Learn all about what is velvet and the types of velvet. Velvet was originally a fabric worn by royalty and nobility. Since it was made from silk, it was expensive and generally not affordable for the average person. Today velvet is made with different blends of fabric and has become more affordable. It is still seen as a high-end fabric and used not only for clothing but for drapes, home decor, and upholstery too.
What is Velvet and Types of Velvet Tutorial
As you read on further, you will find answers to your query, “what is velvet?” and much more. Furthermore, you will discover how it is different from other similar fabrics and how to care for your velvet pieces.
What is Velvet?
Characterized mainly for its luxurious shine, velvet is a considerably expensive fabric with a thick and high pile. Usually, it is made with a careful blend of polyester, viscose, rayon, and silk. While it does not stretch, it has a great drape and sheen. Fabric drape means it hangs well and is flattering on the body as it does not add volume.
Velvet is soft and plush. The smooth texture of a velvet textile speaks of luxury, and because it drapes well, it makes soft cloaks and very regal, dramatic clothing. It is said that King Richard the Second decreed he should be wrapped in velvet before he was buried.
How is Velvet Made
Velvet is a fabric woven using a special double loom. A velvet loom is able to weave two velvet pieces simultaneously using a blend of synthetic and natural fibers. Pure natural silk velvet is considered rare and ultra-expensive these days.
When woven, the process involves the continuous looping of a single yarn into a braid. The rich pile of velvet comes when the fabric is removed from the loom by cutting through the two sides and leaving the pile of soft fibers in between.
Created with a nap of long loops, the darkness and the lightness of the velvet fabric depend on which direction you push the pile. This produces a smooth texture and durable quality to the fabric. This also allows for the fabric to be easily cut and reshaped.
What is Velvet Made From?
There are different types of velvet made by different fiber blends, but velvet is still a very recognizable fabric with a unique texture made from the soft raised pile.
Velvet comes in a range of blends including silk, rayon and nylon. Man-made fiber blends create soft and inexpensive fabric. A microfibre velvet is a new velveteen using micro denier polyester. It is stain and water-resistant and makes casual wear as well as being useful for upholstery. The best quality velvet is made from silk with a high thread count.
What is Velvet Used For?
Velvet is used for a variety of clothing pieces, as well as in upholstery and furniture. Whichever way the fabric is used, it is guaranteed to capture the light in the room and the attention of the people in it.
Velvet’s popularity in both fashion and interior design has its roots in comfort and class. It looks more sophisticated than other soft fabrics like corduroy and chenille. Not only is it cushiony and comfortable to use, but it is also quite durable, making it a timeless piece to have in your home or your wardrobe.
When it comes to velvet clothing, it is best made into drapery evening dresses that catch both the light and the eyes in a room. Given that it has silk blended into it, the overall appeal of it when used in dresses makes it more sophisticated. However, velvet blends that include cotton, linen, mohair, and other fibers can make the fabric more practical for everyday use.
What is Velvet Used For:
- Clothing, including evening dresses, evening wear, pants, skirts, jackets
- Furniture
- Throw Pillows
- Curtains
- Home Decor
Get tips and tricks for great results sewing velvet.
17 Types of Velvet
1. Crushed Velvet
Crushed velvet fabric has a crumpled, crushed look created by twisting the fabric while it is still wet. Sometimes the crushed look is created by pressing the pile in a different direction. This type of velvet has an overly shiny appearance and texture suited to items that drape and flow.
2. Panne Velvet Types
The pile of this velvet is pushed in a different direction with heavy pressure. Panne is not a true velvet and is made from polyester. It is often stretchy and made from knitted fabric. Panne velvet is often used for costumes since it is inexpensive.
3. Embossed Velvet
Heat stamps are used to press on the pile of fabric and create a pattern pressed into the velvet. The embossing may be metallic or block colors and adds interest and individuality to the velvet.
4. Cisele Velvet
For cisele velvet, a pattern is made by cutting into the pile and making different size loops. This means the fabric has flat sections and raised sections. This type of velvet is commonly used for upholstery on furniture and wall tapestries.
5. Plain Velvet (Cotton Velvet)
Made from cotton, this velvet does not have much stretch. It is a heavy weight of fabric and not generally not shiny. Because it is made from cotton, it is not as slippery to sew and is a great choice for beginner sewers.
6. Plush Velvet
As the name suggests, plush velvet has a longer pile and is extra soft. Some suppliers of fabrics say this is not a real velvet because the pile is so long. However, it does make beautiful blankets.
7. Stretch Velvet
Stretch velvet has spandex added to the weave, and this addition makes the fabric more flexible and easy to work with, especially for soft furnishings. Stretch velvet needs to be sewn with stretch needles and a stretch stitch or serger. Read more about sewing stretch fabric.
8. Pile on Pile Velvet
As the name suggests, this fabric comprises of a pattern produced from velvet piles of different lengths. Usually, pile-on-pile velvet is utilized as an upholstery fabric and can be used on furniture or as interior décor.
9. Velveteen
Velveteen has a shorter pile of threads created from the horizontal weft threads. It is very soft, and the pile is raised to about 3mm. It has less shine than regular velvet and tends to be heavier.
10. Velour
Velour is a blend of cotton and polyester knit. It is stretchy and popular for making sportswear and dance clothing.
11. Hammered Velvet
The technique of ‘hammering’ the fabric creates a crushed and dappled texture and pattern to these types of velvet fabric.
12. Lyons Velvet
Lyons velvet is a heavy, densely woven, and stiff velvet. It is used for making hats, thick coats, and velvet collars. Originally it was made from silk fibers in the city of Lyon in France.
13. Nacre Velvet
This is a silk velvet that has been woven in several colors. The base fabric is a different color, and the effect created is one of different colors shining through the fabric.
14. Ponson Velvet
Ponson velvet is a very heavy and expensive velvet because it is made of silk. Ponson is used for making cloaks and very expensive dresses.
15. Utretch Velvet
Originally from Utrecht in the Netherlands, this velvet is pressed and has a crimped texture.
16. Voided Velvet
Voided velvet has patches of fabric that are free of velvet pile. These pile-free patches form a pattern.
17. Wedding Ring, Ring, Devore or Chiffon Velvet
All these names apply to a very soft velvet called ring velvet because it could pull through a wedding ring.
What is Velvet vs Velour vs Velveteen vs Suede
Velvet, velour and velveteen are all known to be soft and draping. However, they mainly differ in their composition and weaving methods. Velvet is also the most expensive and high-quality of these three.
Velour vs Velvet
Velour, on the other hand, is made with cotton and polyester, so it is more stretchable. At times, the blend may also have Spandex included.
While it resembles velvet, velour is used mainly for activewear, particularly for dance and sport. This is also the material used to make leotards and tracksuits. While velvet has a high pile, velour has more of a medium pile, with a semi-shiny finish and a malleable drape.
Velveteen vs Velvet
Lastly, velveteen is generally heavier and less shiny than the three. It is also softer and smoother to the touch. Compared to the other two, velveteen has a short-weight pile and can be a bit stiffer. For this reason, it tends to have a lower drape as well.
Velveteen is great for upholstery use. While it is similar to velvet, it also bears more similarities to corduroy. Velveteen is made with a blend of cotton and wool, so it generally doesn’t stretch.
Suede vs Velvet
Another fabric that is commonly mistaken as velvet is suede. However, suede a type of leather – it just has a napped finish. It is also used for clothing like jackets and shirts, but it has more versatility since it is also a material for shoes, bags, furniture, and upholstery.
Suede originates from the French word “gants de suede”. This term means “gloves from Sweden.” The material is processed from the soft and pliable underside of animal skin. While it may not be like leather, it has an aesthetic and feel that is more akin to that of velvet.
How to Care for Velvet
Due to the velvet pile, care must be taken when washing in order to not damage this delicate fabric. Before you start, always check the laundry symbols on the label.
Hand Wash
Generally, velvet isn’t a fabric that you need to wash after every use. However, when you do wash velvet, it is best to avoid the tumble dryer and stick to handwashing it gently in cold water. Since it is classified as a delicate material, it is ideal for you to sort velvet from other rough fabrics like denim. Use a mild detergent suitable for velvet.
Do not squeeze or wring unless it is crushed velvet where you want the marks to be retained. Never bleach velvet or use any harsh products.
Steam Don't Iron
Never iron velvet, as it can crush the pile and leave shiny marks. If you have quite a number of velvet pieces in your home and in your wardrobe, a garment steamer is an investment that can save you time, stress, and energy.
This is also a great washing alternative if your velvets don’t necessarily have a stain on them. Steamers are versatile and can be used to remove creases on clothes of any fabric type as well.
What Is Velvet Stain Removal
Since this is a quality fabric blend of natural and synthetic fibers, the best way to care for velvet is to use specialty solutions.
For stain removal, use mild detergents that are chemically formulated for delicate fabric and velvet in particular. While velvet is essentially durable, any harsh chemicals can damage the pile and even dull the silky shine. In order to be sure if the chemicals or solution to use is right, dilute it first in a basin of cold water and do a patch test on one area of the fabric that is less noticeable.
What is Velvet FAQs
Is velvet always polyester?
No, velvet is not always made from polyester. Velvet is a type of woven fabric with a short, dense pile, giving it its characteristic soft and smooth texture. Historically, velvet was made using silk, resulting in a very luxurious and expensive fabric. Nowadays, while polyester is commonly used to produce more affordable velvets, there are various types of velvet made from different materials, including silk, cotton, rayon, and even blends of these fibers.
What is natural velvet?
Natural velvet refers to velvet made from natural fibers rather than synthetic ones. Historically, velvet was crafted from silk, creating a fabric that was both luxurious and expensive. Over time, as methods evolved and different fibers became accessible, velvet began to be produced from other natural fibers such as cotton. Unlike synthetics like polyester, natural velvet has a distinct texture and sheen stemming from its organic origin. Cotton velvet, for example, tends to be denser and has a matte finish compared to the sheen of silk velvet.
Why is real velvet so expensive?
Real velvet is made from silk and is expensive due to the cost of materials, the intensive production process, and the special finishing to give its soft and lustrous appearance. Silk or real velvet is unmatched in its quality and feel therefore justifying its high prices.
What is Velvet & Types of Velvet - In Conclusion
Velvet is really a wonderful fabric from its exclusive royal days to its modern use today. Velvet can be found with a sticky back for crafts or used as a collar detail. Cloaks, sportswear, soft furnishings, and a very nostalgic favorite, the Velveteen Rabbit! This beautiful fabric has gained popularity as it has become affordable and versatile.
It is our hope that this fabric guide has answered your questions regarding what is velvet and the other factors that constitute its use, care and composition. In conclusion, velvet is a luxurious fabric that needs to be cared for in order to last.
Given that it is made with a careful blend of quality fabrics, velvet tends to be more costly than most fabrics. It also has limited and specific uses – particularly in draperies and gowns. While it may not be an ideal fabric to use daily, one thing we can all agree on is that velvet really gives you a sense of luxury and elegance. It provides just the perfect weight for comfort, and it can give any interior the boost of class and sophistication it needs.
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