Quick Resources: Vintage Chenille Bedspread History

If you want to learn more about the history of this wonderful textile, here are some recommendations to get you started. We are not affiliated with any of the authors/sites below – these are simply what we consider to be noteworthy resources:

Title:: Southern Tufts: The Regional Origins and National Craze for Chenille Fashion

Author:: Ashley Callahan

Brief Desc:: If you love vintage fashion and/or chenille, this is a go-to resource for sure. Filled with rich history and wonderful visuals, this book will take you back to the heyday of chenille. 

Title:: Peacock Alley: Highway 41 and the Growth of the Chenille Bedspread Industry

Brief Desc:: From the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, this is a masterfully written piece by Ashley Callahan from 2002. You'll recognize the author's name from the Southern Tufts book above... ***

Title:: Murray County, GA Museum | Early Chenille

Brief Desc:: Read about the early origins of chenille in a concise format; also contains numerous links for further visual exploration, including old Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs. ***

Title:: What is Chenille? From its Origins to Current Relevance

Brief Desc:: Learn the basics of chenille from the Contrado.co.uk blog, covering the beginnings of this beloved fabric right up to modern times. *** Title:: Chenille Bedspreads | New Georgia Encyclopedia Brief Desc:: A quick but informative intro to chenille history with recommendations for further reading. *** Do you have a chenille resource to share? We’d love to hear from you – just contact us with the details.