Beds and Bedding

Chenille Bedspreads

Posted on Wed, Mar 10, 2010 by Benny in Bedroom Accessories

Chenille bedspreads are made through a handicraft technique called “tufting.” This handicraft technique was revived by Catherine Evans Whitener in the 1890s when she was in Dalton. Also called “tufted bedspreads,” chenille bedspreads are cotton sheets with raised “tufts” made of thick yarn. This type of bedspread became popular not only in Dalton, but also in the whole United States.

The word “chenille” is the French term for “caterpillar.” It usually refers to fabrics with raised yarn ends or thick piles sticking out from the fabric’s edges at right angles. Though most tufted or chenille bedspreads do not actually turn out to be exactly as the term “chenille” denotes, the term remained to be used to refer to all tufted bedspreads, until it eventually became a popular term. The handicraft of tufting played an important role in the economic development of northwest Georgia. 

Brief history of chenille bedspreads

After Catherine Evans Whitener’s revival of tufting as a handicraft technique, others also began to learn and adapt this style of making bedspreads. Chenille bedspreads became popular and eventually made their way into Atlanta’s department stores in the 1920s. The popularity of chenille bedspreads continued to grow even after several years, until they became a major factor in the growth of Georgia’s economy. The local textile industry in Georgia boomed with Dalton at its center. Chenille bedspreads even caught the interest of art enthusiasts, and exhibits were held to feature the intricate designs and artistic form of chenille bedspreads.

Chenille bedspreads became such a favorite in American households and bedrooms during the last years of the 19th century to mid 1900s. 

During the immense popularity of chenille bedspreads, several “spread houses” were put up to meet the continuously increasing market demand. These small chenille bedspread warehouses were intended for the stamping of designs into the sheets. The output would then be delivered by haulers to rural households in Carolina, Tennessee, and north Georgia where the designs would be hand-sewn by workers. After this, sheets with hand-woven designs would be returned to retailers’ small warehouses for finishing, washing, preshrinking, and even dyeing.

Because of this tremendous success of chenille bedspreads, manufacturers tried to experiment on other products such as toilet tank covers, rugs, and robes. The attempt proved to be successful. Today, there are also floor mats, wall to wall carpets, and other household decors and accessories made with the same materials and style as chenille bedspreads.

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