this film.

The Blanket

Pendleton is proud to present Mr. Pratt’s “Warriors’ Circle of Honor” blanket design, based on the memorial.

Warriors' Circle of Honor blanket, front.

The Sacred Fire burns at the center of bands of color representing Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. A border of stars and stripes has openings to allow spirits to enter. Four hands wearing feathers of bravery and triumph mark the cardinal directions. Oval shapes echo the museum’s Grandfather Rocks.

Warrior's Circle of Honor, reverse view.

More Information

For more information on Mr. Pratt’s work, please visit his website: harveypratt.com.

To learn more about the blanket, visit our website: Warriors’ Circle of Honor

Pendleton label with bald eagle: "Pendleton since 1863 Highest Quality Made in the USA."

Nike N7 and The College Fund blanket for 2019 – 7 Generations

November 7, 2019October 11, 2021 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

7 Generations

We are proud to present “7 Generations,” the latest blanket in the American Indian College Fund Collection which helps fund scholarships for Native American students. “7 Generations” is also our newest partnership with Nike’s N7 Fund, a trust whose mission is to bring sports to Native American and Aboriginal communities in the US and Canada.

Decoding the Symbols

Front and back views of the new N7/College Fund blanket by Pendleton

This USA-made wool blanket illustrates the past, present and future of Native peoples. The central N7 motif represents the impact of each person (the diamond) on the three generations before and after (arrows). A storm pattern with zigzags of lightning honors heritage, while steps show the path to overcoming life’s challenges. The rich colors were inspired by traditional dyes, and reflect the beauty of the southwestern landscape.

The Designer

Designer Tracie Jackson sits on a stage wearing Nike N7 gear she designed.

This blanket was designed by Tracie Jackson, a Diné artist and designer from Star Mountain in the Navajo Nation. She is a 4th generation artisan. Her grandparents and mother are silversmiths, and both her maternal great grandmothers are rug weavers. Her family encouraged her to study the traditional art forms of her tribe, and with their support she became a painter, jeweler, beader, and graphic designer.

Tracie studied design at the University of Oregon and currently works in Portland, Oregon, designing for the Nike N7 program. This has been her dream job since she was 14 years old, when she first saw N7 at a Native basketball tournament. “I was taught to get an education and use it to help our Native community, which pushed me to become a designer for N7.”

Photos and Models

7 Native American women on a raised platform dressed in Nike clothing and shoes.

The photos of this collection are fantastic. You’ll notice that the designer and her models–athletes, leaders and activists–are holding shutter buttons, and choosing how to represent themselves in these photographs by taking their own shots. We are proud to be part of this.

See and Learn More

Please go see the entire collection here: Nike N7 collection

See the “7 Generations” blanket here: 7 Generations

Pendleton label with bald eagle: "Pendleton since 1863 Highest Quality Made in the USA."

Fall 2019: Win a Ginew Heritage Coat on Instagram!

September 24, 2019April 7, 2020 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

A Native American model stands facing the camera, with his denim Ginew jacket held open to show the Pendleton patterned wool lining.

A Native American model stands in profile, wearing a Ginew jacket with the collar turned up to show that the under-collar is lined in Pendleton patterned wool.

Ginew x Pendleton

This Ginew Heritage Coat (lined in Pendleton wool) can be yours! We are proud to partner with GINEW, a Native-owned premium denim brand, on a giveaway over at our Instagram.

To quote Ginew’s site:

In designing the Ginew Heritage Coat, we recreated a meaningful garment as it was worn by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers in daily life. By exploring our Anishinaabe and Oneida heritages, we came to appreciate their rich history of work and dedication. When we wrap ourselves in this coat, we wrap ourselves in the ways of our ancestors. The premium, American-made materials of our Heritage Coat are not just wool, cotton and brass; they are oral histories, old photographs, and traditional lore. Coats such as these were more than mere garments: they were work tools, worn in the machine shops, forests, and fields by relatives who dedicated themselves to the hard labor of providing for their families.

This is a 7-day giveaway, and the entry period runs from Thursday, September 26^th 2019 at 9:00 AM PST, to Monday, September 30^th 2019 at 11:59 PM PST. The rest of the rules are after the jump.

Learn More

See our past posts about Ginew here: Pendleton and Ginew

Read more about Ginew here: Ginew Heritage Coat

Find our Instagram here: @pendletonwm on Instagram

Continue reading →

It’s a Pendleton party! Come Join us this Friday, 9/6/19!

September 3, 2019April 8, 2020 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

Seven Decades

Fall 2019 marks seven decades of style from Pendleton. And we are having a party!

The event details are here: Seven Decades of Style party

You can also register at Eventbrite: Pendleton party, Seven Decades of Style

08_2019_PAW_70th_Anniversary_V3.indd We can’t wait to share the archive inspirations for this year – vintage clothes are encouraged, so put on your ’49er, bring a friend and have a blast.

See you there!