We've been collecting Pendleton blankets for several years and were quite pleased when Pendleton re-introduced a group of "unnapped" blankets just a few years ago. What is an "unnapped" blanket? An unnapped blanket is a flat weave blanket which has not been run through the napping machine. Most people are familiar with Pendleton's fluffy, soft blankets, but every Pendleton blanket is originally woven as a flat, smooth-surfaced wool textile. The napped blankets, however, are then run through a napping machine which has tiny razor-sharp blades which slice the wool fibers at the surface of the weaving and cause a soft "nap" to rise above the surface. An unnapped blanket, on the other hand, retains its flat, smooth weave, shows a sharper definition to its pattern because it isn't fluffy and is thinner, though inch-for-inch it contains as much wool as the fuzzy napped variety of blanket. And the wool won't "pill" into those hard little balls on the surface. Originally, all Pendleton blankets were unnapped and the soft, napped version of blankets developed as Pendleton's customer base changed and use of their blankets changed from all-around use to items which never left the bedroom.

There are a few things which highly recommend these unnapped blankets. First, Pendleton originated this new line using designs from their archives; actual designs of trade blankets which they'd produced between 1896 and 1920. These designs were specifically aimed at the Indian market and were well-researched in terms of patterns and colors employed to most appeal to native tastes. Second, these blankets are more durable with their smooth surface, fold to a smaller size and can be used outdoors. Take this blanket to a stadium on a cold night, or take it to the park and throw it down on the grass for your picnic. Because this blanket has no fuzzy nap, it won't work as a sponge to absorb that coffee you accidentally spilled and it won't make every dry leaf or blade of grass stick to it. This is a proper "trade blanket'' made for practical, all-around use that is durable, soft, warm and stunningly beautiful.

In terms of fiber content, Pendleton blankets are 82% wool and 18% cotton. The loom is strung so that the cotton forms the warp, or vertical yarn of the blanket. The wool forms the weft, or horizontal woven yarn of the blanket, which wholly conceals the cotton warp. The cotton yarn lends the blanket a slight capacity for stretch and aids in the "drape" of the textile, the wool adds the warmth and durability. Each blanket is edged with wool felt tape.

Another beautiful aspect of most Pendleton blankets is that they sometimes show dramatically different reversible designs from one side to another. While the color scheme remains the same, a blanket may show alternating colors for its background from one side to the other or, not unlike photographic negatives, may show a pattern on one side in one set of colors and highlight a different aspect of that patern on the reverse side.

Pendleton has had great success with these unnapped blankets since their re-introduction. The Teepee is one of Pendleton's designs from its archives which resurrects an original unnapped design marketed by Pendleton prior to 1920.