Description
Velvet is a woven fabric in which upright tufts, the so-called pile of silk or cotton, are woven into the warp threads and then cut off. Nowadays, other fabrics are also used, such as linen, wool, and mohair. Synthetic fabrics are also sometimes used. Sometimes a little Lycra is added to achieve a certain degree of elasticity. Velvet is a soft, fine, and lustrous fabric, traditionally used for fine clothing. The technique of velvet weaving, originating in Asia, flourished in Italy around 1400, particularly in Lucca, Florence, Venice, and Genoa; the latter city remains a velvet-making center. In the 16th century, Bruges became a center of velvet weaving, its quality rivaling that of the Italian example. However, velvet was also woven in other places. Wealthy people in the 17th century often wore velvet and lived on a prominent canal, as evidenced by the street name "Fluwelen Burgwal," which appears in both The Hague and Monnickendam. Amsterdam also once had a "Fluwelen Burgwal." The Huis aan de Drie Grachten (House on the Three Canals) on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal side has a gable stone that still bears this name. Velvet is woven using a special type of loom. The Metex machine is a special type of loom designed for velvet production. The weft is inserted into the lower shed of a double shed opening. The pile is obtained by placing steel rods or sticks in the upper shed. When pulling out the rods from the pile, one can choose between cut or uncut pile, or a combination of both. The sticks can be divided into two main groups.
Velvet
