Home Improvement Information

Mommy, Mommy, Theres a Caterpillar on my Bed


Chenille has been used for bedspreads since Catherine Evans revived the craft in the 1890's. She applied raised tufts of yarn to cotton sheeting and these spreads were often referred to as chenille products. Chenille is the French word for caterpillar - the yarn looks like those fuzzy little creatures. Thick pile of yarn ends stuck out all around at right angles. Stamps were created into a pattern and the yarn was stuck on to fill in the pattern. Bedspreads from this craft were all the rage in the 20's. The demand was so high that new warehousing systems were developed to put out these products. This truly developed from a cottage industry in that haulers would deliver stamped sheets to the women of north Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. They would then pick up the spread, pay the women and take the spreads back to the warehouse. A final finishing of washing in hot water locked in the yarns. They were also dyed in all kinds of colors.

By the 30's, chenille bedspreads would be seen in most homes all along the east coast and beyond. Since they were so popular, manufacturers started mass producing the spreads in factories. Sewing machines were invented to do the process that was once done only by hand. The remarkable success of the chenille products lead to robes, toilet seat covers, rugs and more. Of course, bigger is better so a special machine was designed to create a piece of fabric that was at least nine by twelve for a whole room. By the 50's chenille was in every home all over the country. My mom had several spreads in different colors and yours probably did too. I still search out vintage bedspreads at flea markets, and if you find them in good shape they fetch a good price as well. My mother in law had a pink chenille spread she started using for a drop cloth. YIKES. I snatched it up quickly, but now it is cut into pieces ready to become the next bear or sheep.

Many crafters take pieces of this caterpillar material and create toys and stuffed animals. It has become quite chic to have chenille in your child's room. New material is everywhere, or you can still find some vintage pieces. Furniture is also popular in a girl's room that has been covered with pastel chenille. You can combine new chenille with vintage and that's perfectly acceptable. The soft texture adds to the warmth and charm you look for in a nursery or little girl's room. If you know how to knit, the colors of chenille yarn on the market is huge. You can find kitschy robes with every imaginable motif.

Some cute young styles are cell phones, lipstick and nail polish, coffee mugs, shoes, and every conceivable animal. I'm glad chenille has made such a comeback in the market. Its fuzzy texture takes us back to a simpler time. The "caterpillar" was beloved in my home and still is today. Try it in your decorating plans and see how this nostalgic fabric complements everything else you have in the house. Thank you Catherine Evans for working so hard with your friends to make this a long lasting fabric we cherish today.

Bev Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying mattresses, baby bedding, bedding, duvet covers and more. Her many articles can be found at http://www.bedding-4u.com/Bedspreads.htm. She gives information and tips on http://www.bedding-4u.com to help you save money, make informed buying decisions and common sense ideas for changing your life.


MORE RESOURCES:

Home improvement stores burglarized
Aurora Beacon News, IL - 14 hours ago
BY BEACON NEWS STAFF Aurora police are investigating a rash of burglaries from vehicles parked at two far west side home improvement stores. ...


Home Improvement Kid Gets Tasered. No, Not that One, the Other...
Dose.ca, Canada - 21 hours ago
Ever wonder what happened to Home Improvement also-ran kid Zachery Ty Bryan? Okay, probably not but if we told you he got tasered at a San Diego hotel, ...


Former Child Star Zachery Ty Bryan Sues Hotel For Assault
AHN - Jul 8, 2008
The former "Home Improvement" star has filed a lawsuit against Choice Hotels International over an April incident. According to TMZ, he was staying at the ...


Home Improvement Zachery Ty Bryan Photo, Lawsuit: Don't Tase Me, Bro!
Post Chronicle - 20 hours ago
by Tashi Singh Child star Zachery Ty Bryan, better known as Brad Taylor for his big brother role on 'Home Improvement', has been shocked with...a taser! ...


HOME IMPROVEMENT - HOME IMPROVEMENT STAR SUES HOTEL BOSSES OVER ...
Contactmusic.com, UK - Jul 7, 2008
HOME IMPROVEMENT star ZACHERY TY BRYAN is suing a leading hotel chain after he was tasered by an off-duty manager. In court documents, the former child star ...


Best Syndication

Cheap Home Improvement Loan: Low Rate Finance To Enhance Your Home ...
Best Syndication, CA - Jul 7, 2008
Even if you do not have any, you can source the money by opting for Cheap Home Improvement Loan. This loan offers you the required monetary assistance which ...


"Home Improvement" Kid: Don't Tase Me, Bro!
TMZ.com, CA - Jul 7, 2008
Zachery Ty Bryan, who played Brad Taylor on "Home Improvement" -- is suing Choice Hotels International over an incident at one of their hotels back in April ...


E! Online

Rise 'n' Shine: Steve Carell Won't Let You Hit Anne Hathaway While ...
E! Online - 17 hours ago
The least cute brother from Home Improvement (Zachery Ty Bryan) is $25000 mad that a hotel tasered him. • It's possible Samantha Ronson bought Lindsay a ...


EASY CAULKING
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 20 hours ago
Available at Lowe's Home Improvement stores, Ace Hardware, True Value and Do It Best, caulk singles come in white paintable acrylic or white or clear ...


Retailers Recalibrate Pitch To Strapped Consumers
Wall Street Journal - 9 hours ago
Some, like home-improvement giant Home Depot Inc., are sprucing up their stores and investing more in customer service. Others, like discounter Wal-Mart ...

Home-Improvement - Google News

home | site map
© 2006