Persian Lamb Velvet
Persian Lamb is a classic velvet fabric with the appearance of fur. It is a beautiful fabric with a variety of applications. Your Persian lamb velvet garments and accessories can be elegant or trendy, depending on your pattern choice.
Dry clean only. Be sure to indicate to your dry cleaner that this is a velvet fabric.
Use the sharpest needle you can find. Quilters' machine needles or Microtex needles are the sharpest needles currently marketed; choose a size 75/11 or smaller for your Persian Lamb project. Use cotton, cotton/polyester, or all polyester thread for this fabric. For a luxury detail, silk thread is a beautiful choice.
Cool fuse interfacings, which do not require a great deal of pressure from the iron, are the best choices for fusible interfacings for this fabric. For a sew-in interfacing, use silk organza or batiste for areas that need to remain soft. For more structured pieces, hair canvas is an excellent choice, or choose flannel for a bit of loftiness.
Standard straight seams, 2.5 in length, are best for Persian Lamb. Use a walking foot (even feed foot) for best results. If you do not have a walking foot, hand-baste seams before machine stitching. Hems should be clean-finished with binding or a serged edge before hand or machine hemming. Seams can be finished with seam tape, binding, or a serged edge. If use a serger to finish the seams, try using the 2-thread overlock stitch to eliminate as much bulk as possible. For the best interior finish, line the garment.
Simple lines are best; let this fabric be the star! Coats, jackets, shirt-jackets, and cardigans are perennial favorites in this fabric. Details such as collars and cuffs are also classic choices for Persian lamb.
Try adding a wide band of Persian lamb at the hem of a simple skirt. Or cut a shape from Persian lamb, line the shape with lining fabric, and then appliqué the shape to a garment leaving the upper edge open. This makes a fun pocket!
Use a velvet board or thick terry towel on the surface of your ironing board to prevent crushing the fabric when pressing seams. For long-term storage, wrap in acid-free tissue and store flat.