Where does Chenille come from?

Chenille comes from France, first documented in the 1700s.

Plate No. 096fabric

The render is a stylized impression of the fuzzy caterpillar yarn.

First documented: 1700s
Origin: France, France
Fiber: cotton, silk, wool
Weave: woven from cut-pile chenille yarn
Family: pile

Plate No. 096 · fabric

Chenille

Chenille is cloth woven from chenille yarn, a thread with short fibers bound at right angles around a core so it stands out soft and fuzzy on all sides, like a caterpillar. The yarn is made first, often by weaving a leno cloth and slitting it into fluffy strips, then woven again into the finished fabric. The result is plush, warm, and light-catching, which made chenille the cloth of bedspreads, dressing gowns, and the tufted bath mat, soft furnishing in fabric form.

Illustration: a 1930s American home interior, a fuzzy tufted bedspread on a brass bed, a window with sheer curtains, soft afternoon light — A 1930s American home interior, a fuzzy tufted bedspread on a brass bed, a window with sheer curtains, soft afternoon light.

Named for

From the French chenille, caterpillar: the fuzzy yarn looks like one.

Common questions

What is Chenille made of?: Chenille is cloth woven from chenille yarn, a thread with short fibers bound at right angles around a core so it stands out soft and fuzzy on all sides, like a caterpillar. It is traditionally made of cotton, silk, or wool.
Where does Chenille come from?: Chenille comes from France, first documented in the 1700s.
What is Chenille named after?: From the French chenille, caterpillar: the fuzzy yarn looks like one.