(Please note that affiliate links have been used in this post.)
A couple months ago I priced some velvet at Jo Ann’s. Then I priced some on Amazon. I also took a look at Fabric.com. I know absolutely nothing about velvet. I still know almost nothing. I saw a wide range of prices and a wide range of mediums used to make velvet.
I knew that I wanted a pretty and rich looking velvet. I also knew I wanted a very subtle blush pink.
My quest has continued to bring many varying textures into our home. Using differing fabric mediums is a simple and relatively easy way to bring texture into our home. The somewhat eclectic appearance of texture is not only pleasing to my eye but also adds a degree of warmth I believe our home was missing.
Barkcloth, hand stitched, linen, quilting cotton, and now velvet pillows are all present in our small living room.
While I still don’t know much about velvet (please enlighten me if you do know much!!), I have learned one exceedingly valuable tip to pass on.
First off, I ordered a silk / rayon blush pink velvet from Prism Silk Fabric. It’s the only velvet I’ve ever worked with.
It’s exactly what I wanted, though. It’s a pretty and rich velvet. I paired the velvet with my favorite brass zipper, and I’m pleasantly happy with the results.
The silk part is what threw me for a loop. If you think about silk, it’s a very slippery and smooth fabric. It doesn’t hold shape well. I made my first confident cut for the first pillow. Looking at my piece of cut velvet, you would have thought I cut a jagged diagonal. Ugh.
Everything was slipping and sliding as I was forever attempting to cut a perfect 18 inch pillow.
Thankfully I had some inexpensive interfacing sitting on my shelf intended to be used on my long overdue and unfinished Dresden plate quilt. There are definitely different degrees of interfacing and this was the $.99 per yard interfacing I bought a while ago at Jo Ann’s. Nothing special.
Using LOW HEAT and LITTLE PRESSURE and never leaving the iron long in one place, I ironed my interfacing onto the back of velvet.
There are many cautions about ironing velvet. Take note. Look up the consequences first.
But I ironed it. 🙂
And I’m glad I did. Without the interfacing, I was so frustrated. The fabric was slipping and sliding and shifting. There are no noticeable marks on my pillow covers.
My heart is happy with one more pillow on my couches.