Celebrating Harding with a Special Weave

Pendleton’s iconic Harding pattern celebrated 100 years in 2023. This design commemorates a visit to Oregon’s Blue Mountain country by President Warren G. Harding and his wife, who traveled West to dedicate a portion of the Old Oregon Trail. But the Harding blanket is not named for our 29^th President.  

At the dedication ceremony, First Lady Florence Harding was gifted this robe by two local leaders, Chief Cap Sumkins of the Cayuse Tribe and Chief Poker Jim of the Umatilla Tribe. They personally commissioned this robe from the Pendleton mill to honor Mrs. Harding’s sincere and forthright nature. Pendleton’s weavers modified a Chief Joseph pattern and produced a fringed shawl in shades of white, tan, yellow, and red. Mrs. Harding graciously accepted the blanket, and by all accounts was delighted with her gift.

Century Harding

To celebrate this pattern’s century milestone, our weavers created something special: the limited edition Century Harding blanket in an edition of, yes, 1,923. The Harding blanket has always been colored with solid ground. The Century Harding blanket (and the apparel fabrics) have ground woven in an ombre: Navy into royal blue into turquoise into a khaki, finishing with a bright, fresh green.

This first photo shows the ombre in detail.

And here is the blanket in full:

A new commemorative color celebrates 100 years of the Harding pattern with a refreshed layout. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding and First Lady Florence Harding visited Oregon’s Blue Mountain Country to dedicate a portion of the Old Oregon Trail. At the ceremony, leaders of the Cayuse and Umatilla Nations presented Mrs. Harding with a newly designed blanket to reflect their admiration of her sincere and forthright nature. For a century, the Harding pattern has been one of Pendleton’s most sought after signature patterns. This bright, exciting ombre celebrates its evergreen popularity.  

Because this is a limited edition, once it’s gone, it’s gone. If you’d like your own piece of history, you can see more information here: Century Harding Limited Edition Blanket