Pendleton Woolen Mill Store

Surprise! Truck Report, Part 2

2012-01-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hello again, crafty friends!

We had a lovely little surprise visit from the Pendleton truck this morning with 150 pounds of blanket header. This has been our most sought-after type of scrap lately, so get it while it's hot.

Truck Report 1/27/2012

2012-01-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

Good morning, WoolFans!

The Pendleton truck visited us right on schedule and dropped off 200 pounds of fuzzy selvage -- just in time for select colors to go on sale! Starting tomorrow (Saturday the 28th) a few choice colors will be 50% off the regular price.

Another exciting thing going on this weekend: part one of our two-part Reversible Kid's Coat class. Visit the Classes tab at the top of the page for more information, and call the store at (503) 535-5786 if you'd like to join us!

Requested Rug Crochet Pictures

2012-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

One of our Facebook friends posted a note asking to see pictures from our Rug Crochet class. We thought you'd never ask! We've been saving pictures from the last year's worth of classes.

Stacy (at the far left) gets everyone started rolling balls of selvage.

The rug class on January 21 was one of our biggest rug classes yet -- we had 25 students (and two teachers). We were too many for the classroom, so we set up in front of the shipping area and tapestry gallery. It's a little easier to spread out that way.

Rolling rolling rolling... keep those balls rolling!

It's easy to get absorbed in (or by!) your work...

If you'd like to try your hand at rugmaking, we do have a free downloadable pattern over on the left sidebar of the blog... and plenty of selvage here at the store! The bins are full of bright colors in flannel (medium) and blanket (heavy) weights.

The tools of the trade, and a rug in progress.

Our next Wool Rug Crochet class will be held on Sunday, February 19th. Call the store to reserve a spot, or just drop by and join us! You can see our full class schedule by clicking on the Classes tab at the top of the page.

Community Craft Night 1/25/2012

2012-01-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

Join us at the Woolen Mill Store for our monthly Community Craft Night -- Wednesday, January 25th from 5-7pm.

How does it work? Pack up a work in progress and bring it down to the Woolen Mill Store. Store staff and crafty guests will be there for some social time while we all get creative! It's totally FREE. Bring a snack or a drink if you like. Definitely bring a friend.

Don't have a current work-in-progress? Maybe your craft isn't quite so portable? We've got 12,000 square feet of inspiration here on McLoughlin Boulevard. Community Craft Night is a great chance to try out a fun new hobby.

We try to get our crafty community together once per month for some casual, crafty time... so keep an eye on the Woolen Mill Store blog for upcoming events.

Six Weeks Until Sew Expo!

2012-01-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

The nation's largest sewing and stitchery expo is just six weeks away!

Once again, the Woolen Mill Store will be packing up a truckload of fabric, craft supplies, notions, patterns, kits, and more for Sew Expo in Puyallup, WA! Throughout the weekend, we'll be demonstrating a variety of crafts in the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store booth, so stop by and see what we're up to.

Our own crafty miracle worker Stacy will be leading a three needle seminar during the Sewing & Stitchery Expo. Join us on Friday, March 2 or Saturday, March 3 to make a Pendleton Picnic Blanket. We suggest you pre-register for this and any other classes, as space is limited and some classes do fill up rather quickly.

Sewing & Stitchery Expo -- The Biggest Sewing Party in America!
http://www.sewexpo.com/

March 1 - 4, 2012
Puyallup Fair & Events Center
110-9th Avenue SW
Puyallup, WA 98371

Use Up Your Scraps!

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's confession time: do you save scraps from your projects for Someday?

Ah, Someday... the mythical land where we follow up on all our project ideas, where no craft goes unfinished, and where the days are three times longer (with perfect lighting) so we can get more done.

These pictures might help inspire you to make a little visit to the craft-tastical land of Someday... today.

Here are a few more scrap-busting ideas from the Woolen Mill Store staff:

Use smaller pieces to make flowers. Little flowers make great accessories -- pins, hair clips, on a bangle bracelet, and more. A bouquet of fabric flowers makes a lovely gift!
Pieces that are too small to craft with make a great free stuffing for other projects!
A single piece of a fabric you love can be turned into a patch to add some excitement to pants, a jacket, or a bag.
Whip up some doll clothes and accessories.
Create mini-sized stuffed animals, like the grey seal above.
Roll strips of scrap fabric around a coffee stirrer straw and glue or stitch into place. Snip the straw and you've got a homemade fabric bead. Seal with Mod Podge for a finished look.
A rectangular scrap can be folded in half and stitched to make a case for your phone, mp3 player, or sunglasses.

Truck Report 1/13/2012

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning, WoolFans! We hope you're not too superstitious about Friday the 13th.

If you've been waiting and hoping for some beautiful blanket header, today is your lucky day -- the Pendleton truck delivered 200 pounds of blanket header. The last time we got blanket header, it disappeared quickly... so plan accordingly.

We also got 400 pounds of fuzzy selvage to top off the bins.

Have a crafty weekend!

Too Many Candy Canes?

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

If you're suffering from a touch of candy cane overload, don't despair. There are lots of crafty, creative things you can do with your overstock of sugary goodness!

Check out some great ideas from Cute Food For Kids? or give us a few of your best candy cane reuse ideas in comments.

Truck Report 1/6/2012

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, WoolFans!

Is it weird for you to write or type "2012"? It is for us!

The Pendleton truck has made its first visit of the new year, bringing us another few hundred pounds of fuzzy selvage. The bins are piled high with a variety of colors and weights for your crafting pleasure.

Portland Fashion Week's Emerging Designer Winner

2012-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

Let's hear it for Amanda Grisham, the Oregon native who won Portland Fashion Week's Emerging Designer competition!

Check out the article, pictures, and exclusive video interview at Portland Monthly online -- you might recognize some of the fabrics...

Would You Like to Join Our Creative Customers?

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

We get really excited about crafty projects here at the Woolen Mill Store. If you bring in a work-in-progress or a finished product, we *LOVE* to hear all about how you did it.

Sassy striped bags made from Pendleton scraps!

If you've got a creation that you're especially proud of, bring it over to the Woolen Mill Store. After we get done OOHing and AAHing over your clever work, we'll snap a few pictures and you might just see your project here on the Woolen Mill Store blog!

An old chair gets a new seat woven from wooly worms!

Don't live within driving distance? No worries -- just email a picture of your project to us at woolenmillstore(at)penwool(dot)com. Put "ATTN: Aimee - Blog Pics" in the subject line so it goes to the right person. Include a brief description of how you made it, and any other info you'd like included like a website for your work, a craft show you'll be at, or your favorite Pendleton pattern.

Breathtaking boots remade in Pendleton fabric.

Want to look back at our Creative Customers from 2011? Click the "creative customers" tag at the bottom of this post to see them all!

Truckless Report 12/30/2011

2011-12-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

See? No truck!

Good morning, WoolFans!

We've reached our very last Truck Report of 2011, and it turns out to be a TruckLESS Report! The folks at our Pacific Northwest mills are enjoying some well-deserved time off during the holiday season.

The bins are still well stocked with selvage at the moment -- last week a bunch of bright, colorful blanket-weight selvage came to join the party.

Have a Happy 2012!

Looking Ahead: Crafty 2012

2011-12-28T09:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we asked about your favorite crafty project of 2011. Today, we're looking towards the future:

What NEW craft would you like to try in 2012? Who knows, maybe we'll have a demo to help you get started...

2011 in Review: Your Best Project

2011-12-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

As the calendar gets ready to roll over into a new year, it's a good time to look both back and forward. Today, we'd like to look back:

What was your favorite crafty project of 2011? Post a link to a picture if you've got one!

Truck Report 12/23/2011

2011-12-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays, WoolFans!

Just in time for some last minute gift-making, the Pendleton truck delivered a true bounty of scraps. We got a little bit of everything.

Blanket header: 200 pounds

Wooly worms: 100 pounds

Premium wool strips: 200 pounds
Selvage: 500 pounds -- lots of bright colors in heavy (blanket) weight!
Have a crafty weekend.

Holiday Hours

2011-12-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

We wanted to let you know about a change to our store hours for the upcoming holidays.

Saturday, December 24th: the Woolen Mill Store will be closing at 4pm

Sunday, December 25th: the Woolen Mill Store will be closed

December 26-30: we will be on our usual schedule, 10am to 5:30pm

Saturday, December 31st: the Woolen Mill Store will be closing at 4pm

Sunday, January 1st: the Woolen Mill Store will be closed

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Felted Wool Yarn Balls

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

Check out this quick and easy -- and FUN! -- project from the Russian Etsy team: felted balls made from wool yarn. If you liked the felted ball garland we posted a few weeks ago, you'll love these giant-sized, fuzzy, fun balls.

Don't they look squishable and fun? Felted balls by Lafiabarussa.

If you don't have any wool yarn handy, the Woolen Mill Store has ColorPlay wool in single ply and two-ply in a rainbow of colors!

Truck Report 12/16/2011

2011-12-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

Good morning, WoolFans! We hope you're having a lovely December -- hard to believe we're just two weeks away from 2012. (Stay tuned for some end-of-the-year polls, by the way. They'll pop up the last week of the year.)

The Pendleton truck once again delivered the goods! We received another 350 pounds of selvage this week -- just in time for Sunday's Wool Rug Crochet class. If you'd like to join us, feel free to swing by the store. Class starts at 11am.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hug Your Home

2011-12-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Turn your home -- the real one or the one from your wildest dreams -- into a colorful, cuddly toss pillow with this great how-to from RadMegan.

It's so easy to picture giant-sized house pillows as floor cushions for a family movie night... or a stuffed town for dolls to play in... or gifts for your favorite neighbors...

Pillows are so much fun... can you ever have enough?

Community Craft Night: This Wednesday 12/14/11

2011-12-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

It's getting down to crunch time if you're having a Handmade Holiday this year. And with all the craziness that often comes along with the season, it can be hard to find a little quiet time to get crafty.

Community Craft Night to the rescue! Join us on Wednesday evening from 5pm-7pm for some quality craft time with other creative folks from the Portland area -- including Woolen Mill Store staff. Bring one (or several) of your works in progress, bring a friend, bring some cookies and milk... whatever you like!

Community Craft Night is usually held on the third Wednesday of each month (we're a little early this time around) and we would love to see you there! For address, map, and directions, click on the About Us tab at the top of the blog.

Truck Report 12/9/2011

2011-12-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

Good morning, WoolFans! We hope you're having a lovely December so far.

Are you one of the many crafters around the world planning a Handmade Holiday this year? The Pendleton truck has delivered a bounty of supplies for your gift making endeavors.

200 pounds wooly worms
200 pounds blanket header
500 pounds fuzzy selvage

A little bit of everything! Happy crafting.

Glittery Felt Birds

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Oh craftgawker, we love the wide variety of projects, pictures, and tutorials you help us find! Check out this great how-to project from blogger Torie Jayne:

A flock of pretty, glittery felt birds by Torie Jayne

We'd love a flock of these on the tree! You can never have too much glitter.

Own a Piece of Pendleton History

2011-12-05T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Geronimo Blanket by Pendleton

In February 2010, Pendleton Woolen Mills rolled out the world's longest blanket -- and earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

For the design, we chose a pattern that dates back to the early 1900s: Geronimo. The original blanket in this pattern was owned by Geronimo -- he was once photographed wearing a blanket in this design.

The giant Geronimo blanket was exhibited in different parts of Oregon throughout 2010; it was even part of the Centennial Circle Dance at the 2010 Round-Up!

The World's Largest and Longest Seamless Blanket had some pretty impressive stats:

It tipped the scales at 380 lbs and had to be transported by forklift!
It measured 432 feet in length -- that's around 1.5 football fields!
It measured 2303 square feet in area -- that's larger than the average house in Portland, OR!
It used the fleece from more than 50 sheep!
It took nearly 13 hours to weave at the Pendleton Woolen Mill in Pendleton, OR!

You can now own a piece of Pendleton history -- commemorative throws made from the World's Largest and Longest Seamless Blanket are available in limited quantities. The throws have a special leather patch describing the world record set in 2010, and are individually numbered. Only 160 are available!

Truck Report 12/2/2011

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning, WoolFans! We hope you had a good week, and have something exciting planned for the weekend.

The Pendleton truck is practicing for Santa duty and dropped off our big boxes of mill scraps right on schedule. (We didn't make anybody drop boxes down the chimney... yet!)

We're adding another 500 pounds of selvage to the bins -- and it's still 30% off the regular price! Don't know what to do with the fuzzy stuff? We've got a rug crochet class coming up on Sunday, December 18th to help you get started. Visit the Classes tab at the top of the blog to see our full schedule for December.

Felt Balls Holiday Garland

2011-11-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

MySparkle has a great tutorial for making a garland out of felted balls.

Festive AND funky! Picture courtesy of MySparkle.

What a bright, fun decoration! You could totally pick and choose your colors to match your home decor or holiday theme.

FREE! Pendleton Tree Poncho Pattern

2011-11-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to offer you a totally FREE pattern for a beautiful Pendleton Tree Poncho designed by Michelle from Design Camp PDX.

Isn't it awesome?

You can pick up a copy of the pattern in person at the Woolen Mill Store, or visit Design Camp to download the pattern in PDF form. Pick out a yard of your favorite fabric, five yards of wool felt binding, and four snazzy buttons and you're ready to go!

Sir Wooliam Gets Herded

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

If you've been to the Woolen Mill Store, you've probably met our cuddly, friendly mascot at the front door, Sir Wooliam!

Check out the very satisfied expression on Roo!

Sir Wooliam got the sheepdog treatment recently when Roo hopped up onto his back for a ride. This is apparently common behavior for sheep herding dogs -- if the flock is huddled too closely for the dog to get through, the dog can just hop up onto the backs of the sheep and take the high road!

Great Gift Ideas Under $100

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for giving... and the Woolen Mill Store is chock full of inspiration. We put together a list of gift ideas under $100 to help you start your holiday shopping.

Pendleton EcoWise Throw with Monogram. A fringed EcoWise throw blanket is great to keep on the couch, in the car, or at your desk to ward off a sudden chill. Add a personalized monogram for just $10. (Suggested by Embroidery Elf Aimee)
Franklin Horse. Who wouldn't love a faithful steed done in colorful Pendleton jacquard fabric? (Suggested by Education Elf Cally)
Teepee Snow Globe. A blizzard of glitter and stars is our type of snowstorm! A great gift for snow globe collectors, Pendleton lovers, or nostalgia buffs. (Suggested by Boss Elf Julie)
One yard of our Four Directions jacquard fabric, five yards of felt binding, four buttons, and one free Tree Skirt Pattern. You can make two tree skirts -- one for you and one for a friend! (Suggested by Tree Skirt Sewing Elf Michelle)
One yard of our Hawkeye jacquard fabric and a free downloadable Charlie bag pattern from BurdaStyle. This bag is super easy to make! (Suggested by Fabric Elf Bryanna)
Muchacho (crib size) blanket. Available in Pendleton's iconic Chief Joseph pattern (in a variety of colors) and other gorgeous designs. (Suggested by Sales Elf Jessie)
Motor Robe with Leather Carrier. Stylish, portable, Pendleton! (Suggested by Senior Sales Elf Mimi)
Make Your Own Pendleton Throw -- one and half yards of your favorite solid, plaid, or print plus felt binding for the edges. We've got a free handout at the store that will make adding the binding quick and easy. (Suggested by Nana Elf Tawnya)

We're just a few days away from the start of our Third Annual Black Sheep Sale -- this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Woolen Mill Store. Have a Happy Turkey Day!

Great Gift Ideas Under $50

2011-11-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

It's not always easy to fill up that holiday shopping list. Sure, some family members and friends are easy... and some are a real challenge. We sat down and came up with some great gift ideas under $50 -- but you're welcome to come to the Woolen Mill Store and pick our brains in person.

Pendleton Jacquard Spa Towel. These super-sized, soft and cuddly towels have been a HUGE hit since they were introduced last year. There are eight designs to choose from. (Suggested by Education Elf Cally and Blog Babe Aimee and Sales Elf Jessie... we all LOVE the towels!)
Fringed Plaid Pillow or Chimayo Throw Pillow. Pendleton accent pillows are a great addition to any decor. (Suggested by Senior Sales Elf Mimi)
Bring the zoo home with a Carol's Zoo Animals pattern and some Pendleton fabric. Dig through our scrap bins to find your materials or pick a pre-cut piece from the tables. Most patterns require a half yard (or less) and are super easy. (Suggested by ElfBay Coordinator Stacy)
Baby Quilt Kit by Portland crafty mama Susan Beal. Kits come in a variety of colors and are easy for beginning sewers. (Suggested by Cheerleader Elf Michelle)
Pendleton jacquard apron kit. Available in a variety of colors, great for cooks, crafters, and more! (Suggested by ElfBay Coordinator Stacy)
A Gift Certificate for a class at the Woolen Mill Store. Choose from a variety of classes under $50 -- some under $25, too! (Suggested by Nana Elf Tawnya, Newbie Elf Michelle, and Blog Elf Aimee)
Books! The Woolen Mill Store carries books on a variety of topics. Fabric Elf Bryanna suggests Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Blanket fanatics might like Chasing Rainbows or Language of the Robe, two great books about the history of the trade blanket. Marketing Elf Aimee and Boss Elf Julie love the new BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook.
Lakota Glassware. Tumblers or goblets in sets of four. (Suggested by Shipping Elf Adam)

The biggest shopping day of the year is coming up soon, and we're getting ready. Join us at the Woolen Mill Store for the Third Annual Black Sheep Sale this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Great Gift Ideas Under $25

2011-11-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season fast approaching, the Woolen Mill Store staff has been making gift lists and checking them twice. We wanted to share some of our gift ideas with you!

WoolPets needle felting kits. There's a zoo-full of animals to choose from! The kits include lots of wool roving, two needles, and detailed step-by-step directions with pictures. (Suggested by Cally, our Education Elf)
Mara mugs. These beautiful, handcrafted mugs are generously sized for your morning beverage. Fill the mug with a sample of gourmet coffee or tea and you're ready for gift-giving. (Suggested by Adam, our Shipping Elf)
Handmade slippers. It's fun and easy to make adorable slippers for the whole family! Our ColorPlay carded wool is just $1.50 for a quarter-ounce bundle and comes in more than twenty different colors. (Suggested by Stacy, our ElfBay Coordinator)
Zip Pouches make great stocking stuffers! Available in a variety of Pendleton wool fabrics. (Suggested by Senior Sales Elf Mimi)
Trinket Box and Lucy Liu jewelry. We carry several different styles of trinket box -- and won't someone be surprised to find an adorable pair of earrings inside? (Suggested by Gift-tastic Idea Elf, Cally)
Sham-a-Rama! We still have a few pillow shams and toss pillows from our summer Sham-A-Rama sale. At just $12.99 each, it's a deal that's hard to beat! (Suggested by our Marketing Elf, Aimee.)
Travel Mugs. Get your beverages to go in Pendleton style. For the nature lovers, choose a Glacier Park travel mug or National Park thermal flask. (Suggested by Sales Elf Jessie)
Books, books, books. We love books at the Woolen Mill Store. Marketing Elf Aimee loves the Paul Goble folktale books, like How the Stars Fell into the Sky. Fabric Elf Bryanna suggests 500 Felt Objects, which is chock full of gorgeous creations. Embroidery Elf Michelle likes local author Susan Beal's Modern Log Cabin Quilting.

We're getting ready for our Third Annual Black Sheep Sale -- this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Woolen Mill Store. The store will be chock full of great gifts to fit any budget. Will we see you there?

Truck Report 11/18/2011

2011-11-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

Good morning, WoolFans!

How are we past the halfway point for November already? The days are flying by... one week from today we'll be working off that Thanksgiving meal with some marathon shopping! The Woolen Mill Store is planning some amazing deals for our Black Sheep Holiday Sale, so keep your eyes on the blog for awesome (and affordable!) gift ideas.

The Pendleton truck delivered right on schedule, and we've added another 500 pounds of fuzzy selvage to our bins. Our bins of premium wool strips are full to bursting, too.

Have a lovely weekend!

An Ode to Those Old Pants We Love

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

I do love you, old raggedy jeans

But you show too much of my "behind" the scenes

The gaping holes leave my knees so cold

I fear that you have grown too old.

But the garbage can is not your fate

Crochet to the rescue with a project so great!

Pants Bowl in progress by Kanelstrand

For instructions and more pics of the sturdy, adorable end product, visit Kanelstrand Organic Living. (But no more bad poetry, we promise!)

Creative Customers: Doug's Upcycled Bags

2011-11-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

Around here, we love folks who get creative with old stuff -- giving new life to old materials. We recently had a visit from creative customer Doug, who makes bags and other things using a combination of materials... including Pendleton fabric and scraps. He rattled off a list of thrift store finds that have been made into useful new things: car upholstery, pillowcases, prom dresses, and more!

Pendleton fabric plus an old seat belt makes a fantastic messenger-style bag!

Close-up on the seat belt buckle because it's so snazzy.

A "gravity bag" where the one handle loops through the other and gravity holds the bag closed.

Truck Report 11/11/2011

2011-11-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

Goooooooooood morning, WoolFans! (We wanted to make sure there were 11 Os in there since it's 11/11/11.)

The Pendleton truck delivered another 500 pounds of selvage this week -- so we've decided to keep the Super Selvage Sale going. Selvage is still just $2.10 per pound, so it's a great time to stock up on all your favorite colors.

We also got a few boxes of large header pieces -- mostly the $5.00 per pound stuff.

What are you working on this weekend?

Berry Dye!

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the awesome craft site craftgawker, we found this awesome blog post by Brambleberries in the Rain about dyeing wool and silk with past-their-prime blackberries!

Picture from Brambleberries in the Rain

Makes us wonder what other berries would be fun to dye with... the tough part is managing to not EAT the berries first!

Thank You Portland Handweavers Guild!

2011-11-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

We had a fantastic weekend with the Portland Handweavers Guild annual show and sale in our tapestry!

If you missed the fun, you can see some pictures of the gorgeous works on display by visiting our Facebook Page.

Truck Report 11/4/2011

2011-11-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

Whoa, how did it get to be November already? Fall is flying by... the holidays will be upon us before we know it.

But we've made it to another Friday, and it's time for the weekly truck report! We got a great variety of scraps in this week so you can get a jump on your holiday crafting:

200 pounds of blanket header
200 pounds of wooly worms
500 pounds of fuzzy selvage

We're continuing our Super Selvage Sale -- all our selvage is 30% off the regular price.

Another great reason to visit the Woolen Mill Store this weekend: the Portland Handweavers Guild Show and Sale starts today and runs all weekend during regular store hours. There are some amazing, dazzling, gorgeous, touchable, lovable creations on display in our blanket and tapestry gallery.

Handweavers Guild Show This Weekend!

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again: time for the Woolen Mill Store to play host to the Portland Handweavers Guild in our Blanket and Tapestry Gallery!

Beauty in progress!

Join us this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during regular store hours for a feast for the eyes with more than two dozen local fiber artists displaying their wares. Get a head start on your holiday shopping -- and don't forget to get something for Santa to leave in your stocking! Throughout the weekend, you can see weaving and other fiber arts demonstrations.

Support the local handmade community this weekend at the annual Portland Handweavers Guild show and sale at the Woolen Mill Store!

Truck Report 10/28/2011

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning, wool lovers! Are you ready for Halloween? If not, we've got plenty of ideas and supplies to get you (or your house) spookified.

The Pendleton truck has been and gone, right on schedule -- and like the Great Pumpkin, delivered lots of treats for all the good little crafters.

200 pounds of premium wool strips (they're bigger than worms, but smaller than blanket header)
350 pounds of fuzzy selvage -- still on sale for 30% off the regular price through the end of the month

The blanket header bins are well stocked with solids and plaids from previous deliveries, too!

As a reminder, the Woolen Mill Store will be closing early on Saturday, October 29th and will be closed all day on Sunday, October 30th for our annual inventory.

Store Closure: Annual Inventory

2011-10-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

We wanted to give you a little bit of advance warning: we will be performing our annual store inventory this weekend, so the store hours will be a little different than usual.

Saturday, October 29: Open from 10am-4pm

Sunday, October 30: Closed

Come Monday morning, we're back to our usual schedule: 10am-5:30pm Monday-Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm. We apologize for any inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding.

Truck Report 10/21/2011

2011-10-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, Woolfans!

The Pendleton truck stopped by late in the day Thursday and delivered a bounty of wonderful mill by-products! If you're planning to have a handmade holiday season, now would be the perfect time to stock up on supplies.

500 pounds of fuzzy selvage -- still on sale for 30% off the regular price!
200 pounds of blanket header
200 pounds of wooly worms

That's craft-tastic! What kind of projects will you be working on this weekend?

Community Craft Night 10/19/2011

2011-10-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Community Craft Night returns to the Woolen Mill Store tomorrow -- Wednesday, October 19.

Bring a work-in-progress and bring a friend for a little social time while you work. Community Craft Night is a great chance to talk projects and ideas, get a little extra help if you're stumped, or see a new hobby in action.

Join us at the Woolen Mill Store from 5-7pm. If you arrive after 5:30, just ring the doorbell next to the entrance and we'll let you in.

The Secret Language of Care Labels

2011-10-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

We'll admit it: working at the Woolen Mill Store does tend to inspire quite a bit of fabric nerdiness. It's not just limited to wool, either!

When we came across this nifty chart interpreting the standard symbols for washing and dry cleaning, we just had to share.

And here's an interesting little fact about cleaning instructions: if there is more than one possible way to clean a garment, the label does not have to include all methods. Most manufacturers will pick the best (safest, most reliable) cleaning method and list only that one in order to help their products last!

Truck Report 10/14/2011

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans!

It's Friday, and we're in love... with selvage! Our selvage sale is still going strong -- 30% off the regular price on blanket weight, flannel weight, and worsted weight selvage.

The truck delivered another 500 pounds of the fun fuzzy stuff, and it's headed straight to the bins.

Not sure what to do with it? Check our class schedule, we'll be offering our popular Wool Rug Crochet class again soon.

Pendleton Bike Winner!

2011-10-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day for a bike ride!

Congratulations to Wayne, the winner of our Pendleton/Workman collaboration bicycle! We had nearly 600 entries in our drawing, but just one lucky winner.

If you can't live without a Pendleton Chief Joseph cruiser of your very own, visit the Woolen Mill Store or our flagship Home Store in downtown Portland.

FAQ: Is the Woolen Mill Store an Outlet Store?

2011-10-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

Is this an outlet store? Where are the seconds?

We are not an outlet store. Everything in our store -- from the blankets to the fabric -- is first quality. A few things make our store special:

The fabric. No other Pendleton store carries as much fabric as we do. We have space for over 300 rolls of fabric, plus seven tables of pre-cut pieces offered at a discount.

The prototypes. The Woolen Mill Store carries an ever-changing selection of prototype blankets: testers that are made when the company is working on a new design. They are first quality, fully finished blankets that may look a little (or a lot) different from the blanket that ends up in the regular Pendleton Home line.

The discontinued items. Blankets and throws that are no longer a part of the regular Pendleton Home line are offered at a discount. You'll find a variety of colors, styles, and sizes at the Woolen Mill Store.

This leads to the question: where are the outlet stores? The nearest Pendleton outlet to the Portland area is at our mill in Washougal, Washington. The store carries first quality clothing and home goods and offers incredible deals on the outlet items. It's a little over a half hour from the Woolen Mill Store, and well worth the trip!

To find the Pendleton store nearest you, visit the Pendleton website and use the Store Locator.

Truck Report 10/7/2011

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans!

If you're expecting your regular, every-Friday-morning sort of truck report today, get ready for a surprise. Sure, the Pendleton truck showed up on schedule Thursday afternoon. Sure, we got a fantastic delivery of scraps:

100 pounds of wooly worms
200 pounds of blanket header
500 pounds of selvage

But we've also got something special to announce:

For the next month -- or until we run out -- all selvage will be 30% off. All colors, all weights, all that fuzzy goodness will be just $2.10 a pound. You can stock up just in time to make rugs for all your relatives this holiday season!

To learn more about the different kind of mill production scraps we get at the Woolen Mill Store, visit the Scraps tab at the top of the page.

Creative Customers: Bags by Becky

2011-10-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Becky stopped by to show off one of her purses -- made from Pendleton Winterscape fabric. She makes bags of all sizes, from this small saddlebag-style purse to roomy totes.

All the fringe is done by hand!

You can find Bags by Becky in a number of stores around the area, including Quilter's Corner on SE McLoughlin Blvd. in Milwaukie, and C&M Stables on Hwy 101 in Florence. Or you might run into Becky here at the Woolen Mill Store!

Truck Report 9/30/2011

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning, family, friends, and fans!

It's a fine Friday morning here at the Woolen Mill Store, with a truckload of scrap ready and waiting for your weekend craftiness.

This week, the Pendleton truck brought around 500 pounds of fuzzy selvage.

Another good reason to visit? Today is the last day of our Fall Fabric Sale -- your last chance to get 30% off the regular price on fabulous wool fabric.

Baby Quilt Class with Susan Beal This Saturday

2011-09-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

We're welcoming Susan Beal back to the Woolen Mill Store this weekend for another great class.

Wool Baby Quilt by Susan Beal

If you missed Susan's class at the Quilt Expo last weekend, this is your chance to make a beautiful heirloom baby quilt! Choose from several different kits as the basis of your personalized creation.

Please call the store at 503-535-5786 to pre-register. Bring your sewing machine or rent one of ours for $25. The Wool Baby Class starts at 1:00 and costs $40 (kit included).

Another Great Quilt Expo!

2011-09-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastically fun time at the NW Quilting Expo this past weekend. Lots of eye-dazzling quilts, drool-worthy vendors, and a ton of delightfully creative and crafty people!

This celestially-inspired quilt was part of our view for the weekend.

Many thanks to everyone who stopped by the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store booth to say hello, show off some creations, and do a little shopping. We love each and every one of you! It's so much fun to take our show on the road and talk projects with people.

Made with love, more than a hundred years ago.

One quilt we absolutely loved? This wonderful wool quilt from the 1890s. The whole display of 1890s quilts was great, but we're kinda biased towards the wooly ones.

The Big One Ends This Friday!

2011-09-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Don't say we didn't warn you: the annual Fall Fabric Sale at the Woolen Mill Store ends Friday, September 30th. These are your last few days to take advantage of high quality Pendleton wool fabric on the roll at 30% off the ticketed price, discounts of 30-80% off the regular price on pre-cut pieces, and more.

If you miss it, you'll just have to be patient. The Fall Fabric Sale happens every September.

Truck Report 9/23/2011

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans!

Friday morning means truck report time -- the Pendleton truck brought us 500 pounds of fuzzy selvage on Thursday afternoon. We've still got header pieces in our $3 per pound bins, and plenty of worms and wool strips on hand.

We'll be at the NW Quilt Expo this weekend, too -- stop by our booth (#54) and show us your Pendleton and you'll get a special treat. And the lovely Susan Beal will be teaching a Baby Quilt class on Saturday morning.

What are your plans for the weekend?

NW Quilting Expo Starts Today!

2011-09-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

We're on our way to the NW Quilting Expo!

Come celebrate sewing, quilting, and the creative arts with us today, tomorrow, and Saturday at the Portland Expo Center. We're bringing fantastic Pendleton wool fabric, notions, books, samples and patterns, craft kits, and more. Don't miss the display of Pendleton tapestries and American Indian College Fund blankets.

Remember this awesome quilted VW Bug from last year?

Stop by the booth wearing something you made from Pendleton wool and we'll give you a little treat!

Author and crafter (and blogger and momma and all-around-fun-person) Susan Beal will be teaching a Make-and-Take class on Saturday the 24th. Piece an heirloom baby quilt using soft Pendleton wool flannel and/or lightweight jacquard.

It's going to be a fantastically fun weekend -- we hope to see you there!

No Community Craft Night This Month

2011-09-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

September is super-busy for us at the Woolen Mill Store, so we won't be holding Community Craft Night this month. Sorry for any inconvenience! But you can catch us all this weekend at the Northwest Quilting Expo at the Portland Expo Center.

Community Craft Night returns on Wednesday, October 19th -- we hope you'll join us!

Do You Love Ladybugs?

2011-09-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

If you've got ladybug fever, you'll want to visit Spinatomy and whip up some quick and easy felt ladybugs! There's a lovely tutorial with detailed pics, clear instructions, and even links to videos.

Like to make your projects macro-sized instead of micro-sized? Try bowling ball ladybugs from Fresh Home.

If you like to use found items in your crafts, take a look at these plastic lid ladybugs from Crafts by Amanda. Turn some trash into treasure!

The lovely ladybug pic comes from PD Photo.

Truck Report 9/16/2011

2011-09-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Good morning, crafty pals!

We've made it to another Friday -- breathe a sigh of relief -- and the Pendleton truck has once again delivered the goods. 300 pounds of fuzzy selvage goods, to be precise.

Have a lovely weekend!

Creative Customers: Ruth's Fantastic Wearables

2011-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

We were pretty excited when Ruth stopped by last month to show off her incredible wearable art -- bracelets, necklaces, pins, and hair clips done in mixed media. It was hard to resist touching and trying them on! Click on any of the pictures to get a larger view.

Cally modeled a few favorites for us. You might recognize some of the fabric from the scrap bins at the Woolen Mill Store. Some of the pieces are lined with remnants from colorful silk ties from the thrift store. The embellishments -- buttons, beads, and up-cycled jewelry -- are often thrift store finds as well!

A necklace-in-progress. It will be strung on a chain with a matching chiffon ribbon wound through the links. Simply gorgeous!

Gorgeous Garlands

2011-09-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

These two garlands use relatively small pieces of fabric -- isn't this a lovely way to use up your scraps?

The miniature fabric flower garland from Once Wed.

The fabric tassel garland from Prudent Baby.

Truck Report 9/9/2011

2011-09-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

Good morning Woolfans!

This week's truck was full of blanket header -- just over 350 pounds. The $3 per pound bin is overflowing with wonderful pieces!

We also got around 150 pounds of wooly worms, and have lots of selvage left over from previous weeks.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Quick, Easy, and FREE Bobbin Organizer

2011-09-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

This idea is just brilliant! Simple, so easy to make, and you've already got the supplies on hand.

Bobbin organizer from Craft Snob.

Isn't it pure genius? We're already figuring out other little things we can stack on an organizer like this. Rings? Safety pins?

Truck Report 9/02/2011

2011-09-02T09:31:00.001-07:00

Good morning Woolfans! It's another trucktastic Friday at the Woolen Mill Store.

The Pendleton truck delivered more of the fantastic fuzzy stuff -- another 300 pounds of selvage. Warm up those crochet hooks or knitting needles... warp those looms... and turn some mill scrap into something beautiful.

And in case you didn't know, we have our annual Fall Fabric Sale going on for the entire month of September. Big discounts on fabric on the roll and pre-cut pieces. Check out the Sale Fabrics tab above for a look at some of the hundreds of fabrics we have available.

The Big One is ON!

2011-09-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

The annual Fall Fabric Sale at the Woolen Mill Store starts today! Here is a sampling of the deals you'll find:

All fabric rolls are 30% (or more) off the marked price

Seven tables of pre-cut fabric at 30-75% off the marked price

$5 and $10 per yard fabric

Bags of buttons and zippers for $1

The annual Fall Fabric Sale runs September 1-30, but quantities of some fabrics are limited. Shop early for the best selection.

Creative Customers: Nancy's Boots Were Made for Walking

2011-08-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

We are absolutely in love with these boots, made by Portland-based accessory designer Nancy Simon. Along with these lovely pictures (courtesy of studio photographer Jennifer Hardin), she brought a detailed description of the materials involved:

"The boots are made from the scraps pulled from the Woolen Mill Store's $3 and $5 per pound bins. The brass grommets that line the sides are from Oregon Leather. The shoe soles were up-cycled from a pair found at Goodwill (for only $9.99!) and the lining is Pendleton wool felt. Each boot is laced with 1 yard of cotton cord lacing (also from the Woolen Mill Store at 20 for $1)."

The pattern for these boots (women's size 7 and up) are available from the designer. Contact her via email for more information: NancyLSimon@yahoo.com

We love a woman who describes herself as having "an obsession with anything Pendleton." She's a frequent visitor to the Woolen Mill Store... and we're hoping she'll agree to teach a boot makeover class for us sometime soon!

Give Your Ears Some Class!

2011-08-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Aren't these fabric-covered button earrings adorable?

Picture courtesy of a bit of sunshine.

The thought of un-fabric-covered button earrings is pretty appealing, too. What a great use for all those buttons in our fill a bag for a buck bin! Just imagine all the earrings you could make... with matching necklaces, bracelets, anklets, tiaras...

Truck Report 8/26/2011

2011-08-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans! We hope you've managed to stay comfortably cool this week (or at least got a chance to work on your tan).

Thursday's truck delivered a great variety of scraps:

150 pounds of blanket header

200 pounds of wooly worms

400 pounds of fuzzy selvage

And if you're looking for something crafty to do this weekend, we have our Wool Rug Crochet class on Saturday from 10am-noon. Call the store to pre-register if you'd like to join us!

The Big One is Coming!

2011-08-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

It's almost that time again...

The Fall Fabric Sale at the Woolen Mill Store is quickly approaching.

Will we see you on September 1st?

Why We Love Jade Check

2011-08-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Houndstooth is so hip it hurts. Celebrities like Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, and Gwen Stefani have been spotted wearing the pattern in everything from scarves and dresses to boots and sunglasses.

Go beyond basic black and white with a Pendleton ivory/jade houndstooth. What can your imagination come up with? The crafty minds at the Woolen Mill Store have made a little girl's jacket, a purse, and an apron so far.

This fabric felts beautifully in the washing machine. It gets deliciously thick and fuzzy without losing the houndstooth pattern. Trim it with our felt binding (turquoise? cream? dark chocolate brown?) and you've got a fantastic throw.

Right now, Ivory/Jade Check is on sale for 50% off the regular price -- only $10 per yard. And there's lots of great fabric on our new $10 per yard table, but this one is our favorite!

Celebrating All Things Susan!

2011-08-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic time with crafty momma Susan Beal on Saturday! Here are a few pics, in case you missed the fun.
Talking crafts and enjoying snacks -- a perfect combination on a Saturday afternoon!Just a few of Susan's pieces from Modern Log Cabin Quilting, World of Geekcraft, and more. You might recognize a few Pendleton fabrics in the awesome quilt hanging off the end of the table! A keen eye might also notice some fuzzy Tribbles, a plaid patchwork quilt, and a basket full of crafty kit giveaways.

Truck Report 8/19/2011

2011-08-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

Good morning Woolfans!

The mills are up and running again, and we got a truckload of fuzzy selvage -- around 500 pounds! Lots of blanket weight selvage in fun, bright colors.

Check out the new Scraps tab at the top of the blog to learn more about the different types of scrap you can find at the Woolen Mill Store.

Six Questions with Susan Beal

2011-08-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

As promised in the July/August newsletter, we sat down with Portland crafty rockstar Susan Beal for six questions.

Woolen Mill Store: What is your workspace like?

Susan Beal: I sew and work on most of my crafts in a brand-new workroom in my basement (just painted it aqua last week, and moved the last box a couple days ago!). I have my sewing machine, ironing board, a work table, and most of my fabric, in there, and my jewelry and printmaking supplies stored close by. I have a shelf of Pendleton wool with the larger pieces folded, and then my scraps are in the wooden box, ready for piecing or scrap projects. When I baste a quilt I roll up the living room rug and do it there. (I learned the hard way not to baste it *on* the rug - I don't recommend that as a time-saver, to say the least, once you've unpicked all the basting from the carpet!) I dream about having a bigger workspace with a big cutting table and more light... one day hopefully, but I love my new space. I usually write at the kitchen table or in the rec room downstairs.

WMS: Name one tool and/or one craft supply you couldn't live without.

SB: I love my sewing machine so much, it's the first one I ever bought new and the nicest one I've ever had. It's a Pfaff with a built-in walking foot for quilting, and it is just a great machine - not too fancy but perfect for me! It has a few pretty decorative stitches, which are kind of fun for something like a pocket edge or a collar.

WMS: Tell us someone whose work you admire.

SB: There are so many artists and crafters I really admire - it's hard to choose just one, so I hope you don't mind a little list! I'd have to say Denyse Schmidt (who designs fabric and quilts), Marie Watt (a fiber artist who lives in Oregon), Rebecca Pearcy (who owns Queen Bee Creations here in Portland), and Ryan Berkley (an illustrator and artist who lives here, too).

WMS: What is your favorite homemade gift to give or get?

SB: I love to give homemade jam or hand-sewn pillows the most. I make big batches of freezer jam every summer with flats of raspberries and marionberries. When I make pillows, I love to piece bright quilting cottons or soft wool for covers. I used to make jewelry for gifts more often, but every woman I'm related to pretty much has one of everything at this point! My favorite thing to get has to be something pretty a friend knitted or crocheted, since I don't do as much of that myself and really admire the craftsmanship there.

WMS: What inspires you?

SB: Traveling all around Oregon, hanging out with my two children Pearl and Everett on a sunny afternoon, looking at antique quilts, visiting museums, going fabric shopping, having a half-hour just for coffee and making lots of lists, and collecting vintage Pendleton coats and blankets.

WMS: What is one question you wish people would ask you in interviews, and what's your answer?

SB: Maybe what's my favorite place in the world? I would have to say Mt. Hood.

You can ask Susan all sorts of questions this Saturday at the Woolen Mill Store! Join us for her Quilted Cross Pillow class at noon, or a free book signing and reception from 2-4pm.

Quilted Cross Pillow Class -- This Saturday!

2011-08-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

Please join the Woolen Mill Store in welcoming crafty rockstar Susan Beal to our teaching staff! For her very first class, we'll be making quilted cross pillows that are a perfect match to the Modern Cross Quilt featured in her Modern Log Cabin Quilting book.

Cally and Susan show off the finished product!

After class, we'll have a reception and book signing with Susan -- all are welcome to join us for crafty talk, light refreshments, and giveaways.

Quilted Cross Pillow Class
Saturday, August 20th
12-2pm
Please register in advance by calling (503) 535-5786, as space is limited.

Reception and Book Signing
Saturday, August 20th
2-4pm
FREE! No registration necessary.

Little Laika!

2011-08-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

We had a visit last week from Laika, a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. As you can see, she really enjoyed a knotted dog toy we made from wooly worms! (It was kinda tricky to get a picture of her that wasn't extra-fuzzy... she's pretty fuzzy to begin with.)

Did you know that the Woolen Mill Store welcomes canine customers? We just ask that you keep your pup on-leash and keep an eye on their manners.

Community Craft Night August 17th

2011-08-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

Grab a friend and a project and join us for Community Craft Night this Wednesday, August 17th from 5-7pm.

Over the last few months, we've had all sorts of crafts on display: spinning, knitting, needle felting, embroidery, crochet, hand sewing, and more. What can you bring to show us?

Community Craft Night is totally FREE. Crafters of all ages are welcome!

Truck Report 8/12/2011

2011-08-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans!

This week's truck report is actually a truckless report -- the mills are closed this week so that means no scrap for us! We should have a delivery right on schedule next week, so please check in with us next Friday morning.

We do still have quite a bit of scrap left over from previous deliveries. The selvage bins are very full -- we've got a great selection of blanket weight selvage right now -- and we've got a decent supply of wooly worms and premium wool strips. The $3 and $5 per pound bins aren't empty yet, either!

A Dozen Things to do with a Sham

2011-08-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

When is a pillow sham not a pillow sham? When you get crazy creative!

Make a pet bed. Fill a Sham-A-Rama sham with old linens, an old pillow, or wool scraps like our woolly worms. Wool is a natural flea repellent, so it's a great choice for pet bedding.

Stuff a sleepover bag. Add a zipper to the opening of the sham, stuff your jammies and pillow inside, and you're ready to go!

Rip and reuse. Make slippers, purses, a jacket for a wee one...

Big bad beach bag. Sew the side seam closed and open a top seam. Add a handle and you've got a quick and roomy travel bag.

Coordinate your bedding and curtains. A few extra shams can be turned into curtains or a valance that will match the pillows on your bed.

Split and run(ner). Divide the sham into two pieces of fabric and use it as a runner on end tables or nightstands.

Breakfast in bed in style. Cover an old cafeteria tray with a sham for a classy breakfast in bed.

Double warm crazy sham quilt. Fill several shams with batting and stitch the top. Piece multiple shams together until you've got a size you're happy with.

Kiss the cooks. Divide the sham into two pieces of fabric. Add wool felt binding for apron ties and get cooking in your matching aprons!

Stylish storage. Store sheet sets and towel sets together inside a sham. The matching pieces will stay together, your closet will stay tidy.

The great frame-up. Use the sham (or a piece of the sham) as a mat underneath your favorite pictures... or as the artwork itself.

Never run out of seating. Stuff shams and toss them around the living room for movie night. Your couch might get lonely...

Have other ideas for what to do with a pillow sham? Let's see them!

Sham-A-Rama is going on now at the Woolen Mill Store. Select standard, king size, Euro shams, toss pillows, and neckrolls for just $12.99 each while supplies last.

Creative Customers: Knitting Project Bags

2011-08-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

What could be inside this cute little bag -- made from scraps from the $5 per pound bin?

It looks like the beginnings of a knit shawl!

These project bags are an awesome idea -- it helps keep your works-in-progress organized and portable so you can craft anywhere. Since this is a knitting bag, it's got a special pocket that holds a little tin full of stitch markers... but we can think of a hundred and one uses for these project bags!

Truck Report 8/5/2011

2011-08-05T10:15:00.001-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans! Many apologies for being a little behind schedule with today's truck report.

It's another good week for selvage, as another 200 pounds of the fuzzy stuff showed up on the truck.

Want to get to know the different types of scrap we get? Check out the new Scraps tab at the top of the blog for more info.

Sham-A-Rama Returns!

2011-08-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

Last summer, we went a little bit crazy with the pillow shams... and we had so much fun, we're doing it again!

Sham-A-Rama 2011 is going on now! More than two dozen different styles of pillow shams in standard, king, and Euro sizes, all for $12.99. We've also got toss pillows and neck rolls for the same low price.

Want a preview of some of the styles available? Click on the Sham-A-Rama tab at the top of the blog.

Quantities are limited, so shop early for the best selection.

Something for the Blazers Fans

2011-08-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

A little crafty Blazers love for our Portland peeps (and fans all over)!

Pic from Let's Share found via craftgawker.

There's some very cool art and Portland history trivia at the link. Did you know the story of how Portland got its name thanks to a coin toss? You're one click away from finding out!

Truck Report 7/29/2011

2011-07-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

How is it the end of July already? Summer is flying by!

It's another Friday and time for the weekly truck report. The Pendleton truck delivered us another bunch of selvage this week -- around 350 pounds! Lots of the heavy blanket weight selvage in this load but we've got the lighter flannel and worsted weights, too.

Have a great weekend!

Creative Customers: Laurie & Janet

2011-07-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

Creative customers Laurie and Janet came all the way from Canada to show off their creations! Okay, they didn't *just* come to Portland for the Woolen Mill Store -- they were in the area for a convention. But we're very glad they stopped by to show off their traditional rug hooking skills.

Laurie's rugs -- we had a fun time playing "find the Pendleton fabric" in the hearts and circles!

Janet's rugs -- the cat rug is an original design, but you'll often find a little cat in each of Janet's creations!

The visit inspired a couple of us to give traditional rug hooking a try. If we come up with anything photo-worthy, we'll be sure to share.

Truck Report 7/22/2011

2011-07-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans! It's time for the weekly truck report!

The Pendleton truck delivered 500 pounds of selvage -- just in time for Saturday's wool rug crochet class. We're going to be making big, beautiful rugs. Call the store at (503) 535-5786 if you'd like to join us.

Have a craftastic weekend!

Community Craft Night -- This Wednesday!

2011-07-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

It's that time again: time to pack up your crafty work-in-progress and bring it to the Woolen Mill Store for Community Craft Night.

On the third Wednesday of the month, we open our doors to the crafty community for some social time while we get creative. Join us from 5-7pm at the Woolen Mill Store on Wednesday, July 20th.

Truck Report 7/15/2011

2011-07-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Good morning to you! It's time for the weekly truck report -- letting you know what kinds of scrap the Pendleton truck delivered late Thursday afternoon.

~~This week we got at little bit of everything: 140 pounds of wooly worms, 160 pounds of blanket header, and 200 pounds of fuzzy selvage. Have a great weekend!~~

My mistake! Many many many apologies, we were looking at the wrong week's paperwork when we wrote this week's truck report. Wow, do we feel sheepish! (And now we should apologize for that awful pun, too.)

What we actually got this week was 100 pounds of selvage. So sorry for any confusion or inconvenience!

Fabulous Needle Felted Buttons

2011-07-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

We love needle felting here at the Woolen Mill Store... so it was exciting to see a tutorial from the My Poppet blog showing how to make a needle felted button!

Felted button by My Poppet

If you end up making a big button of your own, we want to see it! Post pics or links to pics in comments, or bring your creation by the store so we can see it in person.

Colorplay Wool 25% Off in July

2011-07-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Now is a great time to stock up on carded wool, Colorplay yarn (single ply), and whipstitch yarn (two ply) -- all Colorplay wool is 25% off for the month of July!

Pendleton Colorplay carded wool is now available in 23 different colors, including seven brand new colors introduced within the last few months. This is a great time to test out some of the new shades like dark bark brown, forest green, baby blue, and mac-and-cheese orange.

Colorplay yarn is available in a rainbow of shades. Pick several colors and ply your own personalized yarn, or use the yarn solo for weaving, edging, and more.

Truck Report 7/8/2011

2011-07-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans!

The Pendleton truck has been and gone, leaving crafty treats for all the good little girls and boys. This week, we got another 300 pounds of selvage and 25 pounds of premium wool strips.

Creative Customers: Judy Does it Again!

2011-07-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

You might remember Walking Judy as one of our very first Creative Customers featured on the Woolen Mill Store blog.

She recently brought another creation in to show off -- a lovely, fuzzy, soft jacket with fun details like elbow patches!

Discontinued Fabric Sale -- Extended!

2011-07-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

If you didn't get a chance to shop our discontinued fabrics sale in June, we've got good news: the sale has been extended through July!

Click on the "sale fabrics" tab at the top of the blog to get a look at some of our lovely sale fabrics. If you're in the area, you can visit the store at 8500 SE McLoughlin Blvd. and see all our sale fabrics in person. If you aren't in the Portland area, you can give us a call or send an email and we can send you swatches or pictures.

Some iconic Pendleton fabrics are included in the sale, like: Chinook, Rock Art, Rimrock, Mountain Sheep, Cloudcroft, Homeland Heritage, Chief Stripe, and Kilim. Sale fabrics are available in limited quantities. When these fabrics sell out, they are gone for good!

Truck Report 7/1/2011

2011-07-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

July already? Time flies when you're feeling crafty!

Good morning and happy weekend to our lovely Woolfans. If it's Friday morning, it's time for the weekly truck report! The Pendleton truck was here late Thursday afternoon and delivered 310 pounds of selvage ($3 per pound) and 75 pounds of premium wool strips ($1.50 per pound).

As a reminder, the store will be closed on Monday, July 4th in observance of the holiday.

Tired of Lost Flip Flops?

2011-06-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

Never lose another flop, thanks to this tutorial from Make It and Love It: Interchangeable Flip Flop Back Straps! What a brilliant idea -- and the possibilities for embellishment are endless.

Truck Report 6/24/11

2011-06-24T11:11:00.001-07:00

Good morning, Woolfans! We apologize for the lateness of today's truck report, but our usual truck reporter is on vacation this weekend.

Let's get to the good stuff: the Pendleton truck delivered 300 pounds of header and 300 pounds of selvage.

Have a lovely weekend!

Creative Customers: Sharon's Mega Rug!

2011-06-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

By far, our most popular class at the Woolen Mill Store is our Wool Rug Crochet class. In this class, you can learn how to take a pile of selvages from the Pendleton mills and turn them into a thick, fluffy, soft, fun rug. It's a great way to turn trash into treasure!

Creative customer Sharon took the rug class last year and fell in love -- and brought in this massive 5 foot by 7 foot rug for us to ooh and aah over.

You can see more rugtastic creations at Sharon's Etsy shop: RugEmpire or in person at the Tigard Festival of Balloons this weekend in Tigard, Oregon.

Did You Miss Our Etsy Craft Party?

2011-06-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

On Friday, June 10th, crafty folks all over the world got together for an Etsy Global Craft Day party. We hosted a party here at the Woolen Mill Store.

We had a bunch of different crafts to try, decorate your own cookies (with three types of frosting, coconut shreds, and more!), and lots of giveaways.

It was a blast! We're already looking forward to Etsy Global Craft Party 2011. Will we see you there?

Truck Report 6/17/2011

2011-06-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, Woolfans! We hope you had a lovely, low-stress week.

If you've been wondering what delights the Pendleton truck would deliver for us, wait no longer! After a few weeks without any new selvage deliveries, we unloaded around 300 pounds of the fuzzy fun stuff.

We've still got two big bins full of blanket header (the $3 per pound stuff), a variety of solids and plaids in the $5 per pound bins, and two bins of premium wool strips (they're wider than worms in fun colors and prints) for your crafting pleasure.

It's not too late to create something crafty for your favorite dads for Father's Day! We've got lots of last-minute inspiration at the Woolen Mill Store.

Limited Edition Blanket Now Available

2011-06-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Click on the image for a larger view!

The Woolen Mill Store is pleased to be able to offer this inspirational blanket at an amazing discount: regular price is $208; now available for $75 while supplies last. Shipping to anywhere in the continental United States is just $15 for one blanket, $5 more for each additional blanket to the same address.

Visit the store or call us at (503) 535-5786 to order "Bringing the World Truth". Quantities are very limited.

Coffee Cup Cozy

2011-06-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

What a great idea!

{Every}Nothing Wonderful has a great tutorial for turning an old sweater into an earth-friendly recycled coffee sleeve! It's quick and easy and super cute.

If you don't have an old sweater you are ready to part with, you could find one at a thrift shop or use some blanket header pieces from the Woolen Mill Store.

What else can you think of (or have you already done?) to give an old sweater a second chance at life?

Community Craft Night -- This Wednesday!

2011-06-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Join us for Community Craft Night on Wednesday, June 15th from 5-7pm.

It's free! Bring something to work on and enjoy some chat time with other crafty folks. Spread the word, bring a friend, crafters of all ages are welcome.

Need help with a project? Woolen Mill Store staff -- and some highly skilled local crafters -- will be there to talk ideas and give advice.

Truck Report 6/10/2011

2011-06-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Hellooooooo Woolfans! Happy Friday, happy weekend, and happy Etsy Global Craft Party day to you.

The Pendleton truck visited us yesterday afternoon and delivered a nice variety of mill by-products: 100 pounds of wooly worms, 150 pounds of premium wool strips, and 200 pounds of blanket header.

And we've still got plenty of selvage (especially the brightly colored blanket weight selvage) left over from previous weeks. It's a good day for crafting!

Will we see you this afternoon for our Etsy Global Craft Party? From 2-5:30pm we're offering fun crafts, light refreshments, and a chance to meet and network with some amazing crafty folks! Totally free!