On the subject of Velvet

Hey, I used to wear velvet dresses! (Just went through an old photo album.)

Don't sit down? Move around a lot? (My last one occurred at about age

10.) Scrunch it up while stationary (driving to event)? Ballgown with a hoop? Layers of slip or petticoat underneath, to the velevel doesn't replicate your form?

Just had this discussion at a fabric counter with a clerk who had thought about making a top & skirt outfit out of some eyelash-type goods. It was my first thought.

HTH

--Karen D.

Dear Liz,

You might try cutting the velvet with the nap running up instead of down. It doesn't "feel" as nice to the wearer, but the shine will be less noticeable. The color is also richer with the nap running up instead of down.

Teri

Liz, look for microfiber velvet. It does not crease, period, and can be pressed, as well, without adverse effects to the velvet. Bonus, it doesn't have an obvious nap, so you don't have to be as careful when laying it out and cutting as you do with regular velvet. But it looks every bit as nice as the usual stuff. Hope this helps!

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati Wild Ginger Software Certified Educator

Liz W wrote:

Any recommendations for sources or makers, Karen? I think I had a small piece of this a few years ago, and it was quite easy to work with, but it came off a flat fold table so never knew what they were touting it as...

Kay

Kay, I have bought this at two places, both fabric stores that have since gone out of business, one in Indianapolis, and the other in Columbus, OH. The piece I have still does not have a manufacturer's name on the selvage, but the other one did. However, I can't recall what it was. Old age, I guess.

I've tried searching for this online, with no success. I guess the only thing to do is to call individual fabric stores and ask them i they have it. It's sad that so many good fabric stores have gone out of business, and is a big loss to all of us.

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati Wild Ginger Software Certified Educator

Kay Lancaster wrote:

Thanks, Karen... we've got pretty good stores here in the Portland area, but I've not personally seen a piece since. Hope it hasn't gone the way of Qiana. Will try rattling a few cages at the Puyallup sew-expo, too.

Kay

Microfiber velvet? I like the sound of this! Can you point me in the direction of a good source?

Liz W.

Kay I was wondering if someone like Julie at Timmel Fabrics or Linda at Emmaonesock could find or tell you if Microfiber Velvet is available. They both seem to carry fabrics that are very different from the run of the mill fabric stores that have taken over ther retail market. Juno

Kay Lancaster wrote: