Who are the top makers, what is the most collectible, projects to make, what should I know--this is a guide for the person just getting into crafting or collecting with chenille all the way to the serious collector of these beautiful gems.  I myself started using chenille over three years ago for crafts.  I found them at Estate sales and started making quilts from old ones that were considered cutters.  I then started looking on Ebay for them-from cutters to collectible pieces-I have been hooked ever since.  I love the soft colors, the plush fabric and the fact that after years of use it is sooooo soft! 

The best makers in my opinion are Cabin Crafts-[the oldest know maker], Morgan Jones. Bates, Hofman and Ret Rac.  These are the makers of such patterns like the needle-tuft florals-squiggles, rosebuds, popcorns and daisy's.  These makers also seem to have the best quality and durablility. The most sought after chenille on Ebay is the Morgan Jones Rosebuds.  They come in the following colors listed in order of rarest to most common:

1. White with pink and blue buds know to sell on Ebay as high as $600-only seen one in my 4 years on Ebay. Pink multi-shaded rosebud, White with red rosebuds, Aqua with white rosebuds, White on white, Blue with white rose-buds, Yellow with white rosebuds, White with yellow rosebuds, Pink with white rosebuds, white with blue rosebuds, white with pink rosebuds [the most sought after-but most common]-this comes in two colors pale pink and bubble gum pink. Typically these sell for between $125.00-$400.00 on Ebay. Morgan Jones also made a baby rosebud-the buds are smaller in diameter and closer together-these to are rare. Please note-their are imposters!  Sears made a rosebud spread in the 1970's that many people try to pass off as Morgan Jones-you can tell a fraud by these tell tale signs. The background fabric is not as thick and strong, the rosebuds are farther apart and not as tight, they are a bit longer in thread and the color is not as bright.  After you have felt, seen or owned a REAL Morgan Jones rosebud it is easy to spot a re-make.  Many others have made or tried to make the rosebud in such colors as orange and yellow, blue and pink, and others.  Beware of these being sold as Morgan Jones --When in doubt as for a picture of the MJ tag.

2. Florals of all kinds are the next most sought after-every maker has some sort of floral pattern but the most sought after seem to be Cabin Crafts needle-tuft.  Needle-tuft means the chenille loops have not been cut.  Many times Ret-Rac is confused for Cabin Crafts as they have some very similar patterns.  These patterns can be very ornate with many many colors used in each spread down to very simple.  Prices on these types of spreads range from $10.00-$350.

3. Plaids and Ginghams are another group of spreads that are popular but hard to come by.  Mostly made by Morgan Jones the ginghams are a favorite of mine.  These are white and a color checks with popcorns on the white checks-they come in the colors of Pink [the rarest] Green, Blue, & Cocoa Brown.  I have never seen this pattern in lavender or yellow-but that does not mean they were not made-they may have been I do not know. I have also seen this pattern made in cocoa brown and pink.  These typically sell on Ebay for $50.00-$400.00.  The plaids are also very sought after.  They came in colors mixed with black and popcorns.  The most common colors are lavneder, pink and aqua.  I have also seen these in Black and yellow. These can sell for $50.00-$175.00.

4. Popcorns!  These are a very common pattern and were made by all of the makers.  They come in every color of the rainbow and the popcorns themselves can very in size from mini's to jumbo.  Some are two toned like pink with white pocorns [very sought after] to ones with gold, silver and colored lurex threads running through them to just plain popcorns.  Popcorns on Ebay can sell for $10.00-150.00.

5. Hobnails-these are the most common chenille bedspreads, made again by everyone, but Bates is the premier maker of these.  The Martha and George Washington style of these can sell on Ebay for upwards of $100.00.  Most basic hobnails sell for $5.00-$45.00.

Chenille was made in 100% cotton in the early days and then in the 1960's and 70's some makers started making them out of polyester [YUCK!].  These are just not as pretty and they pil and collect forien objects like hair terribly.  I do not reccomend them.  I say stick to cotton.

When crating with chenille, it is very easy to use, and sew with.  You can use a machine or a serger, I prefer the serger just because it is faster. A word or warning when sewing with the spider web type chenille's or the thick big popcorns of you hit a thick area just right it WILL break your needles!  I have broke countless of them. These are the only two chenille fabrics I seem to have a problem with.  The most commom made articles from vintage chenille are patchwork quilts, pillows, totes, jackets, stockings and tree skirts. But ladies [and gentlemen] the possibilites are endless with what you can create with this lovely fabric.

In closing I would like to say I am not a professional or an expert, however after being a collector for over three years I have learned many things about vintage chenille, and I hope what I have learned and shared with you today has been helpful. I have not touched on every single maker or every single pattern, but the basics.  I would like to add if you are a crafter-please craft responsibly and only use cutter spreads with holes and or stains.  These wonderful old gems are getting harder and harder to find in perfect condition and for the collector who treasures these and showcases these on beds-we ask that you please not cut up the perfect ones or the ones with minor issues than can be reapired.  There are many out there with issues that can be used for crafting purposes.

Thank-you for stopping by,

Christy-Ebay Id-time*goes*by