Chenille is one of the most luxurious fabrics.  It’s priced higher than most other fabrics but quite worth the money if you love extra softness.  Chenille in French means “caterpillar” the worm-like insect that, after a period of time in a chrysalis, becomes a butterfly. Most caterpillars are a few inches long and are covered in short hairs that give them a fuzzy look. It is this particular look that provided the name for this fabric.  In fact the yarn is thick, soft and fuzzy looks much like a fuzzy caterpillar.

Here are some varieties of chenille caterpillars:

    

       

 

Chenille is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, the “pile”, between two “core yarns” and then twisting the yarn together. The edges of these piles stand at right angles from the core yarn, giving chenille fabric both its softness and its characteristic iridescent look without using two colors of yarn. The first chenille was developed in 18th-century France and was actually created by weaving leno and then cutting the fabric into thin strips. Later, the production of a chenille fabric began in Paisley, Scotland. In this case, wool yarns would be woven into a blanket and then cut into strips. This method treated by heat made this fabric soft and fuzzy. A Whitfield County native Catherine Evans Whitener had revived the handcraft of tufting in the 1890s. The craft spread like wildfire, and by the 1920s thousands of men and women in north Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee had created a thriving cottage industry in the production of tufted bedspreads.

 

Chenille is used many household items because of its softness and beauty.  We use them every day in decorative fabrics, embroidery, tassels, toys, rugs, carpets, towels, beddings, upholstery and some clothing.

Bedding: High quality chenille bedspreads enhance your décor with classic elegance while providing soft, lightweight warmth for a comfortable, cozy atmosphere.

Upholstery: When looking for fabric’s for your sofas and chairs you look for the durability of the fabric. Those with small children, pets, or high-traffic living rooms, need sofas that can stand up to constant everyday use.  Durability is the key then any fabric can be made more durable and resistant to stains and dirt with the application of stain protection products. Chenille will last for many years as your family lives and grows.

Rugs: Chenille rugs are popular because they offer a thick, soft, surface to walk on. It gives us comfort on our feet after a hard day at work.

Clothing: we love soft plush robes, bath towels, blankets, house slippers.  The tufted fabric makes it more absorbent to keep our skin dry.

 

Here are some varieties of chenille fabrics:

 

       

Chenille is a beautiful, plush fabric that we love and want to have in our homes.  Makes our homes very comfortable and inviting time and time again. Chenille is a very popular fabric then and now.