Can you iron velvet?

Velvet gets its appearance from a dense upright pile of short fibres. An iron flattens that pile, and the crushed area reflects light differently from the rest — a permanent mark in exactly the shape of the soleplate. Heat sets the crushing in place. Velvet should be steamed, never pressed, with the steam applied from the reverse side or held away from the surface so the fibres are lifted rather than compressed.

What goes wrong

• A flattened patch of pile is permanent and shows as a shiny mark.
• Synthetic velvet can melt outright.

What to do instead

• Hold a steamer 15 to 20 cm away and let the steam relax the creases.
• Hang it in a steamy bathroom for 20 minutes.
• If you must use an iron, work from the reverse over a needle board or a thick towel, barely touching.

Other "can you iron" questions

• Can you iron polyester? It depends — Yes on the low synthetic setting, inside out, with a cloth between iron and fabric.
• Can you iron linen? Yes — Yes, on high heat with plenty of steam, while the fabric is still damp.