How to Apply an Iron-On Applique to Velvet
Velvet’s soft, luxurious finish and rich colors make it an ideal fabric for special-occasion clothing. To further enhance the beauty of velvet tops, skirts or jackets add iron-on appliques, such as flowers, rhinestone patterns or holiday-themed embellishments. With careful consideration to heat, timing and pressure, it’s possible to achieve good applique results despite velvet’s reputation for being difficult to work with.
Things You'll Need
- Velvet clothing
- Iron-on applique
- Thread
- Needle
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Hard felt ironing pad
- Clothing steamer
- Water
Instructions
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1
Because the delicate texture of velvet requires ironing it from the wrong side of the fabric, positioning the applique can be tricky. Use the needle and thread to make three or four small basting stitches around the edges or corners of the iron-on to hold it in place.
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2
Preheat the iron to the correct dry-heat temperature setting for velvet. If the garment’s tag doesn’t specify a temperature, aim for 330 degrees Fahrenheit or a medium temperature setting around 3 or 4. Never use a steam setting to heat-set an applique.
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3
Turn the garment inside-out and place on top of felt ironing pad. When the iron is hot enough, place it directly on top of the area to be appliqued. Hold it in place for five to seven seconds, then lift and move to another area, holding it in place again for the same amount of time and repeating until the entire back side of the applique receives even heat treatment.
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4
Turn the garment over and allow it to cool completely. Try lifting an edge with a fingernail to see if it is secure. If not, turn it back over and repeat Step 3 until the iron-on glue has adequately bonded to the fabric. If necessary, add 10 to 20 seconds to the pressing time, but do not increase the temperature of the iron.
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5
Remove the paper backing, if any, from the front of the applique. If the iron left marks on the velvet, add water to the clothes steamer and plug it in. When hot, steam the garment from the back side of the fabric to remove any ironing marks left on the velvet.
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Tips & Warnings
Test your iron on a small, inconspicuous area of the velvet, such along as an underarm seam, before proceeding with applying the iron-on to make sure the fabric can withstand the heat.
Ironing on too high a heat setting can cause irreversible damage to velvet. Use caution to avoid burns while ironing and steaming velvet.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
