fine Textiles for the home - designed and manufactured in north carolina
haute couture for the home
Our textiles can be equated with comfort, just as some foods can.
Bethanne Knudson, 2011
Made from the finest natural fibers with skilled hands and great care.
Most of our fabrics are fully reversible and machine washable - using the gentle cycle and cold temperature. Just part of our commitment to no-fuss luxury.
Available through our fine retailers and our online store.
Luxury for your bed in coverlet and sham sets with traditional styling.
Damask - Woven in mercerized Egyptian Giza and American cotton, these coverlets are exquisite examples of Jacquard woven cloth. Contour binding, combined with the stunning luster of the Egyptian cotton, results in an intricate fabric that is a feast for the eyes. Offered in a range of colors, all suggest the tones of our natural surroundings, in keeping with the William Morris inspired plant motifs in this series.
In coverlet and sham sets, elegant combinations of weave structure and casual styling make these pieces work with a range of interiors.
Matelassé - Fully reversible Egyptian cotton surrounding New Zealand wool, this coverlet is as beautiful as it is clever and practical. The wool is woven between the two cotton layers that make the two sides of the blanket. The wool never surfaces on either side. It becomes the felted batting, causing differential shrinkage as well as providing insulation and warmth. The special quilted look of this fabric is the result of the combination of yarn, weave structure, and finishing processes. What looks like intricate sewing is, in fact, weaving. This matelassé is built to last.
Our throws combine beauty, warmth and softness. Many designs available in a wide color palette ensure there is at least one that will complement your home. We think you'll have a hard time choosing.
The special luster of the mercerized cotton combined with the matte surface of the wool makes this an exceptionally attractive textile. Soft to the touch, they will get softer with each washing.
Using either unbleached Egyptian Giza cotton, or combed American cotton in black, with New Zealand wool, our in-house finishing leaves these throws soft to the touch with a bearded surface where the wool felts into the cotton. Machine washable, in cold water and the gentle cycle, these throws are as practical as they are fun to look at.
Folks tell us they can no longer sit on the couch in the winter without their cotton/wool throw. It provides just the right amount of warmth without the heft of some wool blankets.
Our New Zealand wool and cotton throws are as much loved by pets as by humans. We offer pet blankets as well as the matrimonial size throws - if they get any bigger they are called blankets.
Do you see a fabric you love, but need an alteration to the size of the finished product? Need more shams? Send us your request and we'll try our best to assist you with your needs.
Is there something special you'd like created specifically for you? We will collaborate with architects and designers to produce custom fabrics, unique to your installation.
Made in the USa with Quality Fibers For Your Comfort
Our mission is to create beautiful, functional products that last a lifetime or two. We use the finest natural yarns, the best equipment and an expert crew. We do this while paying a living wage and providing a great work environment.
We continue to make significant investments in our building, improving our processes and increasing energy efficiency. We strive to be a no waste facility - in the use of the building and in the making of our products.
It takes more than good intentions to create great fabric. Every step in the process has the potential to bring the quality up or down. Maintaining the highest quality is a choice made by each crew member at each stage of manufacturing. The people make the difference: our crew invests their time in maintaining the highest quality.
Stephan Michelson came to the textile industry with a PhD in economics, a successful statistical consulting firm, and a passion for quality.
In 1999 Stephan and Bethanne Knudson started plotting their entrance into the textile manufacturing business at the International Textile Machinery Association Expo in Paris.
They bought their first loom in 2004. In 2006 Stephan purchased the building that would become The Oriole Mill. The first yard of fabric was woven in 2007.
A Master of Fine Arts degree, seven years of teaching art and textiles, and fourteen years in the Jacquard end of the textile industry serve as Bethanne’s background. She designs and oversees production on the in-house line - bk for The Oriole Mill. Bethanne also works with independent designers and artists and is the Director of The Jacquard Center.
“My focus is to work within what is timeless - both in design and in materials. Good design remains pleasing for as long as the fabric looks great. Our cotton and wool throws will improve with time - they will get softer with each washing.”
“Using only natural fibers guarantees not only a long life for the fabric but, just as importantly, the fabric will remain beautiful. The luster is in the yarn, not an applied enhancement. It can’t wear off because it is the fiber itself.”
“Premium materials allow us to make heirloom pieces. The antidote to disposable goods is goods that last.”
bk for The Oriole Mill - an exclusive line of textiles designed and produced by Bethanne Knudson.
You can find this line of products at the fine retailers who stock The Oriole Mill's products, as well as our online store.
We believe in seeking quality across the board - from quality of the working environment, to the quality of yarn and fabric design, to the people we employ.
The Oriole Mill thrives with a competent, self-directed, and hard working crew. Cross-training aids with their creative problem solving.
Always up for a challenge, the crew dives into projects with relish - whether installing new equipment, weaving yardage, or explaining the machinery to visitors.
We achieve excellence in fabric and product design by partnering with Sew Co., also known as Western Carolina Sewing Company.
The expertise Libby O' Bryan provides when constructing finished goods parallels the expertise Bethanne Knudson provides when designing fabrics.
This is true collaboration, at its best.
look for our BK line created by bethanne knudson
Summer 2011 - Update from Stephan
In May, we were visited by three alpacas, in search of their former coats,now being worn by a model who handled them brilliantly.
Well, not really, but you see the weave room in the background, and know that this was not an ordinary day at an ordinary mill. We are weaving alpaca wool with cotton, an all USA combination. Sew Co is designing and making women’s clothing from our fabrics.
Besides our regular production, The Oriole Mill hosts more classes from The Jacquard Center in the summer than at other times. July, in particular, we're busy weaving for individuals in classes. Kelly Hopkin is now the instructor for those classes. Her industry experience parallels Bethanne’s, having been training and technical support for EAT software for many years.
Meanwhile, Bethanne and Libby are designing new products. Here Phyllis models an early version of a reversible apron. A former pastry chef, Phyllis takes readily to this attire.
As with most of our products, this apron is fully reversible (and of course washable), using a clever grommet system to attach straps. There is a pocket on each side, so there is always an inside and an outside pocket. Libby tries on the newer version apron.
We have fabricated the “straps” in this photo from our new knit-braid machine, using the same cotton we weave with. What, if any of this, will remain in the finished product is as yet not known. Just thought we’d let you in on our R & D.
Because we have found that pets have an affinity for our New Zealand wool, we are designing products especially for them. And we expect to have a line of new throws ready for the fall. We will continue with cotton/wool combinations, but add all-cotton throws into the mix.
A writer from WNC Magazine interviewed most of the crew for a forthcoming feature article. Watch for the September issue. In addition, we expect to see an article in Handwoven.
2010
"Three Dimensions in Fiber", Claudia Herbst-Tait, Fiber Arts, November/December, 2010
2009
"A Night at the Oriole", Jess McCuan, Verve, November/December, 2009
"The 15th ETN Conference in Haslach", Beatrijs Sterk, ETN - Textile Forum, September, 2009
"Oriole Mill", Beth Beasley, TNW - Times-News Weekly, July 29, 2009
"Expert's Opinion", Matilda McQuaig, Covers (Modern Carpets & Textiles for Interiors), Spring, 2009
"An Inspiring Jacquard Design Meeting in the USA", Beatrijs Sterk, ETN - Textile Forum, March, 2009
"Intelligent Textiles", Gerry Craig, American Craft, February/March 2009
2008
"Inspired Design: Jacquard and Entrepreneurial Textiles", The Centre for Craft, Creativity and Design,2008
"North Carolina 2008 Think-Tank at the Center for Craft, Creativity &Design", Catherine Ellis, Fiber Arts, September/October, 2008
2007
"Custom Mill Opens, Bucking U.S. Trend", Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, Fiber Arts, November/December, 2007
Online
2010
"The Oriole Mill Experience", Sara von Tresckow, The Woolgatherers, December, 2010 external link to site
"Jacquard Weave X-change", Sarah Scaturro, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, November 30, 2010 external link to site
2009
"Weaving at The Oriole Mill", Meghan Price,Output, November, 2009 external link to site
"Inspired Design Conference Notes", Joe Lewis, Fibre Quarterly, Spring, 2009 external link to site
Links to friends of The Oriole Mill.
The Jacquard Center - a Jacquard weaving training center located on a mountain in North Carolina.
Feel the Difference - with Quality fabrics
The Oriole Mill
701 Oriole Drive
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 693-5500
sink into our Heirloom Pieces
Purchase from The Oriole Mill's online store.
Coming soon!
A list of the fine retailers who carry our products - please visit them and and ask about our products.
Florida
Oasis Rug & Home 8110 Cypress Plaza Drive #104, FL 32256 (904) 470-4032
North Carolina
A Country Home 5162 Cashiers Rd, Highlands, NC 28741 (828) 526-9038
Bellagio Biltmore Village, 5 Biltmore Village, Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 277-8100
Crazy Jane's 1817 Hawkins St, Charlotte, NC 28203 (704) 332-5454
Design Avenue Home Furnishings 3 Design Ave Suite 101, Fletcher, NC 28732 (828) 687-3690
Dwellings Home Furnishings 2 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 350-1333
Grovewood Gallery 111 Grovewood Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 253-7651
Heartwood Gallery 21 E Main St, Saluda, NC 28773 (828) 749-9365
Homestead Fine Linens 110 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792 (828) 697-8787
It's By Nature 678 W Main St, Sylva, NC 28779 (828) 631-3020
Maggie & McKay 204 Sutton Ave 827, Black Mountain, NC (828) 669-4535
Mehri & Company of NY 501 Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792 (828) 693-0887
Mountain Heritage 371 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741 (828) 526-5519
Porter and Prince 2 Hendersonville Rd, Suite A1, Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 277-2337
Silver Fox 508 N Main, Hendersonville, NC 28792 (828) 698-0601
Summer House 18 W Main St, Saluda, NC 28773 (828) 749-1499
Suzannes' Gift Experience 3860 Hwy 64 Sappire Valley, Sappire, NC 28774 (828) 743-2009
Textures 142 N Main St, Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 452-0058
The Jazzy Giraffe Historic Grove Arcade, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 251-1616
The Linville Gallery Rt 2 4004 Hwy 105, Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828) 898-8405
White Orchid 64 Front St, Dillsboro, NC 28725 (828) 586-9480
Tennessee
Bella Linea 2210 Crestmoor Rd, Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 352-4041
Virginia
Du Jardin 703 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 (540) 374-1001
Monkee's 827 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 (540) 368-2111