Chenille Yarn for Blankets, Amigurumi and Baby

Quick facts: Avril chenille — soft, safe for newborns, dozens of colours. 100g balls · 120 metres · hook or needles size 5-6.

Tessiland's chenille yarn is made directly by us: incredibly soft to the touch, voluminous and safe even for newborns. Avril is our top-of-the-range product — dozens of colours, 100 grams for 120 metres. It is the ideal yarn for all projects that need that enveloping feeling only chenille can give: blankets, amigurumi, baby accessories and much more.

Avril Chenille — Our Flagship Yarn

Avril Chenille Ball 100g

100g · 120 metres · hook or needles size 5-6. Soft, voluminous and safe even for newborns — available in dozens of colours, from pastel to bold tones. Dyes conforming to the highest European safety standards.

Discover Avril Chenille →

What You Can Make with Chenille

Baby and adult blankets

Chenille is the queen of blankets: it creates a silky, enveloping texture that no other yarn can replicate. For a newborn blanket (70×90 cm) you need 3-4 balls of 100g; for an adult blanket (120×150 cm) allow 7-9. Recommended stitches: single crochet, spike stitch, brick stitch.

Amigurumi

Chenille amigurumi are incredibly soft — the fluffy surface creates a unique tactile effect that makers call the "teddy bear effect". Use a smaller hook than usual — size 3.5-4 — to keep stitches tight and prevent the stuffing from showing through the fibres.

Sweaters and cardigans

Chenille knitted or crocheted gives sweaters and cardigans a velvety texture and unique volume compared to traditional wool. The fluffy surface hides tension irregularities — ideal for anyone approaching voluminous knitwear for the first time.

Baby accessories

Scarves, hats, booties and headbands in chenille are among the most popular projects for newborns. Avril has dyes conforming to the highest European safety standards: soft without scratching and safe for direct skin contact. For a newborn hat, 50-60g is enough — half a ball and the gift is ready.

How to Work and Care for Chenille

Fine or chunky chenille: what is the difference?

Avril is a medium-weight chenille (100g · 120m) — neither too fine nor chunky. It is the most versatile size: work it in structured stitches for blankets and sweaters, or in open stitches for lighter accessories. For a softer, more voluminous effect, work it held double; for a more compact and precise fabric, use a smaller hook or needle size.

Hooks and needles: what size to use with Avril?

The standard recommended size is crochet hook size 5-6 or knitting needles size 5-6. For amigurumi, go down to size 3.5-4 (tighter stitches, stuffing won't show). For open, airy blanket stitches you can go up to size 7. Chenille glides well on both steel and bamboo — be careful not to drop stitches when working fast: the fluffy fibres catch on each other easily.

How do you wash chenille?

Hand wash in warm water (max 30°C) with a gentle wool detergent, or machine wash at 30°C on a delicate cycle in a laundry bag. Avoid aggressive spinning. Dry flat on a towel — never hung up (chenille stretches under its own weight). With proper care, it retains its softness and volume for many years.

Explore More Tessiland Yarns

Chenille is part of the broad Tessiland Yarns range. If you love soft, enveloping fibres, also explore the mohair and blend yarns — bouclé, brushed and sequin yarns for an equally soft effect but with more sheen and movement.

Want to see how to work with chenille? Patterns, tutorials and ideas on Tessiland Studio.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Chenille Yarn

Is chenille safe for newborns?

Yes, provided the chenille is made with safe dyes. Avril from Tessiland has dyes conforming to the highest European safety standards: soft without scratching, non-toxic and tested for direct skin contact. It is the choice of many mothers and grandmothers for handmade newborn blankets, booties and hats.

How many balls of chenille do I need for a blanket?

For a newborn blanket (70×90 cm) you need 3-4 balls of 100g on a size 5-6 hook. For a child's blanket (90×120 cm) allow 5-6; for an adult blanket (120×150 cm) allow 7-9. Always buy all the balls you need from the same dye lot to avoid colour differences.

Is chenille better knitted or crocheted?

Both work well, but crochet is the most popular method: single crochet and spike stitch give a compact, soft fabric, perfect for blankets and amigurumi. On needles it is excellent for voluminous sweaters and cardigans. In both cases, the fluffy surface can make it harder to pick up dropped stitches — work in good light and pay attention to the last stitch of each row.

How do you make chenille amigurumi?

Work in crochet spirals with a smaller hook than usual — size 3.5-4 — so that the stitches are tight and the stuffing cannot be seen. The fluffy surface of the chenille automatically covers small tension irregularities, so the result always looks soft and even. For small parts (eyes, nose, paws) you can go down to size 3.

Can chenille go in the washing machine?

Yes, with the right precautions: machine wash at 30°C, delicate cycle, in a laundry bag. Avoid aggressive spinning — take out of the drum while still damp and dry flat on a horizontal surface, never hung up (otherwise the garment stretches under its own weight). With this care, chenille stays soft and voluminous for a long time.