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Ironing velvet, velours, nap, plush, pile or velveteen can be done easily by laying it, “hairy” side down, on the velvet mat
Wonder mat: Velvet mat or ironing mat
Ironing velvet is usually discouraged but what if you want to reinforce your velours with interlining? Then you would have to iron. Most vilene interlinings need a longer time to adhere properly… But put your iron on your velveteen and the velveteen will be flattened…
The solution is simple: Roll out our velvet ironing mat and put your velvet on top. Now you can iron on interfacing without flattening the pile
How to iron seams on velvet
For pressing seams on velvet, pile, nap, plush, velours or velveteen our ironing mat is great.
Ironing seams is done on the inside of the garment. Therefore you place it with the velvet side down on the ironing mat. Fold open the seam with your fingers and use the iron to iron it in place. If you want to preserve the pile on the seams as well you can use a strip of the mat. Just put it on top of the seam and iron…
I have also ironed a collar bij laying it in between the mat, that way both sides are also protected. That is the big plus for the ironing mat as opposed to the needleboard, the ironing mat is flexible!
A velvet ironing mat is also named needleboard. It is not the same. A needleboard is like a bed wilt nails used by a fakir. Only the “nails” on the velvet mat are made of plastic instead of metal and closer together…
Velvet types
There are many types of velvet, velveteen, velours or whatever name you use. There are those made of cotton or polyester. There is stretch velvet, crushed velvet etc. For clothing mostly the thinner types are used as opposed to velvet for curtains. Thise are heavier.
Cotton velour can withstand a higher temperature than polyester. Check the raw materials of your velvet to choose the correct temperature
And an important tip: Test the iron on a scrap of fabric!
Besides velvet, nicky velours, velour de panne, velveteen etc. other fabrics can also be ironed on the mat. For example fabric for wintercoats, long or short haired fur, vegan fur, corduroy, teddy etc. All pile fabrics or voluminous fabrics that you can flatten with your iron
Vilene interfacing for ironing on velvet, velours, pile etc.
When you have determined the raw materials of your velours you can choose a suitable interfacing. Is your velveteen cotton you can choose a polyester interfacing but a cotton interfacing is also a good option.
Is your velours very heat sensitive try the LE420 vilene. This is made especially for use on leather and does not need to be ironed on hot! This is the coolest vilene out there 😉
FAQ ironing velours or velvet:
Yes, with the velvet ironing mat! Put your velvet with the hairy side down on the mat and iron on interfacing press open seams etc…
Yes, velours also has pile and the mat prevents flattening
“Iron your velvet on the velvet ironing mat. You can also steam a whole garment by hanging it in the shower while you use it. Or with your steam iron. Not too close to prevent water stains. Or steam from the inside. If there are stains is will be on the lining…
Put your piece on the velvet ironing mat with the pile down, place the strip of the mat you cut of on top en iron the seams…
The velvet ironing mat can be cut with ordinary scissors. Is your ironingboard smaller or do you want to create a strip for ironing seams? Just cut it with scissors!