Cozy chenille has been a beloved home decor fabric for centuries thanks to its cuddly softness and versatility for any room. Fittingly, the word chenille means “caterpillar” in French as it so resembles the fuzzy creature it’s named after! We’ve all got a fascination with the fuzz, who doesn’t love fabric that feels like a hug? Learn more about the cuddle-worthy fabric that stands the test of time, right here.
What’s the history of chenille fabric?
Chenille was born in France in the late 1700s when innovative artisans discovered a method for making a cross-weave fabric they then cut into strips to produce fuzzy yarn. So the name refers to both the fabric and the yarn its made from.
Chenille’s early life included shawls in 1830s Scotland, then imitation Oriental rugs as the yarn was a great fit for intricate carpet designs. Across the pond, a rural artisan named Catherine Evans Whitener revived the hand-tufted chenille bedspread craft in the 1890s; by the 1930s northwest Georgia had become the “tufted bedspread capital of the US” and production economically sustained local families through the Great Depression. Chenille was also a popular material for throw blankets, mats, bedspreads, and carpets in the 1930s, then thanks to advances in automation, experienced an apparel revival in the 1970s.
In the 1990s, the Chenille International Manufacturers Association (CIMA) was formed to improve and innovate the manufacturing process, introducing standards of production that are still used. Today, chenille is an extremely popular fabric used extensively in fashion and home decor.
How is chenille fabric made?
Commonly made from cotton, viscose, silk, rayon, wool, acrylic, olefin, or any blend of those materials, plush chenille yarns are made by placing short lengths of weft yarn, the ‘pile’, between two warp ‘core yarns’, then twisting them together. This method results in durable, strong fabric that can stand up to everyday use as the twisted yarns grip tightly to the weft.
Chenille gets its characteristic softness and fuzzy look because the edges of the weft yarn stand at right angles to the warp yarns. Depending on the blend material used to create the yarns, chenille’s final appearance and hand will vary. Because the fibers catch the light differently, chenille doesn’t look the same in one direction vs. another. It can even appear iridescent!
Chenille yarn
What are the best uses for chenille fabric in home decor?
Chenille’s softness lends itself well to clothing, but its durability makes it a smart choice for home decor like upholstery, blankets, pillows and throws. There’s a very strong chance your favorite armchair or sofa is upholstered in chenille! Furniture is a big investment, you’ll want it to look and feel good for as long as possible – in that case, choose versatile chenille.
Some Regal Chenille Fabric Selections:
R-DISK LINEN
R-RAND FAWN
R-STRIVE PRUSSIAN
R-ESSAY CREAM
R-BLOCK ICEBERG
R-KNOX TEAL
R-TIME AURA
R-RAMP ICEBERG
R-CANGO SILVERSAGE
R-LANE LINEN
R-NOTION CINNAMON
R-HALO LINEN
R-INTEND LINEN
R-DORY TEAL
K-ALGER WHEAT
R-CRACKLE VANILLA
R-LARISSA FEDERAL
R-BOOT ICEBERG
R-SORA CHAMBRAY
R-SLIP SILVER
R-VOTE MINERAL
D-OZZIE SKY
R-ZUNI TURQUOISE
R-LEOPARD SAND
R-ALVY TOAST
R-GALE BERRY
R-MALCOM LAUREL
R-GETTY LAUREL
R-ARNO CURRANT
D-EMBRACE MIDNIGHT
K-IMAGINE HEATHER