There are several things to consider when shopping for chenille upholstery, such as what the fabric will be used for, how it will be used, and fabric care. Before discussing these topics, it is useful to know what it is and how it is made.
Chenille can be used to cover furniture and curtains.
The word “chenille” refers to the process by which the fabric is made. Short pieces of fabric are wrapped around a core of yarn, giving the fabric its characteristic tufted or piled appearance. Originating in France, chenille fabrics have been produced since the 18th century. Chenille upholstery is often patterned with designs that alternate smooth and tufted surfaces and can incorporate multiple colors.
Cotton chenille can be washed by hand or machine, but should be dried flat.
Chenille is used to cover furniture and curtains. It is perhaps best known as a material for quilts and bedspreads. Chenille print bedspreads were very popular in the mid-20th century and retain some of that popularity to this day. Upholstery is made from a variety of fabrics, including cotton, rayon, polyester, and olefin. Most chenille upholstery fabrics are made from a blend of cotton, rayon, and polyester fibers and require dry cleaning. Cotton chenille can be washed by hand or machine, but should be dried flat.
When purchasing chenille fabric for upholstering furniture, it is important to match the properties and aesthetics of the fabric to the piece of furniture to be covered. You need to think about how the piece of furniture will be used and if chenille fabric is suitable for the piece. For example, some fabrics feature large, symmetrical patterns. While they are great for quilts and quilts, the pattern can be lost when these fabrics are used to cover a small chair. Some chenille fabrics can also be more durable than others. For example, heavily used chairs have uneven wear in the front and back of the seating area, and an upholstery fabric with a heavily quilted pattern can show this more easily than other fabrics.
Using chenille upholstery for curtains can add an element of warmth and add a touch of texture to a room. Potential drawbacks are that the skin attracts and traps dust, and chenille cotton fabrics tend to fade unevenly when worn in sunny locations. When thinking about chenille curtain fabric, it’s important to consider how easy it will be to clean and whether it will increase or decrease the amount of natural light that enters a room.
