Nicki LaFoille

Sewing with Velvet Class + DVD

with Nicki LaFoille

Often it seems that the most luxurious and beautiful fabrics are the most difficult to work with. Velvet falls decidedly into that category. In this course Nicki LaFoille takes the fear out of sewing with velvet by demonstrating practical tips for working with this tricky fabric.

Not all velvet varieties play by the same rules. There are a wide variety of velvets made with a variety of fibers, and a lot of different finishing techniques used to create different effects. Nicki will show some of these velvet varieties and talk about the differences between them.

The 3-D structure of velvet affects everything about how it’s handled, including how a pattern is cut out and the marking techniques that are appropriate. The shifting of the velvet pile is never greater than when sewing velvet to velvet. In this course, Nicki demonstrates stabilizing techniques to ensure even seams.

Pressing also requires specific considerations to avoid crushing the beautiful pile that gives velvet its soft texture and organic shine.

There are certain tools and techniques that make sewing velvet smoother and easier and ensure the fabric isn’t damaged. Nicki explains the best needle and thread to use, pattern types that suit velvet best and hem techniques that work best on velvet.

After learning all these great techniques for sewing velvet, Nicki will show you how to sew a velvet circle skirt. This easy project is a great intro to sewing velvet, plus you get instructions on how to draft a circle skirt to your measurements so you can sew it in any fabric you choose.

Velvet can seem intimidating because it’s so different from standard woven or knit fabrics but those differences are what makes it beautiful and unique, and what’s going to your velvet sewing projects noticed.

NOTE: You’ll receive this Class video instruction in two forms: As on-demand streaming video (in your NSC Account); and as a physical DVD, mailed to you.

  • 7 Sessions
  • 1h 42m
Nicki LaFoille

Nicki LaFoille

Nicki LaFoille has been sewing for over 20 years. After her grandmother taught her to hand sew at the tender age of 11, Nicki fell in love with the craft and went on to receive a degree in Apparel Design from Central Michigan University. She worked as Associate Editor, then freelance contributor for Sew News, Sew It All and Creative Machine Embroidery magazines, and appeared as a guest on Sew It All TV. She lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with her husband, daughter, and red worm colony. In addition to being a seamstress, she is an author of several novels and enjoys gardening and canning the bounty.

Class Resource: Half Circle Skirt Pattern Drafting

Download this PDF for detailed instructions on drafting your pattern for a Half Circle Skirt.

Class Resource: Velvet Varieties

Download this PDF for a complete list of the varieties of velvet along with descriptions of each.

Meet Your Expert

Download this video to hear Nicki share her history of design and learning about different textiles.

Bonus materials available after purchase

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Sewing with Velvet Class + DVDPurchase this class for $39.99.