Pendleton Woolen Mills

5 days ago - Pendleton Woolen Mills is an American textile manufacturing company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company was incorporated in 1909 in Pendleton, Oregon, under the ownership of the Bishop family, who had ties to the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in Salem, Oregon.

May 5, 2020 - Pendleton Woolen Mills owes its name to the Oregon town that held its first factory, built in 1895. Unlike other centennial businesses, the blanket fabricator—which now also offers apparel, rugs, and tabletop accessories—has kept its headquarters in its Oregon home, choosing to stay family-owned and operated long after its successes made it a household name.

December 24, 2024 - A brief history of the Pendleton blanket—from its 19th-century origins to its role in dressing in decor today (plus: how to spot a vintage one)

November 18, 2025 - Pendleton Woolen Mills, Pendleton, Oregon, USA, best known for its Indian blankets and usually-plaid woollen shirts

The Pendleton Blanket legend was born at a woolen mill in Pendleton, Oregon, in the early 1900s. The mill began producing striking wool blankets with vivid colors and authentic Native American Indian designs for the Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla ...

The Bishops built a three-story concrete factory building in Pendleton, installed machinery from the old mill, and quickly established a successful business by manufacturing and marketing high-quality blankets and robes based on Native American designs. Many of the family’s first Native designs and patterns and the mill’s focus on tribal trade drew on the work of the original Pendleton mill, which had marketed Indian blankets and robes.

September 16, 2020 - Rawnsley "interpreted" the colorful symbols and patterns he saw on Native American clothing, homes, and parfleche hide bags to weave blankets on Pendleton’s looms. The company’s two oldest designs are Chief Joseph, an homage to Nez Perce Chief Joseph the Younger, and the Harding Blanket, first presented to President Warren G.

Pendleton Woolen Mills has been weaving world-class woolens in their two Pacific Northwest mills for more than a century and is one of the oldest blanket manufacturers in the United States.

Due to the unique felting property of wool, this woven cloth goes through a fulling process that uses controlled shrinkage to produce a softer, more compact fabric. The material also passes through other finishing procedures such as washing, shearing, pressing, napping and inspection before production is complete. Near the end of the production cycle, blanket fabrics are cut and finished as authentic Pendleton heirlooms.

While most early trading blankets were plaids and block designs, jacquard loomed blankets with brilliant colors and sharp details became very popular within the Indigenous community and integrated into everyday and ceremonial uses. Navajo writer and artist Rain Parrish has documented the cultural significance of these branded prized possessions in various works. “We welcome our children with a small handmade quilt or a Pendleton blanket,” writes Parrish in The Language of the Robe: American Indian Trade Blankets.

May 20, 2023 - A mill in Eastern Oregon that has been weaving wool for more than a century is, quite literally, part of the fabric of the community. The town's name – Pendleton – is stitched into every product.

While most early trading blankets were plaids and block designs, jacquard loomed blankets with brilliant colors and sharp details became very popular within the Indigenous community and integrated into everyday and ceremonial uses. Navajo writer and artist Rain Parrish has documented the cultural significance of these branded prized possessions in various works. “We welcome our children with a small handmade quilt or a Pendleton blanket,” writes Parrish in The Language of the Robe: American Indian Trade Blankets.

Many of the blankets shown are part of his extensive collection, which he displays at talks and lectures around the country. Enjoy! Yellowstone National Park became our country’s first national park on March 1, 1872. Pendleton Woolen Mills began designing its first Yellowstone Park blanket during Yellowstone’s 50th Anniversary and issued it the following year, in May 1923.

James J. Hill, builder of the Great ... at his park stores that captured the spirit of earlier fur trading days. Pendleton created the Glacier Park blanket....

When the Bishop family assumed ownership, they built a new plant with the assistance of the town of Pendleton, which issued bonds for the construction of the plant. The family resumed the production of Indian blankets and introduced new designs, colors, and patterns to their product line.

February 3, 2011 - Trade expanded from the Nez Perce nation near Pendleton to the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni nations. These Pendleton blankets were used as basic wearing apparel and as a standard of value for trading and credit among Native Americans.

May 23, 2023 - Pendleton Woolen Mill Pendleton, Oregon Mill built in 1895 Weaves all jacquard blankets and fabric for apparel Store located at mill site

Crafted from premium materials like soft wool or organic cotton, Pendleton blankets offer luxurious softness and long-lasting quality. Our wool blankets are ideal for keeping warm on chilly nights, while our outdoor blankets provide comfort ...

Many of these designs draw inspiration from the American West and are rooted in Pendleton's century-old archives. Every pattern tells a story and reflects our ongoing commitment to craftsmanship, artistry, and cultural heritage. Whether you’re looking for a king, queen/full or twin wool blanket for the bedroom or a blanket for the living room, these pieces add warmth and character to any space.

Pendleton has been making world famous wool blankets for over a century - quality and craftsmanship is woven into each blanket.