Instructions for Making Chenille Fabric
Chenille fabric is an extremely soft fabric. It is commonly used for quilts and baby blankets, but can be used for other fabric projects as well. Making your own chenille can be very rewarding, because you can choose the colors you want to use in your project.
Things You'll Need
- Spray baste adhesive
- 4 to 8 layers of fabric
- Cloth marking pencil
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Washer
- Dryer
Instructions
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1
Choose 4 to 8 layers of fabric in various colors. Cotton, silk, flannel, or rayon are good choices to use for chenille projects. Each piece should be the same size.
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2
Lay the first layer of fabric on a sturdy work surface. Spray a coat of spray baste adhesive on the first layer of fabric and lay the second layer on top. Continue doing this until you have used all of your fabric layers. Do not spray the baste adhesive on the last piece of fabric.
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3
Using a cloth marking pencil put a diagonal line on the bias of the material. The bias is the direction of the fibers in the cloth. Your line should be near the center of your piece.
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4
Sew all of the layers together along the bias line. Then sew a line 1/4 inch away from the first seam on the right hand side. Sew a line 1/4 inch away from the first seam on the left hand side. Continue sewing on each side of the first line, alternative sides and making sure to leave a 1/4-inch gap between the seams.
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5
Using scissors, cut between each seam, leaving the bottom layer intact.
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6
Sew a seam around all four edges of the fabric after you have cut between the diagonal seams. This new seam should be about 1/2 inch away from the edge of the fabric.
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7
Wash the chenilled piece, and then dry it in the dryer. It will produce a lot of lint, but the step is necessary for the chenille to bloom. The blooming is what makes the fabric so soft and cozy.
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