If you love your yarns super-soft and super-fluffy, then you'll love chenille yarns! If you've never even heard of the term 'chenille yarn' before, then it may make more sense to think of it as velvet yarn. Although the production process for chenille yarns and velvet fabric are slightly different, when it comes to yarn they're essentially the same. You have many short lengths of yarn (called the pile) held between two core lengths of yarn that are twisted together - this method may differ slightly from yarn to yarn, but the end result is the same - a super fluffy squishy yarn that feels like a fluffy caterpillar... in fact that is where the word chenille comes from - it's French for caterpillar!
Chenille yarns have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially as they tend to be on the chunky side which makes them great for super-soft blankets. Developments in the production process means that whereas Chenille yarns of old used to easily shed their fluffy fibres, nowadays they're pretty sturdy and consistent!
Chenille yarns are great for a wide range of knitting and crochet projects, from soft toys to accessories and blankets, basically anything that you want to have a velvet yarn feel to it! Why not take a look at some of our favourites and give one a try! If you're looking for more yarny inspiration, you might also enjoy our picks of the best novelty yarns or the best mohair yarns, or go eco-friendly with our pick of the best recycled yarns.
Top Chenille Yarns
Bernat Blanket yarn
Bernat make a wide range of yarns specifically designed for making blankets with, and their Bernat Blanket Yarn is a lovely super-chunky chenille yarn that is just made for cosying up with! It's made from 100% polyester and is super easy to care for, being both machine washable and machine dry-able. As it's super-chunky it works up quickly and comes in a big 300g ball (with approx 201 metres on it). There's also a huge range of colours to choose from, and not just with solid colours - there's also self-striping shades, variegated shades and even two-tone twists! And if that's not enough choice for you, there's also a Bernat Baby Blanket range, a Bernat Blanket O'GO range (featuring a new tangle-free method of winding yarn), Bernat Blanket Ombre yarn cakes and a Bernat Blanket Extra range which is a jumbo yarn for even bigger stitches!
Buy the Bernat Blanket yarn on Amazon
Lion Brand Feels like Butta yarn
If you've never tried the Feel's like Butta yarn from Lion Brand, then prepare to be surprised - it’s got a whole host of qualities that you wouldn’t expect from a 100% polyester yarn. Firstly, this chainette-style yarn almost looks like it’s starting to felt and blend together before you even start working with it. The feel of this chenille yarn is also unique; it has a slippery, silky texture and glides through your fingers as you work with it, creating a velvet yarn that feels smooth and consistent. It's also an Aran weight yarn so not quite as chunky as the majority of chenille yarns, meaning it's great for things like hats and scarves that you don't want to be too bulky or heavy. Available in 20 shades, it can be machine washed and tumble-dried on cool settings.
Buy the Lion Brand Feels like Butta yarn on Amazon
King Cole Yummy yarn
If you’re looking for a chenille yarn that’s packed full of fun, then you’ve definitely got to try out King Coles Yummy yarn. It’s super-squishy and fantastically fluffy, and comes in a range of pastel solid shades as well as some painted stripe options too! It's a super-chunky weight velvet yarn that will make a gorgeous squishy blankets and toys. There's also a fab two-tone Yummy Crush range, with two colours that aren’t quite twisted together but create a similar even twisted colour effect (they seem to be sewn together – you can’t pull the strands apart). This creates a fun dotty effect on your final fabric, which is chunky and dense.
Buy the King Cole Yummy yarn from Lovecrafts
What to crochet with Chenille yarn?
If you fancy trying some chenille yarn but need some inspiration first, we think using a DK chenille yarn would work brilliantly with our free baby onesie crochet pattern or our free crochet teddy bear pattern. You could try an Aran chenille yarn to make our free crochet baby dress pattern, or you could always find a pattern in our pick of the best crochet baby blanket patterns!
James C Brett Flutterby Chunky yarn
Describing itself as super-soft polyester, the Flutterby velvet yarn certainly lives up to the description. The fuzzy chenille yarn effect is perhaps less dense than some of the other yarns we’ve looked at, but only ever so slightly – it still creates a lovely fluffy fabric that resembles towel-like materials, and the chunky weight means it won’t take you long to hook up your fluffy projects. Perfect for baby blankets, there are 31 shades to choose from, ranging from pretty pastels to funky dotty variations.
Buy the James C Brett Flutterby Chunky yarn from Lovecrafts
Sirdar Happy Chenille yarn
Whether you fancy hooking up a multicoloured project, or are just after a single ball to make a super-fluffy pompom, these bargain 15g balls of Happy Chenille from Sirdar are bound to put a smile on your face! The DK weight and smooth consistent fuzziness mean it’s an easy yarn to crochet with and produces a lightweight fabric with a nice smooth texture. There are 25 shades in the range, including deep rich tones as well as subtle pastels and neutrals. Oh and if you've just gotta have all the colours, there's also a special Sirdar Happy Chenille yarn pack available which contains all 25 colours!
Buy the Sirdar Happy Chenille yarn from TheKnittingNetwork
James C Brett Huggable Super Chunky yarn
If a yarn's going to call itself huggable, then you just know it's going to be soft and squishy! This 100% super-soft polyester yarn is exactly what you'd expect from a chenille yarn - a consistent fluffy cylindrical-shaped yarn that is just begging to be squished! There's 12 pastel colours which are all perfect for baby projects - speaking of baby projects, the Huggable Super Chunky Yarn is absolutely perfect for quick super-chunky baby blankets, in fact it comes with 3 baby blanket patterns on the inside of the ball band/label!
Buy the James C Brett Huggable Super Chunky yarn from TheKnittingNetwork
What to knit with Chenille yarn?
If you're looking for project inspiration, why not try some chunky chenille yarn with our free chunky duckling baby bathrobe knitting pattern or our free ladies chunky cardigan knitting pattern. Alternatively try a super chunky chenille yarn out with our free speedy beanie knitting pattern!
Hobbii Baby Snuggle yarn
This chenille yarn from Hobbii is both strokably soft as well as incredibly lightweight. At first glance, it might not seem like a super chunky yarn, but as soon as you start crocheting with it you’ll notice that it almost seems to plump up as you work, creating beautiful spongy stitches that are nicely defined. In fact, you’ll get the best of the lightness if you work with a larger hook. There are 37 colours to choose from in the solid range, and there’s also a Baby Snuggle Print range with nine fun spotty colour combos.
Buy the Hobbii Baby Snuggle yarn from Hobbii
Bohème Velvet Fine yarn
You'll have noticed that most Chenille yarns are normally on the super-chunky side, with a few DK and Aran variations - but if you're someone who prefers finer yarn then check out the Bohème Velvet Fine yarn from Hobbii. It's labelled as a 2ply/3ply yarn, and although we think it's fluffiness will made it thicker than standard yarns of this weight, it's still considerably thinner than most velvet yarns. It's available in 24 solid colours, and there's also a Bohème Velvet Double range too (which confusingly is an Aran yarn).
Buy the Bohème Velvet Fine yarn from Hobbii
Marriner Himalayan Velvet yarn
When it comes to quality yarns with a budget price tag, you can't go wrong with Marriner yarns, and their Himalayan Velvet yarn is no exception. It's another super-chunky 100% micro-polyester yarn, creating wonderfully plush stitches with a nice shine. There's 14 solid shades in the range, but we particularly love the deep burgundy shade - it reminds us of theatre curtains - mega fancy!
Buy the Marriner Himalayan Velvet yarn from Amazon
Bernat Baby Velvet yarn
We though we'd end with another Bernat yarn, after all they do have loads to choose from in this chenille style, and their Bernat Baby Velvet yarn is just perfect for your baby projects. It's a 100% polyester Aran yarn that has been specifically designed for babies, and has been tested for over 300 harmful substances and is Oeko-tex certified. It's also been designed not to pill or shed, as well as being kind to sensitive skin, so you can be sure your little one will be safe when snuggled up in it. It's available in 12 delicate shades that are perfect for a range of baby projects - we love the idea of making a cuddly teddy bear out of it!
Buy the Bernat Baby Velvet yarn from Amazon
We hope you’ve enjoyed our pick of the best chenille yarns, don’t forget if you need any help with your crochet stitches you can always check out our crochet for beginners guide, and for knitters check out our knitting for beginners guide. And if you’re looking to treat yourself, check out our list of the best crochet hooks or the best knitting needles.
