Velvet Curtains and Care
48Velvet Curtains
When deciding to redo your window treatments at home using velvet curtains is a good step toward a warm and luxurious environment. Velvet is no longer the mega expensive item that it once was and most people can find a velvet window treatment to fit their budget. Assuming your budget is realistic. They are not always expensive but they are not cheap curtains either.
The best velvet is made from silk but you can find velvet made from cotton. The price you pay is going to be determined by the quality of the weave and whether it is silk or cotton velvet. Normally when we shop for fabric the thread count is what you look at with velvet the thread count is not as important as the weave itself.
I like the shimmery look of velvet as well as the feel. It is nice on the eyes and nice on the hands. Velvet has a gentle flowing movement when it is being handled or if a breeze is moving through it.
Velvet Weaves
There are a few terms that you may find thrown about when shopping to velvet curtains and those pertain to how the fabric was “cut” or “woven”.
The Pile is the loops formed when the material is woven and the rods used to create the material are removed. How the pile is then treated will determine what the velvet material looks like.
Cut Pile means that when the fabric was woven the loops were cut. It gives an even appearance throughout the fabric.
Cut Velvet means that a pattern was cut out of the loops. This is more decorative and might be found in upholstery and such.
Crushed Velvet and Panne Velvet are formed by… you guessed it… crushing the pile rather than cutting.
Velvet Care
Velvet is a delicate material that needs professional cleaning and careful storage. If you fold it and stuff it in a drawer you will have a hard time getting it to look like it did when you first got it. If your material much be placed in a drawer roll it do not fold it.
Velvet should not be ironed you need a special needle board and a steamer if you do manage to crease your velvet. It’s simpler to just NOT crease it than to get the creases out.
Ok now you know the basics of velvet curtains, a little knowledge can be dangerous so use it with caution.
