J&O Fabrics 5 Tips For Sewing Silk Rayon Velvet

silk rayon velvet fabric jandofabrics

With the prom and wedding season upon us, fashionable fabrics meet with creative designs that span the spectrum from traditional and conservative to the outright modern and courageous. When considering the marriage of a silk rayon velvet with a design of equally exquisite distinction, the proper handling of its watery drape and softer hand can be somewhat  intimidating to the novice seamstress. To take some of the fear out of the equation, the experts at J&O fabrics have these 5 important tips for sewing silk rayon velvet to share.

 

5 Tips for Sewing Silk/Rayon Velvet

 

  • PRE-WASH

Pre-wash your silk rayon velvet to save your sanity! Test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t fade. Test washing ensures that your finished garment will be safe in the machine. When you do your final wash, it will give your silk rayon velvet garment a soft vintage look  and will obscure iron marks and other imperfections. Wash in cold water on gentle cycle. To remove any wrinkles, throw the finished garment in the dryer with a damp t-shirt of a similar color preferably. Don’t use towels because they tend to shed fibers onto the velvet. Dry on low heat.
  • CUTTING

Serrated scissors work the best with silk /rayon velvet fabric. Cut in single thicknesses only.
  • PRESSING

Use a steamer or iron that produces a good amount of steam heat which is the best way to press open seams. Lay the velvet with the pile facing down over a towel that has its pile facing up. Make sure that there are no wrinkles or creases in the towel as this will show up on the fabric. Release as much steam as you can about 1/2″ above the fabric while using your fingers to quickly open the seam, crease the hem, finish a collar or cuff, etc.
Note: to protect your fingers from steam burn, wrap a scrap of velvet around your index finger. This will protect it from the heat while also preventing fingerprints on the fabric.
  • INTERFACING

Always use NON-fusible interfacing. Even interfacing that fuses at low temperatures has issues adhering without direct contact with the iron. It also can create a crinkled look on the pile which you may not want.
  • CLOSURES

Avoid buttonholes if you can, especially if you have trouble making a nice one with easier fabrics. Button loops, frogs, zippers and similar options work best. If you must use buttonholes, put a piece of transparent stabilizer that does NOT dissolve in water on top of and under the buttonhole area. Secure with tape at the edges. Mark the buttonhole on the stabilizer and stitch. Then pull away the stabilizer from the buttonhole and cut the opening. The stabilizer helps hold down the fuzzy pile so that the buttonhole looks more professional and also adds strength.

 

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