cheap velvet is evil

[jennylafleur]

I hate velvet. I really do.

I was working on the pirate stays today and as I pressed the last seam I managed to completely crush one panel. So I need to re-cut (and re-baste) that panel. This velvet has been so fussy, I’ll be so glad to see the end of it. That will teach me to buy cheap acetate velvet from Wal-Mart, that’s for sure!!

I’m not up to cutting anything out tonight so I think I’ll just move on to the endless eyelets for the evening. That should keep me busy for a while! :>

Oh yes, elegant_musings and I have declared a truce on the “secret status” of the pirates. It was getting silly to continue, especially as we are not able to present the finial versions of the costumes until next Ren Faire anyway. So no more LJ cuts…

Comments

[lacomtesse.livejournal.com]

I managed to completely crush one panel.

Are there any tricks to decrushing velvet? I always try to perk it up with steaming, but it's never very effective.

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

I've found lots of steam and a lint brush helful on other velvets. It's useally the most effetive if you can catch the crush before it cools or loses the steam that created it.

My current velvet however is just worthless stuff. :<

[dancinseamstres.livejournal.com]

i am impressed you managed to press all the other panels without crushing them!!! i have never had much luck with pressing velvet.....what is your secret?

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

My secret is a velvet needle board or Velvaboard (http://www.hancockfabrics.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=7572&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=velvaboard). It's a pressing cloth that has a nylon nap to it (sort of looks like a soft velcro) for the velvet to fall into. Some can be pricey (especially for the larger professional ones) but it's a very nifty sewing gadget indeed.

You can also use a scrap of velvet as a pressing cloth. I like the needle board much better though - it's a bit more fool proof. :>

[elegant-musings.livejournal.com]

Didn't we have a conversation on this very topic not too long ago? About your mental state taking on velvet again? ;)

You know, I tend to find those "silly" mistakes (I do these kinds of things alot too) happen the closer to the deadline you get. I've been doing stupid stuff like sewing lining in backwards (the sister wouldn't let me rip it out since you really can't see it), etc. It must be the curse of the late project!!!

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

I can't say I'd noticed a "curse of the late project". I think I make the same number of mistakes, they are just condensed in a shorter period of time so it seems like more. :>