What chenille is
Chenille is French for caterpillar. Short cotton fibers are trapped between twisted core yarns, so each yarn comes out fuzzy all the way around. Woven together, they make a dense, velvety surface.
The fabric
Cotton chenille
A tufted cotton yarn woven into a thick, plush cloth that drapes like a heavy blanket.
Why the checks look soft-edged
The pattern is woven, not printed. Each square is its own color of yarn, and the plush pile blurs the line where two colors meet, which gives the checks their soft, hand-drawn look.
Cold, gentle, and flat
Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle. Dry flat, or tumble on low. Never iron it: heat and pressure flatten the pile that makes chenille feel the way it does.
Questions about this fabric
Is it heavy?
It has real weight, which is what makes it drape over a sofa arm or the foot of a bed instead of sliding off.
Will it shed?
A few loose fibers can come off in the first washes. That settles down quickly.
Can I iron it?
No. Ironing crushes the pile.