What Are Velvet Fabrics?

Velvet fabrics are a beautiful addition to any home. It can be used to upholster large furniture pieces like footstools and chairs, or smaller options like throw pillows.

Before mechanical looms were invented, velvet was quite expensive and only available to royalty. Today, it’s much more affordable and versatile.

When sewing velvet, it’s important to understand the fabric’s nap. Working «against» the nap will result in a rough surface, while sewing with it will feel smooth and luxurious.

Fabric Characteristics

Velvet is a type of cloth that has a surface made of short raised loops. These loops can be oriented in various ways on the fabric, which affects its appearance and feel. For example, velvet can be made with a smooth and shiny surface that has a lustrous sheen or with a soft and fuzzy surface that has a more natural look and feel. Velvets can also have their surfaces decorated with surface embellishments like cording, embroidered floral designs, or woven patterns.

Woven velvets have a lengthwise «nap» that runs across the selvedges of the fabric. This is different Velvet Fabrics from the warp and weft grain of a woven fabric, and you can feel it by running the back of your hand along the surface in one direction, then in the opposite direction. Velvets that are oriented with the nap have a smooth and silky texture, whereas fabrics that are oriented against the nap have a rougher surface.

Velvet is not the most durable fabric, as it can crush or fade more easily than sturdier materials. Its delicate nature can also make it more susceptible to staining, as liquids can quickly absorb into the fabric and cause watermarks. As such, velvet is best suited for use in clothing or decorative applications where the fabric won’t be exposed to harsh conditions or heavy wear.

Fabric Production

Velvet fabric is a luxurious, one-sided material with a slightly raised surface that can be made from natural or synthetic fibers. It is woven in a pile weave style on a special loom to create a unique sheen and texture. The fabric is available in different weights and can be blended with a variety of other fabrics such as cotton, wool, polyester or spandex for added stretch.

Weaving velvet is an extremely time-consuming process. It requires two warp threads that run lengthwise, interwoven with weft threads running widthways. Wefts are drawn up over rods to create a looped pile, which is then cut off and shaved to produce the soft, thick fabric we associate with velvet.

The Renaissance saw a resurgence of luxurious velvet, often incorporating elaborate patterns. The most elaborate velvets were dyed to produce rich, vibrant colors, such as crimson red and sapphire blue. Because of the high cost and labor intensive production, these velvet textiles were reserved for the wealthy elite.

Today’s velvet can be made from a variety of fabrics including silk with a rayon backing, wool, cotton, mohair and even raffia palm (called Kuba velvet) and in numerous creative blends of both natural and man-made fibers. Many of these velvets have a slight sheen on one side, while others are completely matte. When using velvet, take care to carefully sew all seams. Machine zig-zag or overcasting can cause the velvet to pucker and distort, so use hand stitching for all bias seams, preferably with a silk thread that matches or closely resembles the color of the velvet.

Fabric Uses

Velvet can be used for both casual and formal clothing, as well as home furnishings such as drapes and pillows. It is a soft, luxurious fabric that has a distinctive sheen and a smooth, plush texture. Because of the way it is produced, velvet is typically more expensive than other textiles. It must also be dry-cleaned to keep it looking good. This makes it less practical for everyday wear, though some stretch velvets have made it into modern fashion such as dresses and wraps.

In addition to velvet, there are a variety of other plush fabrics with a similar appearance, including velour and velveteen. These fabrics have a lower pile and are less expensive than velvet, though they may still be pricey. They are woven with either a vertical or horizontal yarn.

Another type of plush fabric is felt, which has a shorter pile than velvet and is more durable than velveteen. Felt is easier to care for than velvet and can be washed in cold water. It can even be pressed in a dryer to refresh it between dry cleanings.

Velvet can be a difficult fabric to work with. It tends to wrinkle easily and has a tendency to stick to itself. It is recommended that a lightweight, woven interfacing be fused to velvet before using it in garment construction. For hemlines on velvet garments that are meant to be worn often, consider using a bias binding. This is hand-sewn to the garment with a 1.0cm (3/8″) seam, and then turned under and slip-stitched to the wrong side of the velvet to finish the edge.

Fabric Care

Velvet fabrics, especially those with a long pile, require delicate care and maintenance practices. Stitch and pin marks are readily visible on velvet fabric, so you’ll want to sew with fine needles and pins to avoid these marking beaded lace fabric the fabric. Most velveteen and velvets will need to be dry cleaned, though some washable velvets exist that may work in casual applications.

Depending on the fiber, velvet is prone to a variety of issues with washing, including pile distortion, a condition that creates blotchy and uneven patterns on the fabric. This problem is usually caused by water-based stains or cleaning agents that damage the velvet’s pile structure.

While this isn’t a major issue for most velvet, it is one that should be taken into consideration when purchasing velvet. For the best results, always consult your fabric’s care instructions to determine the safest methods for cleaning velvet.

For hand washing velvet, fill a tub with cool to lukewarm water and mix in a mild detergent formulated for delicate fabrics. Gently swish your velvet in the soapy water, then rinse thoroughly. Do not wring or twist the fabric, and let it dry completely by laying flat and away from heat sources that can cause color fade. Regular brushing and steaming of velvet will also help to keep the plush texture intact.