Best Chenille Bedspreads

Best Chenille Bedspreads

What is Chenille?

Sure, you have heard the term but what exactly is chenille? Most likely you have curled up in a chenille bedspread at some time in your life. Chenille refers to a type of yarn that is woven resulting in a fabric also known as chenille. Chenille yarn is primarily produced using cotton, but the use of acrylic, rayon, wool, and silk now is also fairly common. The chenille fabric is incredibly soft and durable which makes it a desirable fabric for a bed spread.

Chenille creates a contrast between the cotton base and raised tufts of cotton yarn that have been neatly trimmed that gives a unique multidimensional effect to a chenille bedspread. Chenille is a French term for ‘caterpillar’ because of its distinct, fuzzy look that has a resemblance to a furry caterpillar.

Chenille began in France and made its way over to the United States and at the turn of the century. Georgia became the hub for cozy bedspreads, because of Catherine Evans, as she revived this handcrafted technique that had begun in 1890s. Catherine visited a relative who owned a vintage candlewick store. Candle wicking is a type of embroidery, which used cotton thread from candlewicks to create designs. Evans began to imitate the candle wicking she saw by using a type of yarn available in her area and started decorating bedspreads.These hand-tufted bedspreads with an embroidered appearance were extremely popular and were called chenille bedspreads. These bedspreads became very popular and Evans was overwhelmed with the demand for the chenille bedspreads. What resulted was a cottage industry in Northwest Georgia where she hired women and showed them how to create the bedspreads. As the products continued to grow in popularity, manufacturers Georgia in the Dalton region took an interest in making the spreads. Then in the 1920s, these chenille bedspreads appeared on the shelves of department stores in all the major cities like New York, Atlanta and Philadelphia. By the 1930s, most families had chenille bedspreads adorning their beds at home.

You may want to read: Best Chenille Blanket

Traditional Variations and Patterns of Chenille Bedspreads

There are a couple of variations of chenille bedspreads called needle tuft and hobnail.

In needle tufting, the loops are raised way up like in standard chenille but here the loops are not cut.  Needle tuft loops were very often used in creating floral patterns. Hobnail chenille also does not cut the loops but their loops are much more compact. Hobnail most closely resembles chenille’s artistry roots of candle wicking.

• Martha Washington: The Martha Washington pattern is a replica of the candle wicked bead spread found at the President’s Mt. Vernon estate. The pattern is both geometrical and floral and is perhaps one of the most famous bedspread patterns in existence.
• Peacock: The peacock is a popular pattern often found on chenille bedspreads and it is the southern symbol of hospitality and good housekeeping.
• Wedding ring: The wedding ring pattern is extremely popular as it was traditionally given to a newlywed couple as a symbol of their union. This classic still makes a wonderful wedding gift!
• Popcorn: This feels a bit more modern as the pattern is simpler. It has rows of small chenille tufts on the cover that bring to mind the image of popcorn.

Advantages of Chenille

• Soft to the touch
• Has a good drape
• Slight sheen
• Thick and durable
• Water absorbent
• Resistant to abrasion
• Retains heat
• Multi-use fabric

Disadvantages of Chenille

• Fussier to maintain
• Prone to stretching and distortion
• Prone to shrinkage

You may want to read: Best Chenille Bathroom Rugs

Bottom Line:

The best quality, contemporary chenille bedspread is made from 100% cotton, which makes it durable, soft and breathable. Chenille bedspreads are cozy in the winter but are breathable enough to not cause you to overheat during the hot summer months. Make sure your new bedspread can be machine washed because dry cleaning a bedspread can be inconvenient and expensive. Bedspreads made from 100% cotton as opposed to synthetic fibers will hold up better through multiple washes.

Most chenille bedspreads are manufactured and designed to reach all the way to the floor. Chenille bedspreads bring a vintage appeal to the room. There is definitely a classic look to a chenille bedspread but these days there are more choices of designs and colors that will work in both a traditional or modern room. If you already have a lot of vintage items, you might want to go with a very simple chenille bedspread.  On the other hand, if your room is fairly plain, a chenille bedspread with an elaborate pattern could be just what you need.