Embossing Velvet: Velvet Content

See the page on Types of Velvet for descriptions and information on where to find them.

I recommend only silk, rayon, acetate/rayon and silk/rayon blend velvets at this time, for aesthetic and/or safety reasons. There are some velvets that I've found to be potentially dangerous to use with heat, yet I find online sites where people recommend some of these very velvets for velvet embossing. All I can do is offer my opinion, experience, and information I have found through some research into the reaction of certain fabrics to heat.

Safety of various fiber contents:

To a degree, all fabrics are flammable, and some can even melt. Don't let this scare you off, though - if you have the right materials, embossing velvet is no more dangerous than ironing your laundry.

I list the information below with the assumption that the velvet embossing process is being done away from open flames, showers of sparks or tubs full of water (I had better be right about that!); that the iron used is without major safety defects and that the operator knows how to safely operate an iron. No turning it on, setting it down on the fabric and going to watch a movie! You are responsible for your own equipment, choices and safety. I cannot have any knowledge or control over your specific materials, equipment or common sense.

The good:

While it is possible to set silk, rayon, cotton, acetate/rayon, silk/rayon and acetate/cotton blend velvets on fire, the velvet embossing process does not produce the conditions necessary for doing so (given the assumptions mentioned in the previous paragraph). I do not personally recommend cotton for aesthetic reasons. I have read of good results from a cotton/acetate blend in one online forum, but have no personal experience:

Silk and cotton, being natural fibers, will not melt.
Rayon is a man-made fiber from cellulose (wood fibers) and will not melt.
Acetate is also man-made fiber from cellulose. It can melt at very high temperatures - higher than anything that should be able to be achieved during the embossing process using your household iron (assumptions above).
- I have only had personal experience with acetate/rayon blend velvets and used them many times for velvet embossing. Love them!
- I have found one mention of "acetate velvet" for velvet embossing, but have not found or used purely acetate velvet, so I cannot speak on it.
- I have heard that acetate/cotton blends are also fine, but have no personal experience.

The not-so-good and the bad:

Try to stay away from nylon, polyester, and acrylics. They have petroleum content. Yup. Depending on the blend of nylon/polyester/acrylic the fabric can have a plastic look/feel, aesthetically, and can even melt/burn.

Acrylic does not take even a moderate amount of heat. Do not use. Burning can result in a dripping molten material that can stick to surfaces and skin and cause severe burns.

Polyester and Nylon can melt and are not recommended for medium or high iron settings. Some people do use nylon/acetate blend velvets. I do not recommend it. If you do try anything with nylon/polyester, test with a low iron setting. If you experience melting, please be aware the melting material can retain very high temperatures and can drip and stick to many things - including you - causing burns. If possible, turn off/unplug the iron. Do not touch any of the melted materials until you have let at least 10-15 minutes pass. Even then, be cautious.

Even if some materials do not melt or burn, I would recommend being alert for chemical smells as you press. As with many crafts, making sure that you have good airflow/ventilation is never a bad idea.

Embossing Velvet Page