Western Blankets – Stories of Oregon

August 18, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

Pendleton Blankets Tell Stories

Vintage image of the Pendleton Mill in Pendleton, Oregon. All rights reserved.

This month, as the Pendleton Round-Up approaches, we want to highlight some of the blankets that are so important to our company history. These are jacquard blankets, also known as Trade blankets, for their key role in early trading post transactions. These geometric patterns take their name from the jacquard looms on which they’re woven.

The story of Oregon is also our story. Our weaving legacy’s founder, Thomas Kay, arrived in Oregon in 1863, the same year it was recognized as a state. Here are some distinctively Pendleton blankets that celebrate Oregon’s landmarks, landscapes, and history.

The Oregon Blankets

Wyeth Trail

In 1834, stories of the Western frontier drew a Massachusetts inventor named Nathaniel Wyeth to the Oregon territories. The Wyeth Trail did not lead its namesake to fame and fortune, but his path endured to become part of the Oregon Trail’s 2,170 miles. With a balanced pattern of peaks, this pattern shows a perilous trail passing through dry plains, fertile valleys, and pristine rivers, surrounded on both sides by the beautiful mountain ranges of Oregon.

Wyeth Trail is available in twin, Queen, and King. See it here in Oxford (shown) and the original Wheat: Wyeth Trail

Smith Rock

The towering face of Smith Rock overlooks a bend in Oregon’s Crooked River, challenging climbers from around the world to scale its heights. Considered by many to be the birthplace of American sport climbing, Smith Rock State Park offers several thousand climbs, many of them bolted, in its 650 acres of high peaks, deep river canyons, and hiking trails like Misery Ridge. This pattern, based on a traditional nine-element blanket, alternates the park’s peaks with the many paths traveled by hikers and climbers.

Smith Rock is available in twin, Queen, and King sizes. (King shown). In the twin size, it is a perfect nine element pattern, one of the oldest and most popular types of Trade blankets. See your options here: Smith Rock

Agate Beach

Agate, a banded form of chalcedony, formed billions of years ago in volcanic pockets. In the cooler seasons of the year, storms and waves dislodge agates from gravel beds along the Oregon shoreline. Beachcombers and rock hounds search for stones that range in color from inky black, to vivid fire tones, to rare and valuable blues, to soft greys and misty pinks. In this pattern, striated stones emerge from a sandy background to glow softly under Oregon’s gentle skies.

Agate Beach has a whipstitch binding. It is available in Twin, and a beautiful wool throw. See it here: Agate Beach

Siskiyou

Siskiyou is said to be Chinook Jargon for a bob-tailed horse, lost on a trip over this 100-mile mountain range on the Oregon/California border. When Native riders set out to find the horse, they gave range and pass this enduring name. In this pattern, the Siskiyou Mountains are flanked by the two watersheds they divide; the Rogue and Klamath rivers. Repeating peaks represent the diverse flora, which spans coastal to Cascadian with Coast Redwood, Alaska Yellow-Cedar and Pacific Silver Fir.

Siskyou is available in our original twin/robe size only. See it here: Siskiyou

Bridge Creek

The central motif of this pattern represents Bridge Creek, a sometimes calm, sometimes tempestuous waterway that runs through the center of Mitchell, Oregon. This tiny town once held a thriving business district with rollicking saloons known as “Tiger Town,” and a hillside residential area known as “Piety Hill.” Today, Mitchell welcomes travelers to geological landmarks in Eastern Oregon; the John Day Fossil Beds and the Painted Hills, both represented by complex bands of patterns.

Bridge Creek is available in our original twin/robe size. See it here: Bridge Creek

Pilot Rock

In Oregon’s Western Cascades, Pilot Rock rises thousands of feet above the Rogue and Shasta Valleys. The area’s original Native American inhabitants, the Takelma, called it Tan-ts’at-seniphtha, or Stone Standing Up. In its shadow, the Takelma (“those along the river”) built villages of semi-subterranean homes. Netting, hunting and foraging allowed the Takelma to live harmoniously along the Rogue River. Arrows represent salmon swimming into nets, and large baskets overflow with abundant acorns and camas.

Pilot Rock is a classic nine element pattern. It is available in our original twin/robe size. See it here: Pilot Rock

Diamond Peak

In central Oregon, Diamond Peak shows the marks of time. Rising to 8,748 feet, it was carved by glaciers into a range of mountainous subfeatures: Mount Yoran, Lakeview Mountain, and dramatic cinder cones. This slumbering shield volcano has not erupted in 10,000 years, making it dormant, perhaps extinct. The pattern’s peaks and valleys echo the landscape, part of the Pacific Crest Trail and ancestral territory of many Oregon tribes, including the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin peoples.

Diamond Peak is available in our original twin/robe size. See it here: Diamond Peak

Another Western Story

Pendleton, Oregon is a true Western town. It is known for the Round-Up, of course, but it is also home to the original Pendleton Woolen Mill, where we weave these famed blankets. If you’re planning a trip, please pay us a visit. You can take a mill tour (information here: Pendleton Mill Tours) as you partake everything that the city of Pendleton offers. We would love to see you.

Century Harding – New for 2023

August 8, 2023September 15, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / 2 Comments

Celebrating Harding with a Special Weave

A close view of the Century Harding pattern.

The Harding pattern celebrates 100 years in 2023. This design commemorates a visit to Oregon’s Blue Mountain country by President Warren G. Harding and his wife, who traveled West to dedicate a portion of the Old Oregon Trail. But the Harding blanket is not named for our 29^th President.

First Lady Florence Harding

Presentation of the robe to First lady Harding, 1923

At the dedication ceremony, the First Lady was gifted this robe by two local leaders, Chief Cap Sumkins of the Cayuse Tribe and Chief Poker Jim of the Umatilla Tribe. They personally commissioned this robe from the Pendleton mill to honor Mrs. Harding’s sincere and forthright nature. Pendleton’s weavers modified a Chief Joseph pattern and produced a fringed shawl in shades of white, tan, yellow, and red. Mrs. Harding graciously accepted the blanket, and by all accounts was delighted with her gift.

Century Harding

To celebrate this pattern’s century milestone, our weavers created something special: the limited edition Century Harding blanket in an edition of, yes, 1,923. The Harding blanket has always been colored with solid ground. The Century Harding blanket (and the apparel fabrics) have ground woven in an ombre: Navy into royal blue into turquoise into a khaki, finishing with a bright, fresh green. The first photo in this post shows the ombre in detail.

A new commemorative color celebrates 100 years of the Harding pattern with a refreshed layout. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding and First Lady Florence Harding visited Oregon’s Blue Mountain Country to dedicate a portion of the Old Oregon Trail. At the ceremony, leaders of the Cayuse and Umatilla Nations presented Mrs. Harding with a newly designed blanket to reflect their admiration of her sincere and forthright nature. For a century, the Harding pattern has been one of Pendleton’s most sought after signature patterns. This bright, exciting ombre celebrates its evergreen popularity.

The Century Harding pattern is also available in limited edition jackets for men and women, and a variety of accessories.

See the selection here: Century Harding at pendleton-usa

Learn more about the Harding Pattern here: Harding – A Pattern Through Time

And learn more about the Old Oregon Trail here: Route of the Oregon Trail

Spirit of the Peoples through the Years

June 6, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills

Journey West Through the Years

May 4, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

A Journey West

Master weaver Thomas Kay began his training as a bobbin boy in English mills before coming to America to establish the family legacy that led to Pendleton Woolen Mills. His journey was a rugged one. He traveled down the Atlantic seaboard, crossed the Isthmus of Panama on a burro, and sailed up the Pacific on a grueling four-month passage. Yet for Thomas Kay, a young English weaver, it was a dream come true. We have commemorated his travels with the Journey West pattern.

For 2023, we are excited to unveil a new coloration of the Journey West blanket.

The new 2023 version of the Pendleton Journey West blanket.

This is the third coloration of a favorite pattern. This dynamic blanket celebrates the pioneering spirit of our founder, weaver Thomas Kay, who journeyed to America from England, arriving in Oregon in 1863. Its design was inspired by a blanket discovered in a 19th-century European mill. The pattern highlights the universal appeal of geometric shapes and lines. The hooked patterns inside the large diamonds are common symbols of luck and prosperity. Its quality and beauty is a tribute to the generations of weavers that have continued Thomas Kay’s legacy of quality and excellence.

See it here: Journey West 2023

Craftsman Journey West (retiring 2023)

In 2020, Journey West was chosen to be part of the Craftsman Collection, a special capsule of blankets that celebrated the history, artistry, and craftsmanship of our blankets. For this version, the pattern was recolored and specially dyed to evoke the natural fading of a vintage blanket. One side of the blanket was napped for softness and warmth. The reverse was left unnapped, to showcase the geometry of the pattern. Hand-cut rounded corners recalled the shape of blankets from the earliest days of the mill. For the introduction, we chose three patterns with stories to tell; Canyonlands, Journey West, and Sierra Ridge.

Learn more about this collection here: The Craftsman Collection

Here is the version of Journey West unveiled with the Craftsman Collection.

Pendleton Woolen Mills blanket, the Craftsman Collection version of Journey West.

Here you can see the blanket being hand-trimmed for this special edition.

This blanket is retiring this year, and a limited amount are still available at Pendleton-usa.com – see the blanket here: Craftsman Collection Journey West

The Original Journey West

The Journey West blanket premiered in 2013. It is officially retired, but still available in limited quantities.

original version of the Journey West blanket

As mentioned before, the Journey West pattern is based on a piece of fine European weaving. The original blanket was discovered recently in a 19th-century European mill and included the designer’s notes and calculations, handwritten neatly along the sides. Our modern Pendleton designers viewed this historic work of art with reverence and used it as inspiration. This original gold and red coloration has been popular since its introduction. Our designers have used it in many different apparel styles like the women’s limited edition Cardwell jacket.

Women's limited edition Cardwell jacket in Journey West pattern.

This complex and beautiful design has also graced towels, dinnerware, oversized mugs, and other items. We love them all, but do you have a favorite?

See the current selections here: Journey West

Happy National Park Week from Pendleton Woolen Mills

April 28, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

1.5M and growing

As we mentioned in our last post, our partnership with the National Park Foundation is thriving.

Thanks to all of you for your part in making this partnership a success.

The NPF works tirelessly to protect the parks and monuments that preserve America’s beauty for future generations. And National Park Week is a celebration of their efforts. You can learn more at this page, which offers so much information about just what’s included in this special week:

https://www.nationalparks.org/theme/national-park-week

We hope you’ve had a chance to get out there. If not, there is always this weekend!

Shop here: Pendleton for the National Parks

We Celebrate National Park Week with a Contribution Milestone!

April 26, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / 2 Comments

Now, that’s a celebration.

Pendleton National Park blankets on a wooden fence in front of glaciers

We are celebrating National Park Week 2023 with a donation milestone of over $1.5 million in contributions to the National Park Foundation since 2016. Through sales of the National Park Collection, Pendleton is proud to support the National Park Foundation, the nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving America’s more than 400 national parks.

Our Projects

Pendleton’s partnership has supported two landmark park preservation projects. Our first project was in Glacier National Park, at the beautiful Many Glacier Hotel. Restoration of the historic lobby included rebuilding the iconic helical staircase, which had been displaced by a gift shop.

Committed to the Future

“The national parks have been an important part of Pendleton’s heritage from the very early days,” said Pendleton CEO John Bishop. “Our National Parks Collection dates back to 1916. It is an honor to be able to continue to partner with the National Park Foundation to help support the inspiring work they do across our treasured national parks.”

We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you all for your support.

Pendleton on CBS Sunday Morning

April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

Sunday Morning

You may have seen Pendleton Woolen Mills recently on CBS Sunday Morning. You can watch it here:

Thank you to everyone who participated, especially Bobbie Conner, and the entire CBS crew who traveled to Pendleton to talk to us, learn about our history, and film at the mill.

Many Nations for the American Indian College Fund

March 23, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

2023

Pendleton and The College Fund are excited to present the new blanket for 2023: Many Nations, a design by Dustin Lopez. Dustin is a student at Diné College pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree. His winning design was selected from 107 entries.

Many Nations

Many Nations pays tribute to the Indigenous person representing more than one tribe. An indigenized version of DNA frames the initials ‘M’ and ‘B’ to create a symbol for ‘mixtblood.’ The hourglass shape represents the Tsiiyéeł, a symbol to honor the Navajo matriarch society. A serape layout honors the Yaqui, and turquoise symbolizes the Pueblo of Laguna. These are the Many Nations of Dustin Lopez, a College Fund scholar, designer, and artist. Lopez reclaimed his identity through powwow, where he learned inter-tribal dances and embraced his mixtblood identity with a full heart and open mind.

Order the blanket here: Many Nations

The Designer

Photo of Dustin Lopez courtesy http://voyagephoenix.com/

Dustin Lopez (Diné/Laguna Pueblo/Pascua Yaqui) is based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently working as a designer, muralist, and educator, and attends Diné College, majoring in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Design.

Lopez explained that the design of Many Nations is meant to represent the identity crisis felt by Indigenous people who are descendants of more than one tribe or have some non-Native ancestry. Indigenized DNA strands pay tribute to water as the element we cannot exist without. The hourglass shape is made up of the initial M and B for “mixed-blood,” but the hourglass also symbolizes the Tsiiyéeł, or matriarchal society, for many Navajo artists. Star shapes represent parents, both biological and figurative, that pass along traditional teachings and help those struggling with their identity to navigate the world on and off the reservation.

Lopez used a serape design to honor the Yaqui and Laguna Pueblo side of his family and shades of red that reminded him of his home in Coyote Kills Canyon. Finally, the triangles represent the artist radiating with pride, a feeling he hopes to instill in other Indigenous people with all his works, no matter the mixture of their DNA.

With a passion for creativity, Lopez aspires to be a role model on and off the reservation. “My dream is to use art and design as a driving force to reclaim our language, culture, and identities as ‘mixtbloods’. By combining modern and street art with contemporary art, I hope to inspire successfully between both worlds.”

Here, he talks about his inpsirations for Many Nations.

Tribal College Blanket Design Contest and The College Fund

Many Nations is the third winner of the Tribal College Blanket Design contest, which seeks to elevate the voices, work, and representation of tribal college and university (TCU) students while providing TCU students with additional scholarship opportunities. Pendleton has been supporting the work of the College Fund through the sale of special blankets since 1995, and has provided over $1.7 million in scholarship support for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Over the years, blankets have been designed by various designers and guest artists, including Larry Ahvakana, Preston Singletary, Mary Beth Jiron, Tracie Jackson, and many more.

The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest nonprofit supporting Native higher education for 33 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $14.45 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2021-22. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $284 million in scholarships, program, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.

Medicine Bow – a New Blanket and More

February 27, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

River Inspiration

This beautiful new blanket was inspired by the Medicine Bow River in Wyoming.

Medicine Bow

The Medicine Bow River rises deep in Wyoming’s Snowy Range to flow 167 miles on its way to the Medicine Bow Mountains. Native tribes traveled to the area to harvest mountain mahogany for especially fine bows. Stands of wood alternate with bands of arrows, meeting in the center to show the Medicine Bow River crossing, an important link between East and West.

Take a look at the beautiful Medicine Bow River!

The Medicine Bow River, photo by Colby Thomas — Photo by Colby Thomas on Unsplash

The river is a beauty, but it isn’t the only Medicine Bow in Wyoming. Far from it.

Medicine Bow Peak

The highest point of Snowy Range –and the highest point in southern Wyoming–is Medicine Bow Peak (12,018 ft). Intrepid (and hopefully experienced) hikers reach the mountain’s peak on a four-mile trail that features numerous switchbacks and plenty of loose rock. It’s part of the Medicine Bow Mountains, near Laramie, Wyoming.

Medicine Bow National Forest

The river, the peak, and the mountains are part of an enormous preserve called The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland (also known as the MBRTB). The MBRTB is composed of nearly 2.9 million acres in northern Colorado and eastern Wyoming. The entire complex of mountains ranges, grasslands, and vast unspoiled landscapes spans two states and over a dozen counties.

Medicine Bow, the Town

There’s also a tiny town in Carbon County, Wyoming that bears the Medicine Bow name. With a population of only 200 to 300 people, Medicine Bow has maintained a post office since 1869. It is home to the famed Virginian Hotel. In the past, the town hosted outlaws like Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, who committed the Wilcox Train Robbery just a few miles away from Medicine Bow.

Medicine Bow is a beautiful place and a beautiful pattern that is showcased in this wool jacket.

More information at pendleton-usa.com:

Blanket

Jacket

Last Chance Blankets for January, 2023

January 26, 2023March 9, 2023 / pendletonwoolenmills / Leave a comment

Now is the time!

Our USA mills in Oregon and Washington run three shifts a day to keep up with the demand for our wool blankets. Each year, we have to retire blankets to make room on the loom for our newest designs. Stock is low on the following blankets, so if you have been considering one, now is the time!

Child-sized Blankets

Moon Dance

The Menominee tribe of the Great Lakes region tells a tale of Brother Sun and Sister Moon. Brother Sun set out on a long hunt and did not return, causing Sister Moon to worry. She searched far and wide for her brother, waxing and waning for twenty days until she, too, disappeared. But Sister Moon always returns after four nights of darkness to light the night with her soft beams. Sister Moon’s search for Brother Sun is portrayed in this pattern of a cloud-obscured moon dancing gently over water.

This peaceful child-sized blanket was introduced in Fall 2020. It is 32″ x 44″, and napped for cozy story times. It also looks beautiful draped over the back of a chair. See it here: Moon Dance

Star Guardian

Crossed arrows stand for brotherhood and the setting aside of conflicts. A peaceful evening has come to the prairie. It is time to light the fires and draw together in the warmth of the fire circle. As logs crackle and flames flicker, stories rise on the night air. Stories of bravery and victory in battle. Stories of stealth and bounty in the hunt. Stories of tricksters and their clever magic. As they share their legends, the People are safe and warm in their tepees. Above it all shines Bear, the great guardian of the night skies.

This charming child-sized blanket was introduced in Fall of 2017. It is 32″ x 44″, and softly napped for soft snuggles, cuddles, and naps. It also makes a fine wall-hanging. See it here: Star Guardian

Robe-sized Blankets

Alamosa

“Of a time long ago, these things are said.” The Navajo language is spoken like a poem, and tells of the first beings, the Air-Spirit People, who emerged in the First World. There, a red island held the Insect People; ants, dragonflies, beetles, and a dwelling called House of Red Rock. To the east, a stepped pattern shows the Place Where the Waters Crossed, home to the sunrise. In the center, blue streams converge, then flow toward each of the sacred Four Directions.

This spectacular robe-sized blanket (twin) was introduced in Fall of 2020. It is unnapped, so the smooth beauty of the pattern shines through, and is finished with a whipstitch binding. See it here: Alamosa

Crescent Bay

Crescent Bay, near Laguna Beach in southern California, is part of the California’s 810 miles of ocean coastline. Waves of diamonds represent the waters of the bay, where divers can see an array of sea life; kelp gardens, fish, seals, sea lions–even sharks. Above the bay floats the marine layer, an inversion created when the cool ocean meets warm air. Sometimes clear, sometimes foggy, the marine layer lingers along the coast, gently dispelling inland heat with the cooling power of the Pacific Ocean.

This California-themed robe-sized blanket was introduced in the Spring of 2020. It is unnapped, so the pattern definition is excellent, and it’s finished with a wool binding. See it here: Crescent Bay

Bedding Collection (multiple sizes)

Alta Lakes

In the high, clear air of the San Juan Mountains, three alpine lakes nestle against Palmyra Peak. This is Southwestern Colorado’s Alta Lakes recreation area, home to hiking, fishing, boating and paddle boarding. Nearby is a tiny ghost town named Alta, a mining center in the 1800s and early 1900s. The evening sky is lit by glowing bands of sunset colors that touch the peaks of the San Juan Mountains, surrounding the three glowing Alta Lakes.

This vibrant blanket design was introduced as a bedding collection in Fall of 2021. The photo above shows the Queen size. It is unnapped for vibrant pattern definition, and is finished with a whipstitch binding. See the collection here: Alta Lakes

Pendleton Woolen Mills