posted on August 18, 2005 12:16:48 PM new
I wasn't sure, so I looked up what I could on ask.com - and found a great reference site for fabrics and clothing. Here the url and blurb I found:
http://www.songsmyth.com/fabric.html
Velvet used to be made with a silk pile (the fuzzy part) on a silk backing, or with silk pile on a cheaper backing, such as linen or a blend. There were also velvets made from cotton and even from wool.
When purchasing modern velvets, avoid anything polyester, especially if it stretches or has crushed pile. Nowadays, what is called "silk velvet" is often really rayon pile on a silk backing, which means that you only see the rayon part, not the silk. Still, rayon is at least a fiber-based material, not petroleum-based like polyester. And real silk velvet is unfortunately quite mind-bogglingly expensive.
Cotton velvet or velveteen (the first has a slightly silkier pile, but often the terms are used interchangeably) can be a good budget-minded choice. It's usually found on drapery-type rolls on the wall at the back of the "formal" section in fabric stores, and it's often around $10 a yard. Not bad for a material that offers such excellent drape and sheen, and lovely rich colors. Also, cotton velvet "grabs" better than other velvets and isn't as squirmy to sew. Best of all, if you wash it before you cut it, you can launder the finished garment! (Test a swatch first. Tumble dry low, remove promptly.)
Caroline