By the My Textile Fabric Team — Los Angeles fabric wholesalers.
Part of our How to Choose Fabric for Sewing: A Beginner's Guide — start there for the full picture.
Velvet has been the fabric of royalty, red carpets, and dramatic stage curtains for centuries — and it has never really left the spotlight. With its soft, dense pile and remarkable play of light, velvet turns simple garments into statement pieces and plain rooms into luxurious spaces. But not all velvets are the same: panne, crushed, stretch, and triple velvets each look, drape, and behave differently, and choosing the right one makes the difference between a project you love and one that fights you. This complete guide covers what velvet is, how it is made, every major type, where each one shines, and how to buy, sew, and care for it.
What Is Velvet?
Velvet is a pile fabric — its surface is covered in short, densely packed fibers that stand upright, creating the soft texture and distinctive sheen the fabric is famous for. Unlike flat weaves such as cotton poplin or linen, velvet's face is a field of tiny cut fibers (the "pile") that catch and reflect light differently depending on the angle, which is why velvet seems to shift color as it moves.
Traditionally woven from silk — and historically so expensive it was reserved for nobility — modern velvet is most commonly made from polyester, rayon, cotton, nylon, or blends, sometimes with a little spandex for stretch. True velvet is always a woven pile fabric; knit fabrics with a similar look, like velour, are close relatives rather than true velvet. Browse our velvet collection to see the range of types and colors in one place.
How Velvet Is Made
Velvet is created with an extra set of warp yarns woven into the base cloth. Those extra yarns form loops on the surface, and the loops are then cut open to release the upright fibers that become the pile. Two classic methods produce this effect: the double-cloth method, where two layers of fabric are woven face-to-face on the loom and then sliced apart — yielding two pieces of cut velvet — and the over-wire method, where wires are inserted during weaving to hold the loops upright before they are cut.
Once woven, the pile is sheared to an even height and brushed. Some velvets are then finished with crushing, embossing, or pressing to create special effects — the processes behind panne and crushed velvet, covered below. The density, height, and direction of the pile determine everything about the finished fabric's look and hand.
Types of Velvet Fabric
Not all velvets are interchangeable. Here is what sets the main types apart:
Panne Velvet
Panne (also spelled "pan") velvet is made by applying heavy pressure to the pile in one direction, flattening it into a sleek, glossy, almost liquid-looking surface. It is lightweight and fluid with a distinctive sheen that catches the light as it moves — a favorite for dance costumes, evening tops, and flowing skirts. Learn more in our guide to what panne velvet is, and shop our panne velvet to feel the signature crushed sheen.
Crushed Velvet
Crushed velvet is twisted while still wet — or mechanically pressed in multiple directions — giving the pile an irregular, textured "crushed" pattern with shifting light and dark areas. It has more texture and visual drama than panne, with a vintage-glam feel that suits statement apparel, throw pillows, and dramatic drapery. Because the crushing is irregular, no two yards look exactly alike. See our crushed vs. panne velvet comparison for a side-by-side look, or shop crush velvet.
Stretch Velvet
Stretch velvet blends spandex into the pile weave, giving the fabric two-way or four-way give. It is the go-to for body-conscious garments — leggings, fitted dresses, dancewear — and it is hugely popular in cosplay and costume design, where comfort and movement matter as much as looks. It also sews more forgivingly than non-stretch velvet and resists wrinkling. Read why stretch velvet and spandex fabrics are taking over cosplay and costume design, plus our broader guide on when to use spandex, jersey, or velvet. Shop stretch velvet or explore stretch fabrics for companion materials.
Triple Velvet and Embossed Velvet
Triple velvet is an ultra-plush, non-stretch velvet with a short, dense, high woven nap — smooth to the touch with a rich, even sheen. It is a workhorse for special-occasion apparel, upholstery, drapery, and even gaming-table surfaces, where durability matters as much as looks. Shop triple velvet for this classic all-rounder.
Embossed velvet gets its pattern from a heated roller or stamp that presses designs into the pile — florals, damasks, and geometrics — making it a favorite for upholstery and formal drapery where the pattern catches light beautifully.
Other members of the family include cotton velvet (a shorter, matte pile with more structure), silk velvet (the luxury original — featherlight with unmatched depth of color), and devoré or burnout velvet (where a chemical process dissolves fibers in a pattern, leaving sheer motifs against the pile). Natural-fiber velvets cost more and demand more care, but reward with a richness synthetics cannot fully match.
Velvet vs. Velour vs. Plush: What's the Difference?
Shoppers often meet these three names side by side. The short version: true velvet is a woven cut-pile fabric; velour is typically a knitted pile fabric (softer hand, more natural give, common in loungewear); and plush usually means a longer, denser pile — think ultra-soft throws and stuffed toys. They can look similar on a screen, so construction and stretch are what tell them apart in person. Our full breakdown of velvet vs. velour vs. plush fabric walks through the look, feel, and best uses of each.
Best Uses for Velvet Fabric
Velvet's range is unusually wide — the same fabric family dresses red-carpet winners and home theaters. If you are torn between fabrics for a project, our satin vs. velvet vs. chiffon comparison can help you decide.
Fashion: Evening gowns, cocktail dresses, blazers, and wide-leg trousers — velvet's depth of color makes jewel tones like emerald, burgundy, and navy look especially rich. Stretch velvet dominates dancewear, leggings, and costumes; panne suits flowing bohemian pieces. See velvet fabric trends for 2026 for what is current in fashion and home décor.
Upholstery and home: Dense-pile cotton and polyester velvets make durable, inviting upholstery for accent chairs, headboards, and ottomans. Choose an upholstery-weight velvet for seating and consider a stain treatment for high-traffic pieces.
Events and draping: Velvet backdrops photograph beautifully, absorbing light for a rich, shadow-free background. Velvet layers well with sequins and sheer overlays for dimensional event décor — see our top fabric choices for event decor in 2026.
Theater and blackout: Black velvet is the gold standard for home theaters, media rooms, and photography studios because its dense pile absorbs stray light instead of reflecting it. Our guide to which black velvet is best for home theaters explains exactly what to look for.
Buying Tips: How to Choose the Right Velvet
Width: Apparel velvets are commonly sold in widths from 44 to 60 inches; upholstery velvets often run wider. Always check the listed width before calculating yardage — a narrower fabric can nearly double the yardage you need.
Nap and pile direction: Velvet has a nap — the pile leans in one direction. All pattern pieces must be cut with the nap running the same way (a "with nap" layout), or pieces will look like different colors. Pile running downward toward the hem generally looks richer and darker; running upward it looks lighter. Decide before you cut, not after.
Dye lots: Buy all the yardage for one project at once. Dye lots can shift subtly, and velvet's play of light makes mismatches between cuts obvious.
Fiber and stretch: Polyester velvet is affordable, durable, and easy-care; rayon drapes more fluidly; cotton velvet is matte and structured; silk is the luxury pick. If you need give, choose a stretch velvet and check its stretch percentage against your pattern's requirements.
Budget: Velvet's reputation for expense is outdated — plenty of beautiful projects start with budget-friendly polyester velvets. Our guide to affordable velvet fabric by the yard is full of DIY-friendly project ideas.
Sewing Tips for Velvet
Use a walking foot (or Teflon foot) to keep layers from shifting, a fresh microtex or stretch needle matched to the fabric, and polyester thread. Cut with the nap in one direction, mark with tailor's tacks or chalk on the wrong side, and keep pins within the seam allowances — velvet shows pin holes permanently. Reduce presser-foot pressure if your machine allows it, and always test stitch length and tension on scraps first: velvet reveals every adjustment.
How to Care for Velvet
Steaming, not ironing: Never press velvet with a hot iron directly — it crushes the pile flat and leaves shiny marks. Steam from the wrong side, or hold a steamer a few inches away, then brush the pile gently with a soft clothes brush to lift it back up.
Cleaning: Many polyester velvets tolerate a gentle cold machine wash, but silk and rayon velvets usually require dry cleaning — always check the care label first. Wash inside out, skip the dryer, and avoid fabric softeners, which can mat the pile.
Storage: Roll velvet around a tube instead of folding it — folds become permanent creases in the pile. Hang garments on padded hangers with room to breathe, away from direct sunlight, which fades the pile unevenly. For the full routine across all your delicates, see our complete guide to caring for satin, velvet, lace, and other delicate fabrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is velvet hard to sew?
It has a learning curve, but it is very manageable. The pile makes layers shift, so a walking foot, sharp needle, and cutting all pieces with the nap in one direction solve most problems. Stretch velvet is the most forgiving type for beginners.
Can you iron velvet?
Not directly — a hot iron crushes the pile and leaves permanent shiny marks. Use steam from the wrong side or a garment steamer held at a distance, then lift the pile with a soft brush. If you must press a seam, use a velvet pressing board or a thick towel and press lightly from the wrong side.
What is the difference between panne velvet and crushed velvet?
Panne velvet is pressed flat in one direction for a sleek, glossy, liquid-like surface, while crushed velvet is twisted or pressed irregularly for a textured pattern with shifting light and dark areas. Panne reads smooth and modern; crushed reads textured and vintage-glam.
Is velvet good for upholstery?
Yes, provided you choose an upholstery-weight velvet with a dense pile — typically cotton or polyester. It is comfortable, looks luxurious, and hides wear well in deep colors. For high-traffic seating, look for higher durability ratings and consider professional stain protection.
How do you get wrinkles out of velvet?
Steam is the answer: hang the garment, steam it gently, and brush the pile upward with a soft clothes brush as it dries. Never tumble-dry velvet to de-wrinkle it, and avoid folding it for storage — roll it instead to prevent creases from forming in the first place.