The beauty of the Indian trade blankets made them easy to market to the Native Americans at their local trading posts. The woolen mills paid particular attention to explaining how the blanket designs were influenced by Indian culture, which appealed to the settlers as well.

Design elements that were always included in a blanket, although not necessarily all in one blanket, were a stripe, arrow, cross or zigzag line. The designs could be interpreted from the bottom to the top of the blanket, or the other way around.

Striped, either plain, singular or groups of stripes only Banded, which are wider stripes with design elements contained within them Center Point, meaning a central design element dominates the overall pattern Framed, featuring four major elements found at the corners of the frame -- a design unique to Pendleton Woolen Mills Overall, a spectacular pattern that repeats over the entire surface of the weaving Nine Elements, highlighting three rows of three design elements Six Elements, featuring six elements placed similarly

Our collection of new and antique trade blankets at Native Jackets, Inc. contains the majority, if not all, of the traditional Navajo design elements and patterns. There are plenty of choices!