Remembering why I hate hate HATE velveteen

[abendgules]

One of my earliest medieval clothing (well really costuming) experiences was with velveteen - I was charmed by the prospect of making a 'push 'n shove' (basically an ahistorical low-cut bodice that would show off my assets), and made it in red velveteen.

I used one layer of fabric, and the pattern was based on a cotehardie pattern that buttongirl had made for me. I knew nothing of lining, edge finishing options or any other related skills. I stitched light boning casing to the seam allowance (already clipped).

I remember Helly saying, 'what lining are you using?' and me saying, 'lining?...' in a puzzled tone. It's astonishing I emerged with anything wearable.

Anyway: at the time, I shared a cream-coloured flat with Cat: cream walls, cream/grey carpet, cream linoleum, cream everthing. The red flecks of velveteen got everywhere; finally C asked me nicely to run the vacuum  as her cat Mittens looked like she was breaking out in some kind of pox. (I was going to anyway, but I'd hoped to put it off til I was fiinished sewing, and do it just once.)

This experience warned me off velveteen for nearly 15 years, til Anne and I made my big German gown, with mucho velveteeno: skirt, bodice and sleeves are all cotton velveteen (donated by thorngrove, made beautiful by Anne).

But honestly - I do not remember the acres of velveteen for that gown shedding even a fraction as much as the 1m? 1.5m? I've been working with for the past week. Both the silly hat, and the binding for the gown, are velveteen - leftovers of the German gown, in fact.

In case you're wondering, cutting up offcuts of velveteen into 3cm strips and stitching them together into one mondo binding strip is absolutely the most effective way of spreading velveteen flecks across the greatest area: lounge, kitchen, bedrooms, loo. Harley has velveteen lint in her toes.

This combined with the lint from the beautiful wool is creating industrial-level dustbunnies. These guys are ready to unionise, and are already holding meetings in the stairwell.

I was thinking of Cat, Mittens, and that velveteen bodice a lot this weekend, as I vacuumed velveteen lint for what felt like the n'th time...

The other b****er of working with black velveteen is that you cannot sew it after sundown. Our lighting is fairly good, but diffused, and I can't see what I'm stitching anymore without natural light.

It's similar for scribing - I try not to finish any painting by artificial light alone. I don't know if it's just light levels, or what quality it is about daylight, but I see all the mistakes in daylight that I can't see in indoor lighting.

I've only rarely handled real silk velvet (cotton velveteen is the affordable substitute). I'm suspicious of the 'silk' velvets in the shops, partly because they seem underpriced, partly because they feel so plastic-ey.

I understand that most items sold as silk velvet are either silk fabric and rayon pile, or vice versa (can't remember which way round).

Does anyone know where you find real, honest to goodness silk on silk velvet? I'm mostly just curious - after this project I'm off piled fabrics for another 15 yrs I think! - but I'd love to know what it really handles like, and how it's different from cotton.

Comments

[my-stitching.livejournal.com]

I couldn't find a maker online, but there was someone considering it for a large scale project some time ago and I seem to recall the fabric was ridiculously priced... over $1000 a yard!

But I did find some that were 100% silk pile (this is the part that is usually rayon) on a backing of a silk/cotton blend. These seem to run in the $300-$600 range.
This one is a ralph lauren fabric:
http://www.decoratorsbest.com/prod-PALACE_SILK_VELVET___GARNET-40727.aspx?&utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=google2012

And this website has no prices but their fabrics are famous. And expensive. And lust worthy!
http://www.scalamandre.com/fabric-products/products-fabric-velvets.html

[mariedeblois.livejournal.com]

Silk-rayon velvet is usually silk fabric, rayon pile, which means it's largely not silk in anywhere you see it.

About ten years ago, I found some silk-silk velvet on ebay from Pakistan and got a yard ($12/yard including shipping was a bit steep for me at the time). It felt lovely but was incredibly incredibly light-weight. I made a sideless surcoat from it eventually, because that's about all I could manage with 1 yard and that weight.

If I wanted more, I'd probably try ebay again, but who knows if there's still any out there.

[suelet.livejournal.com]

I recently worked on a project of cotton velvet and brushed cotton...all in black. The lint and dust was disgusting. Bleah.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

hee hee love the line about the dustbunnies!

[kareina.livejournal.com]

We don't have a shop, so we do our wood work in the kitchen. This means that while one of us is using the saw or sander the other is holding the vacuum, sucking up dust as it forms. Your description of the shedding of the velveteen has me wondering if a similar approach would work there--actually vacuum the edges of each strip as you cut them.

[hayleygreen.livejournal.com]

Oh my - I remember the velveteen pox all over the place! It wasn't just on the cat, although she did pick up her fair share of it. It was e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. I picked it out of my cereal one morning.

And that greyish carpet? We steamcleaned it after living there for at least 9 months....only to find out it was actually a sort of lilac colour.

Student days, loads of fun and memories!

Love, Cat