Alternatives to Crushed Velvet
Velvet is a lush material that's been used to make apparel and upholstery for centuries. Crushed velvet is one common style of the fabric and comes in a variety of colors. The material is created by mechanically twisting velvet while it's wet to make its fibers lay in many directions. For those who don't want to work with crushed velvet, there are a variety of fabrics that can be used for the same projects to create a similar look and feel.
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Velveteen
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Velveteen is a type of fabric that looks similar to crushed velvet. However, this woven fabric is typically made of cotton or a cotton blend. It's created with short, dense pile, which is the raised surface of the material. Because this fabric is made from cotton, it will probably shrink when wet. Therefore, when working with velveteen, be sure to prewash the fabric following the manufacturer's instructions to ensure it fits properly later.
Velour
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Velour is a fabric similar to crushed velvet with a comparable luxurious shine and soft feel that comes in many of the same vibrant colors. However, unlike crushed velvet, velour has a deeper pile and weighs more. It can also stretch in both directions, while crushed velvet cannot be stretched at all. This material is commonly used to make upholstery and drapes, although it can also be made into gowns, robes, capes and curtains.
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Panne Velvet
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Panne velvet is created similarly to crushed velvet. While crushed velvet is mechanically twisted while wet, intense pressure is applied to panne velvet to set the pile in one direction. The result is a flattened velvet look. This knit fabric can be used the same as a crushed velvet material, although it is lacking the dimensional look and shine of its crushed cousin.
Velvet
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Instead of using a crushed velvet, you can work with a regular velvet fabric for many of the same projects. Velvet has been around since as early as 2000 B.C. and, until recently, was an extremely expensive fabric used mostly by royalty. Unlike crushed velvet, plain velvet won't have the pile pushed in different directions. It comes in an array of rich colors and can also be found with prints.
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References
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