While storing your velvet curtains, the general recommendation is to not fold them. Instead, the best practice is to roll them to preserve their appearance. However, if you need to fold them for a short period or for specific purposes, the recommended method is to fold the curtains in the same direction as the pile.
Why Folding Velvet is Generally Discouraged
Velvet is a luxurious fabric known for its soft pile. Folding velvet, especially for extended periods like storage, can easily lead to:
- Creases: Sharp fold lines can permanently mark the fabric.
- Bruises: When the pile is pressed down against itself along a fold, it can create flattened or lighter-colored areas where the light reflects differently, damaging the uniform look and feel.
As the reference states, "Folding the curtains causes creases and bruises, which deteriorates the look and feel of the curtains." This is why rolling is the preferred method for storage.
The Recommended Folding Method (If Folding is Necessary)
If you must fold your velvet curtains, the key is to minimize damage to the pile. According to recommendations, for best results, you should fold the curtains in the same direction as the pile.
Here’s how you can approach this:
- Identify the Pile Direction: Gently run your hand over the velvet fabric. The pile will feel smooth when you stroke it in one direction and slightly resistant or rough in the opposite direction. The smooth direction is the direction of the pile.
- Lay Flat: Lay the curtain panel flat on a clean, smooth surface.
- Align Folds with Pile: When making your folds, ensure that each fold runs parallel to the direction the pile naturally lays. This helps prevent the pile from being crushed against itself in the opposite direction.
- Soft Folds: Avoid creating sharp, hard creases. Make your folds as soft as possible.
- Limited Duration: If possible, only fold the curtains for a short time. Unfold and hang them as soon as you can to allow any potential creases to relax.
Using this method can help mitigate some of the risks associated with folding velvet, although it does not eliminate them entirely, especially for long-term storage.
Best Practice: Rolling for Storage
For preserving the pristine condition of your velvet curtains during storage, the unequivocal advice from the reference is to roll them.
- How to Roll: Lay the curtain panel flat, smooth out any wrinkles, and carefully roll it around a sturdy tube (like a cardboard tube from fabric bolts or craft stores) or simply roll it tightly and evenly without a core, starting from the bottom hem.
- Benefits of Rolling: Rolling prevents the sharp angles that cause creases and minimizes pressure points that lead to bruising, keeping the pile intact and the fabric looking its best.
While you asked how to fold, it is crucial to understand that rolling is the superior method for storage to avoid damaging the delicate velvet pile. If folding is unavoidable, remember to fold in the direction of the pile as recommended.