Category: wool

wool

SteP Certified!

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SteP Certified!

We are pleased to announce that our century-old mills in Washougal, WA and Pendleton, OR are certified STeP by OEKO-TEX® (21001295 HOHENSTEIN HTTI). Both mills have been weaving for over 110 years and are continually updated for sustainability and innovation. These mills are the source for our by-the-yard wool fabrics, and crafting supplies like selvage and wooly worms.

STeP by OEKO-TEX® is a certification system for production facilities in the textile industry. Certification assesses production facilities at all processing stages to allow brands to communicate environmental measures. The Pendleton mills were scored in various areas including, chemical management, environmental performance and management, social responsibility, quality management, and health and safety.

This is a milestone on our path to certified sustainability for all our mill products. The process is long and requirements are stringent. Members of our mill teams have worked tirelessly to collect and submit the needed data, and projects have been identified and initiated to make it happen. 

“Pendleton is committed to creating a sustainable product lifecycle. As a vertical operation, the impact we have on the environment is a priority in every process. Certifying the mills for sustainability is a tremendous step in this journey,” explained Rolan Snider, Pendleton’s vice president of textile manufacturing. “The sustainability journey begins with our use of wool as a natural fiber, the long-term relationships with USA wool growers and now continues through the local production in our sustainability-certified mills.”

Our Mills

You can learn more about the process and the path at oeko-tex.com. The Pendleton Woolen Mill located in Washougal, WA is located at 2 Pendleton Way, Washougal, WA 98671 and the Pendleton Woolen Mill located in Pendleton, OR is located at 1307 SE Court Pl, Pendleton, OR 97801. Both mills offer tours year round.

wool

Pendleton Mill Tours are Back

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We’re back, and ready to show you around.

Pendleton is excited to announce that tours of our Washougal, Washington and Pendleton, Oregon mills are now open! If you’ve ever wanted to watch our beautiful fabrics being woven, you can at our two USA mills. These tours showcase the vertical operation that brings Pendleton’s iconic wool blankets and fabrics to life.

A Little PWM History

The Pendleton mill was originally built in 1893, and has been operating as Pendleton Woolen Mills since 1909. That is the year when Fanny Kay Bishop realized what an opportunity the idled facility held, and urged her three sons to buy and revive it. The Bishop Brothers restored and improved operations with the support of the Pendleton community.

The Pendleton mill has always specialized in traditional wool bed blankets. These are woven on jacquard looms to give our blankets curvilinear designs that are often different on front and back, for a reversible option. The company acquired the Washougal mill in 1912 to expand its range of fabrics, with specialized looms for plaids, herringbones, stripes, tweeds…all the weaves found in clothing textiles and plaid blankets.

Today’s Mills

In the early 1900s, the Pendleton mills were two of over 1,000 woolen mills operating in America’s 46 states. Today, they are two of the remaining four woolen mills in the United States. Both mills are continually updated for sustainability and innovation. Each mill offers a unique view into Pendleton craftsmanship.

The mill tour in Washougal, Washington walks guests through every step in the making of Pendleton wool blankets and fabric. This includes:

 –            Raw wool: sourced from local and global wool ranchers

–             Dyeing: state-of-the-art dye color lab to ensure color control and matching

–             Wool carding and spinning: turning wool into yarn

–             Weaving on dobby looms: creates Pendleton’s famous plaids, stripes and solids

–             Finishing touches: washing, hand inspection and boxing

The mill tour in Pendleton, Oregon offers guests an inside look into:

–             Jacquard looms: state-of-the-art two-story looms weaving graphic and pictorial designs

–             Wool spinning: turning wool into yarn

Come see us soon!

The Washougal Mill is located at 2 Pendleton Way, Washougal, Washington 98671. Tours are offered at the Washougal Mill on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11a.m. and 1p.m.

The Pendleton Mill is located at 1307 SE Court Place, Pendleton, Oregon 97801. Tours are offered at the Pendleton Mill Monday through Friday at 11a.m. and 3p.m.

And if you can’t join us in person, here is a little video mill tour for you: A Morning at the Washougal Mill.

Logo for Pendleton Woolen Mills, "Born in Oregon"
wool

Pendleton Blankets are “Beautiful Things” — House Beautiful

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The Woolen Mill Store’s Blanket Wall

If you’ve ever visited our store, you’ve seen our wall of blankets; shelves full of our first-quality, USA-made wool blankets. We have one of the best selections of Pendleton blankets anywhere!

“Beautiful Things” film series

House Beautiful magazine has a fantastic series of short films called “Beautiful Things”. We were honored when they contacted us about featuring our blankets. These are the same facilities that produce our beautiful wool fabrics, which are also processed, dyed and woven in our mills.

So enjoy!

wool

Introducing Rancho Arroyo Shale

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The new Rancho Arroyo fabric is here, in a geometric pattern of grey, beige, navy, shale blue, tan and olive.

Shale is here!

Rancho Arroyo is a customer favorite. That’s why we’re so excited to show you a new Rancho Arroyo color; Shale, in shades of shale blue, cream and grey, with navy, olive and camel accent colors. It’s 64” wide and available for purchase.

Is it calling to you?

Then give us a call at the store 503.535.5786 or 1.866.865.9285 or email us at woolenmillstore@penwool.com   We can ship right to your door.

Pendleton Woolen Mill Store

8500 SE McLoughlin Blvd. Portland, OR 97222

(503) 535-5786 • http://www.woolenmill.store • WoolenMiIIStore@penwool.com

 

wool

Happy Earth Day 2020!

pendletonwoolenmills

Two young sheep stand in a pasture, looking directly at the camera.

Earth Day during Quarantine

In some ways, this is a difficult time to celebrate our planet, since we are all doing our best to observe quarantine protocols and stay indoors. But consider this. Right now, the Internet is full of inspiring shots of clean air, clear water and adventurous wildlife stepping out on city streets. Our planet is getting a well-earned rest for Earth Day.

Stack of folded Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool on a table.

Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool®

There are many, many products out there claiming to be “green.” From the sheep to the shelf, Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool® passes strict standards of sustainability and stewardship, verified and certified. This means that if you were to take a Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool® fabric and bury it, it would leave the earth better, not worse, for the addition.

So consider a project with Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool® – You can see it here (after the melton fabrics): Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool®

And Happy Earth Day. We will all remember this one, won’t we?

 

Pendleton Woolen Mill Store

8500 SE McLoughlin Blvd. Portland, OR 97222

(503) 535-5786 • http://www.woolenmill.store • WoolenMiIIStore@penwool.com

 

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New fabrics!

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Our new fabric is here

Check out the new lightweight and medium weight jacquard patterns we just added!

 

What projects will you use these new patterns for?

  • Remember, small cuts are fine when you order fro the store.
  • See our fabrics pages for descriptions and details: Fabrics
  • If your fabric is not listed yet, give us a call. We can answer your questions.
  • Call us or email us with your order and we will be in touch!
  • We accept all major credit cards.

More information needed?

If you need information about materials or have any questions, please give us a call at (503) 535-5786.

Pendleton Woolen Mill Store

8500 SE McLoughlin Blvd. Portland, OR 97222

(503) 535-5786 • http://www.woolenmill.store • WoolenMiIIStore@penwool.com

promotions, wool

Making Connections with Pendleton Wool

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The Wonders of Wool

Here at the Woolen Mill Store, we are passionate about wool and its properties; durability, sustainability, ease of tailoring, and beauty. That’s why we love the Make it With Wool competition. We’re also passionate about the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington that happens each year (shown in time lapse, above). With the displays, booths, classes, and wonderful conversations we have there, we learn as much as we teach.

Creative Customers

That’s why we were delighted when a Make It With Wool contestant dropped by our booth to show us the entry she made with wool purchased from our booth last year. She graciously allowed us to share these photos of her creation: a pieced coat with a unique back zipper and beautiful tonal embellishment.

Isn’t this coat a work of art?

Safety Concerns and More

We understand that many of you are home right now, whether you are working from home, or home with your children due to school closures, or, sadly, in quarantine. We want you to know that we can ship directly to your house. Pre-shop the fabrics on the fabric tab, and then call 1-866-865-9285 or email us at  WoolenMillStore@penwool.com for help.

Pendleton Woolen Mill Store

8500 SE McLoughlin Blvd. Portland, OR 97222

(503) 535-5786 • http://www.woolenmill.store • WoolenMiIIStore@penwool.com

Store Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am – 5:30pm • Sunday 11am – 4pm

wool

The Benefits of Wool

pendletonwoolenmills

Two young sheep stand in a pasture, looking directly at the camera.

Photo credit

Why Wool?

We’ve been choosing wool through many civilizations and many centuries. Why? For so many reasons; loft, insulation, durability, color and sustainability–wool lasts a remarkably long time, and when it’s time for it to go, it biodegrades naturally.

Learning More

Learn more about this fantastic fiber below.

Benefits of wool graphic touting the flollowing characteristics of wool: Sustainable & renewable, resilient & wrinkle-resistant, naturally comfortable, flame retardant, lustrous & fade resistant, water & stain relellent, Surprisingly varied