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Several years ago I bought a chenille bedspread with a geometric, square pattern on it. I loved it until, about two months after purchasing it, the chenille started to collect lint. There was nothing I could do to get it out. So instead of a white bedspread with white chenille squares, I had off-white/bluish chenille squares (and I didn't even have cats then which would have added to the problem). It was horrible. I ended up using it upside-down for another year or so then donated it. I'll never buy chenille again.

Em--

Doesn't sound like you had lint - That would have washed out in the laundry.

Sounds like you had "Crocking" - That's what happens when a fabric which the dyes haven't set (like a new pair of jeans) rubs against another fabric, imparting its dye as a stain on the lighter fabric.

Did you lie on your bed in dark jeans or use the bedspread on darker sheets?

The very thought of a bed with a chenille bed spread fills me with woe. One retro idea too many.

Everything old is new again, Princess Fi. At least, that's what my dogs think...just yesterday I finished a "fake chenille" pillowcase cum doggy bed:

http://www.peavine.com/?p=13

I doubt I'd put chenille on my bed but I definitely plan on making more dog beds out of it!

Lint on everything you own no thanks, my Grandmother had several chenille bedspreads and the look great but what a mess.

Chenille, like wood-grain vinyl, must remain in the museum of decor that taste forgot.

We inherited a couple of chenille (or chenille-like?) bedspreads from my father-in-law. Honestly, they give me the willies--I can't even use them as dog blankets! They are stored away, to be used for wrapping furniture during moves, and pretty much nothing else.

I love chenille, actually. When I became acquainted with matelasse (through Martha Stewart, actually) I loved it because it reminded me of the patterns in chenille.

I'm not sure why, looking at the above examples, now. But I do like it.

Wood-grain vinyl? Not so much.

Yes, most of the vintage chenille bedpsreads out there have seen their better day, that is what makes these so special and desirable to vintage textile collectors. I have never seen a lint problem in my experience with vintage chenille, I have some 75 vintage chenilles as well as some matelasse and other beautiful vintage spreads made by makers....Morgan Jones, Bates, Cabin Crafts....all famous for making high quality spreads back in the day. They are easy to care for, just wash and dry on lower temps....the drying makes the chenille so fluffy. One thing for sure, they are truly unique!Thanks for featuring me on the blog

I love the thought of what your cheek would look like if you fell asleep face down on these bedspreads...

The people with the lint problems must have had low-quality chenille. I grew up with vintage chenille bedspreads, then later bought one of my own from linensource.com. When I got married, I thought I'd like some color and registered for a moss green chenille duvet cover from Bed Bath and Beyond, and experienced the lint problem described above.

I threw it away a couple months ago and bought a matelasse bedspread from linensource, with a modern "deco squares" pattern. Like Alana in Canada, I find the matelasse reminds me of chenille - it has the same weight, feel and breathability that I liked about my old chenille bedspreads.

I am an unabashed fan of chenille. I own four different bedspreads, two of which were purchased on Ebay. They go perfectly with my country cottage bedroom and are practical. They go in the wash along with everything else, unlike the comforters I've had in the past. I have warm ones for cold weather and summer weight for the warm months.

It's all a matter of taste.

a pink, red and green peacock one of these hangs behind my kitchen table,until it is painted