25% off all fabric, March 1-31, 2025, online and in retail and outlet stores. Online prices as marked. Not valid in affiliate stores, including McKenna’s Pendleton and the Jackson Hole affiliate store. Selection varies. Discount taken before taxes. May not combined with other offers or used on previous purchases.
Our Apparel Weight Fabrics continue on special this month, with additional clearance specials throughout the store. We carry a wide variety of apparel weight fabrics, including worsted wool and woolen flannel shirting. The width varies from 54-60 inches wide. See them by weight at: Light Weight Apparel Fabric and Medium Weight Apparel Fabric. Please come see us to enjoy these fantastic promotions. This offer is good through end of business day, Jan. 31, 2025.
Community Crafting
Join us for a free selvage rug crochet demo. Learn the craft of a lifetime, share your work and knowledge, or just enjoy crafting in community at our store.
25% off all apparel-weight fabric January 2-31, 2025, at the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store in Portland, Oregon. Limited to stock on hand; selection varies. Cannot be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases.
Our Craft Tools are all 30% off this month. Are you a knitter? A Needle felter? A fan of crewel or embroidery? The tools of your trade are 30% off through 12/31/24.
And don’t forget the BOGO! Winter crafting takes some special materials, like webbing, ribbon, twill tape and ricrac (or rickrack as my grandmother called it). All these crafting helpers are buy one, get one free this month, 12/24.
SPECIAL PERKS
Are you a Pendleton Perks member? We have double perks and more for you. Visit your local Pendleton store or outlet for information on special savings and rewards.
30% off all craft tools December 1-31, 2024, at the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store in Portland, Oregon. Limited to stock on hand; selection varies. Cannot be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases. Some promotions valid Dec. 12-16, 2024, in Pendleton retail and outlet stores; one per customer. Not valid online or affiliate stores, including McKenna’s Pendleton and the Jackson Hole affiliate store. Does not apply to previous purchases.
Rali Burleson, director of the Arizona Make It With Wool (MIWW) contest and good friend of the Pendleton brand, wrote to us recently to share an outfit she created around a vintage Gambler shirt.
Photo by Barbara Trainor.
Her letter read:
I am enclosing photos of my vintage Pendleton Gambler shirt. My shirt may be older than the 1940s. The shirt is grey with bronze-colored topstitching and closes with bronze-colored pearlized buttons. It is a size small (14½). It is in pristine condition with little to no wear. The inside is immaculate! I made a beautiful bronze-colored skirt, using Pendleton wool, to wear with the shirt.
I developed a unique skirt closure using a vintage money clip with a bronze ram’s head on the front. I wear a silk Pendleton scarf as an accessory.
Photo by Barbara Trainor.
We love the outfit she’s created, especially since it uses Pendleton wool fabric.
What About That Skirt?
Rali says this about the beautiful skirt she made to go with the Gambler shirt.
I used a vintage (1989) McCall’s pattern (4408) for my skirt.
Photo courtesy Rali Burleson
The skirt has a waistband with an elasticized back…
Photo by Barbara Trainor.
…side seam pockets with a side pocket opening, and front pleats.
Photo courtesy Rali Burleson
The skirt fabric is a very lightweight wool flannel by Pendleton. The creative closure is a vintage money clip depicting a ram’s head.
Photo courtesy Rali Burleson
It is a perfect compliment to my wool skirt and Make It With Wool.
Photo by Barbara Trainor.
I am proud to say, “I made it myself with wool.”
Dress well. Dress in WOOL!
The skirt is a beauty, but we can’t forget the shirt.
After some investigation, we discovered that her Gambler shirt is actually a men’s shirt in its smallest neck size; 14 ½ . It was made in women’s sizes in 1936, but in Umatilla Wool, not gabardine.
The Western Gambler was introduced somewhere between 1934 – 1939. The white label gives us a clue as to the age, as the label changed from blue/gold to white around 1940ish, and remained white until the final offering in Fall 1962, so Rali’s shirt was made sometime between 1940 and 1962.
Rali is wearing a shirt that could be 80+ years old!
Photo by Barbara Trainor.
Looking good with jeans, Rali!
This shirt was made in a fine worsted wool gabardine. Here is more copy from 1939, specifically about the fine Pendleton wool fabric.
PENDLETON GABARDINES – “Pendleton Gabardine Shirts are made from an exclusive Pendleton fabric – an 8-ounce mill shrunk worsted gabardine. The luxurious fabric is available in the distinctive models – the Sportsman, the Western Gambler, and the Sports Shirt Model, providing a gabardine garment for all sports, spectator, or leisure wear.”
Rali’s shirt shows how well that fabric endures – the magic of wool.
Western Wonders
Rali’s Western look is perfect for this month, when our minds turn to western style in general. August is when we gear up for the Pendleton Round-Up, in Pendleton, Oregon. Thousands of rodeo-goers visit our store, shop our Western (and non-Western) apparel, and take mill tours. These wonderful photos of Rali have us ready to hit the road, see the rodeo, and Let’er Buck!
Photo by Barbara Trainor.
If she’s inspired you, visit us to see our range of exquisite wool fabrics; from jacquards to gabardines, whatever strikes your fancy. And a HUGE thank you to Barbara Trainor Photography for her creative work with Rali (and for traveling to such an amazing location). We love these photos!
Read more about the Make It With Wool competition here: MIWW
Pendleton Woolen Mills is one of the biggest sponsors of the Make It With Wool competition (MIWW). We donate a $1,000 scholarship to the National MIWW Finals Junior Division Winner, and provide deeply discounted fabric to contestants, as well as gratis yardage to directors for promotion uses.
But what exactly is the MIWW competition about?
MIWW began in 1947 when wives of sheep owners started the contest to promote wool. The annual sewing competition promotes wool fabrics, yarns and fibers, and is sponsored by the American Wool Council and the American Sheep Industry and American Sheep Industry Women.
MIWW Today
The contest is open to participants from pre-teen through adult, and begins at the state level. Contestants select, construct, and model their own garment or outfit made from at least 60 percent wool. Two state winners are chosen to move on to the national competition.
Rali Burleson (pictured above with a young winner) is the Director of Arizona Make It With Wool. Above, Rali is wearing a gorgeous wool jumpsuit she created for her emcee duties. She also shared photos that showcase the jumpsuit’s outstanding interior workmanship.
Rali says, “Here’s the lowdown on the jumpsuit: It’s Butterick 6130, made from Pendleton burgundy wool crepe. The standout features are the bateau neckline, bias stand-up collar, midriff yoke, gathered bodice, back zipper, and wide legs. It’s loose-fitting through the bust and semifitted through the hips. I’ve lined the bodice and cap sleeves with Bemberg rayon and used various couture techniques, including a top-stitched placket zipper, bound armhole seams, muslin interfacing, Hong Kong finishes, and a figure eight hem stitch.”
Some Vintage Fun
Rali is the unofficial Make It With Wool historian. She is also a collector of vintage patterns and other sewing-related items. This past February, one of her contacts sent the brochure shown below. Said Rali, “She knows I work with the wool industry and periodically sends me vintage wool memorabilia. I am on the hunt for the Butterick patterns depicted in the brochure and four yards of vintage Pendleton plaid wool in that design.”
Above, enjoy the winning looks from the 1967 – 68 Make It With Wool competition, called the “Make It Yourself With Wool” competition back in the day.cover of the program for the 1967-68 competition, from the Pendleton Archives
And a more modern winner, Madi Dunning, who won the 76th National MIWW competition!
MAKE IT WITH WOOL – Saratoga Sun article
Madi Dunning Reigns at National Make It With Wool Contest
The 76th annual ‘National Make It With Wool Contest’ was held in Denver CO in mid-January. Contestants from 25 states competed in creating wearable garments using fabric or yarn that is at least 60% wool fiber. They can sew, knit, crochet or felt the clothing that is then judged for construction quality and fashion. Madi, competing in the Junior division, representing ages 13-16, was selected as the National Junior Winner. She also won the Top Junior Construction Award, and second place in the Machine Embroidery category. Her series of major awards at the MIWW also netted her several prizes, including a $1,000 scholarship from Pendleton Woolen Mills and a $500 award from the governing organization.
Madi Dunning, winner of the 2024 MIWW competition in her Pendleton wool dress. Photo courtesy The Saratoga Sun, all rights reserved
Madi Dunning is the first person from Wyoming to win a top prize in the Junior or Senior Divisions. Her path to the national title began by competing in the Carbon County district contest, then moving on to the state level held in Casper, before competing at the national event. She will now serve as Junior Ambassador for a year, which will include attending next year’s event being held in Scottsdale AZ in January 2025. Madi has studied sewing under Lynda Johnson for the past seven years. She previously competed in the Preteen Division for four years. She also won the Junior Division at the Wyoming State Contest the last three years. Ms. Johnson notes “Each year, she increased her sewing and modeling skills.” This year Madi’s entry was a tailored green and black coat accented with machine embroidery on the front lapels and back collar and complemented by a black plaid fitted dress.
More Information
Are you interested in learning more about Make It With Wool? Are you possibly even considering entering? You can find more information here: Make It With Wool
We received a very touching letter from Marilyn Heaven, and we want to share her story with our crafting and sewing fans. What follows has been lightly edited. – Editor
Dear Pendleton;
My husband of 57 years (together 60) passed away suddenly on July 30, 2023. He was quite the Pendleton Fan. We even have a Pendleton Blanket for our bed. The only thing he wore in the winter was his Pendleton Wool Shirts. We traveled a lot and he picked up shirts along the way.
After his death, I went to his closet and wondered what I would do with these beautiful Pendleton shirts. Most of his other clothing had gone to Goodwill, but these shirts were special. I discussed it with my kids. We first thought of having pillows made, but then my daughter heard from a fellow teacher about a nearby quilter named Dianna Kogut (“Sew Lovely Quilting” on Facebook). So we talked with her, and then started exploring designs online.
I knew I did not want the typical square so I finally decided on a design made with rectangular pieces. I took Wally’s 25 shirts to the quilter, where we decided on a wool filing and a cotton back.
Wally’s Pendleton Shirts – he was a fan of the Trail Shirt!
Diana even incorporated the shirt pockets into the six quilts. I had hoped to incorporate the elbow patches, but that did not work because of the size. I used Wally’s jeans for the memory note on the back of the quilts.
text transcribed below
The construction took several months. Our goal was mid-December as surprise Christmas gifts for my two children and three grandchildren, and of course I kept one for myself.
When the quilts were ready, I put each quilt in a special Christmas box with a note that said:
You have Grandpa’s DNA in your body, you have love for him in your heart, memories of him in your brain and now you have something of his to keep forever.
Love , Grandma
Note: Kleenex Included in this envelope.
I also told them DRY CLEAN ONLY! So that’s the story of those 25 Pendleton Shirts that belonged to my hubby Walter Heaven, 1/6/45 – 7/30/23. This was a very emotional project because the family can remember him in all these shirts. I throw my own quilt over me on chilly nights and say “Wally, keep me warm.”
25%, off apparel fabrics valid at Pendleton Woolen Mill store only, May 5-31, 2023. Selection varies. Limited to stock on hand. Cannot be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases.
We have some super exciting events for you this month, starting with our Semi-Annual Fabric Sale!
This event begins tomorrow, Wednesday March 2nd, and runs though March 31, 2023.
25% off all textiles and raw materials!
While supplies last, and limited to stock on hand.
Sewing & Stitchery Expo 2023
This exciting event is going on March 1st through March 5th at the Washington State Fair & Event Center, 1404 5th Street SW, in Puyallup WA 98371
Come see us at booth 308 & 310
Community Crafting
Sunday, March 19th from Noon to 2PM
Featured craft: Sewing with Felt Binding
This is a FREE event, and all ability levels are welcome.
Promotions valid at Pendleton Woolen Mill store only, March 2-31, 2023. Selection varies. Limited to stock on hand. Cannot be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases.
