Chenille Fabric Definition

Chenille yarns can resemble the twists of a caterpillar.

Deriving its name from the French word for "caterpillar," chenille is a soft and fuzzy fabric made of pile yarns. Introduced commercially in the 1970s, chenille is used today for many products, including sweaters, blankets and rugs.

History

The first chenille-like fabrics appeared in France, with English versions arriving a little later. Produced during Marie Antoinette's time in the mid-1700s, England had the fabric as early as 1754, although it was not used frequently until the later part of that century.

Identification

Chenille fabric is composed of short pieces of yarn, called the pile, pulled together by the two ends of a tightly twisted piece of core, or stronger yarn. The fabric can be made of many fibers, the most common variations being acrylic, cotton, rayon and polypropylene.

Production

Although the first machinery used to create chenille was unpredictable, in the 1990s, new machines were developed in Europe and North America which gave dependable results. These machines cut the pile yarns and twist the core yarns, eventually resulting in the chenille, with little pieces of pile wrapped into the core yarns.

Pile Direction

A finished piece of chenille fabric should have a pile that points in a single direction, requiring serious attention paid during the manufacturing process. This allows for light to be reflected in a variety of ways from different angles, a positive attribute of the fabric known as "reflection effect."

Warning

Manufacturing chenille yarn is not easy, and can be a slow process, demanding attention to detail. Also, with fabric complexities such as the strength-to-bulk ratio and pile direction, making final pieces can be difficult.

References

• Apparel Search: Chenille Information
• Textile Glossary: What is "Chenille" - Definition & Explanation
• "The History of English Secular Embroidery", Margaret Jourdain; 1912