How To Make a Chenille Quilt

Learning how to make a chenille quilt will expand your quilting skills. Chenille which is also known as faux or mock chenille is not a very old fabric. Only a decade back it wasn't even heard of by many people. It does not have a history like cotton or silk. This synthetic material is slippery, soft and somewhat fluffy in appearance.

Now a days, chenille has come up with many varieties of its own, that are all interesting to quilt with. Chenille quilts gives a very plush and expensive look so it is ideal to make gift quilts, lap quilts and bedspreads. The designer Christine Bramhall in 1996 made a Chenille jacket, and after that this fabric was a hit everywhere around the world.

REQUIRED SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS: (For more info refer Tools & Equipment for Beginner Quilting)

• Standard sewing machine

• Iron

• Sewing needles - Universal size 12

• Rotary cutter

• Rotary ruler

• Cutting mat

• Pins- beaded head

• Needles

• Chenille in colors of your choice

• Other fabrics to use in blocks, silks look great with it.

• Fabric for lining or backpack

• Quilt batting

• Pattern for chenille quilt

HOW TO MAKE A CHENILLE QUILT:

1. Prewash the fabrics separately. Make sure that colors are fast and the fabrics don't shrink. Now dry the fabric completely and iron it afterwards with adding the spray starch to fabric. The fabric should be completely dry and firm without wrinkles. If you don't want to wash Chenille it is perfectly fine but then be careful that you do not wash the quilt. You can do dry cleaning only then in that case.

2. Chenille quilts look great when used in layers and abstract patterns. But it all depends on you; you can even use it in a block pattern or an appliqué design. Place the base fabric on the bottom and layer the other pieces on tip. Smooth the fabrics and pin the layers together.

3. Sew the five or six layers of fabric together around the edges. Remove the pins. These stitches will be removed, so make them loose and long. If using a block quilt pattern, then cut the fabric accordingly and make basic blocks as par instructions. Do not forget to use a blend of fabrics when making it with chenille.

4. After piecing, add batting, lining and quilting in the ordinary way; just like you do it for any other quilts. But make sure you do not quilt over the chenille piece or it can loose it's fluff with the stitches on it.

5. Apply binding around the edges using 2.5" binding folded lengthwise. Binding should never be in chenille. Use durable and strengthened cloth like a silk. You can even fluff the chenille by gentle washing and air blow drying.

Chenille quilts are great to use as they look puffier and warmer than ordinary quilts, but they need extra care as well, as they may shed or the fabric may become matted. Hopefully you will enjoy knowing how to make a chenille quilt for years to come.