Today is Thursday August 11 2011 and time for the next installment of Equipment Highlight. We continue looking at gear for horses. We have looked at saddles but what about that all important blanket between your horse and saddle. This is not just a blanket. Blankets are handmade, tradition goes into these blankets. Your brand becomes part of the fabric. So today we look at that blanket.
We start with custom blankets. Here are offerings from the Brown Cow Saddle Blanket Company.
Custom Handmade Saddle Blankets by Christina Bergh
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Browse through our portfolio of beautiful custom made hand-woven Saddle Blankets. All of our blankets are made by hand by Christina Bergh at the Brown Cow Studio in Santa Fe using the finest pure Merino or Mohair wool yarns. Because all of the blankets shown on this page are examples of blankets that are custom woven after you place your order, we can custom weave any of our patterns in any color scheme you wish, or we can even custom design a totally new pattern for you. |
We dye all of our yarn by hand in our studio, which means we can even custom match colors if you want your saddleblanket to coordinate with your clothing or tack. Send us a sample of the colors to match to, and we can match it. There is an extra charge for color matching due to the time involved in formulating the dye to match.
Call or email for details on custom ordering your blanket. At this time we have a 3 month wait for completion of any custom orders due to high volume of work. Remember that all of our blankets are personally woven by master textile artist Christina Bergh here in our Santa Fe, New Mexico studio.
Click Here for Our Yarn Color Charts
| Most of the saddle blankets shown below are examples of blankets we have woven in the past. All are sold as custom orders now because many customers ask to make changes in color or design. Each is one of a kind; due to the handmade nature of these beautiful blankets, no two are exactly alike. Custom orders currently require four weeks to fulfill due to volume of orders. |
Colors shown may vary in the final product due to the individual handmade nature of these blankets. We dye all of our yarn by hand, one batch at a time so colors can vary slightly from blanket to blanket. Remember also that computer monitors very in their color rendering. Please request a set of yarn samples when ordering your blanket. We’re happy to make them and send them out before weaving your custom made saddle blanket to ensure you get exactly the colors you desire.
Order your blanket online or call us toll-free at
1-800-583-6701. When calling, order with the item number under the blanket, or tell us what you envision and we can create it.
Hand-tooled leather name plaques are available for any blanket we weave. They make a beautiful alternative to our Branded Blankets at an attractive price.
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Navajo Saddle Blankets The True Navajo Blanket |
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The Navajo have been weaving blankets for over three centuries. Navajo blankets woven during the last 100 years were Navajo saddle blankets. The Navajos stopped weaving blankets for their own use by the 1890’s and started weaving rugs, “Navajo rugs”. The trading post encouraged the Navajo to switch from weaving Navajo blankets to rugs because the Navajo rug was sellable to the eastern tourist trade. Navajo wearing blankets lost favor. No one wanted to wear a Navajo blanket, yet a Navajo rug was nearly indestructible and was ideal for floor use. The Navajo Saddle blanket, however, continued to be produced, and they are still woven today. |
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Teec Nos Pos Saddle Blanket c. 1920 This site is dedicated to the early Navajo saddle blankets from 1870 to 1950. These are and were some of the few blankets that the Navajo continued to weave for their self use into the 20th century.
Single Saddle c. 1910 Navajo saddle blankets come in a variety of sizes, colors, and thickness. The earliest saddle blankets were created in the 1870’s. Some Navajo experts feel the small weavings that are referred to as “Navajo Child’s Blankets” are nothing more than fancy saddle blankets. Dr. Mark Sublette, an expert in Navajo weavings, feels differently. “I believe that while photographic evidence is sparse to confirm Navajo Child’s Blankets, there is no reason not to believe that the Navajo would weave smaller blankets similar to their own larger serapes. The Navajo always cherished children and I’m sure Navajo mother;s would have wanted their children to be wrapped in a warm blanket, just as my mother made me a jacket when I was a boy”
Double Saddle c. 1920 During the 1890’s Navajo Saddle blankets made from Germantown wool became fashionable, and are some of the most intricate eyedazzler’s ever executed. They were tightly woven and done in numerous bright colors. Often woven on store bought cotton twine, these did not hold up to the heavy use on a horse and saddle. These are highly collectable especially when in good condition.
Sunday Saddle c. 1930 1900 to 1930 was the golden era of Navajo Saddle blankets. Many of the most uniquely Navajo pieces were executed during this time. These simple yet elegant navajo rugs are very collectable today especially some of the more simplistic designs. Those weavings which utilize the Navajo or Dine’s own aesthetics for design and inspiration are compelling. One can not help but look at these artistic weavings and wonder if the modern artist of the early to mid -twentieth century were not just exploring and expanding from these early Navajo Saddle Blanket designs.
Single Saddle c.1920 |
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