With the onset of cold weather I especially want warmth and comfort. Long-pile fabrics come to the rescue: velvet, velor, plush. They are soft, warm, tender and remind of a carefree childhood. Plush deserves special attention. We will find out what this material is below.
Features
The main difference of the plush is a thick pile, the length of which can reach 16 millimeters or more, but not shorter than 3 mm. The material with the longest nap is classified as faux fur.
What kind of fabric is plush? The definition of the material at one time was given by the French. Peluche in translation means "villus", that is, a fabric covered with a pile.
The difference between plush and velvet
These two materials are often confused, but they have significant differences, although their production technology is almost the same. And the scope is similar. Velvet is thinner and delicate, has a short and dense pile. Plush can be thicker and rougher. His hair is much longer.
Kinds
Plush can be of different types, but it differs in three ways:
- fabric structure;
- a method of forming villi;
- finish.
The basis of plush fabric, according to tradition, is cotton fabric. Although it may be knitted. The villi are cotton, silk or wool. Increasingly, synthetic fibers are used for these purposes, mainly polyester. Such material is much cheaper and more durable, in addition, it has several advantages over natural fabrics.
Another plush material is distinguished by the type of pile. He can be:
- looped - it is similar to terry cloth, the pile resembles loops;
- split - making it similar to velvet when the loops are cut in half;
- one-sided - the pile is located only on the front side;
- bilateral - villi are also available from the inside.
Moreover, the last two options can be either looped or split.
Plush can be smooth - this is a standard type of fabric or with a pattern, embossed finish. Drawings and patterns are achieved by alternating different heights of the pile, which forms the pattern. The embossed material has the same length of fibers, and a special hot press is used to create the relief.
The most expensive and sophisticated plush is shaped. For its manufacture, all types of finishes are used.
Application
The scope of the fabric these days is great. However, when this material was just started to be produced in Europe, its cost was rather big and only very wealthy people could afford to buy plush. Fabrication was a very time-consuming process.
What is plush used for now? It:
- First of all, making toys. No other fabric can replace plush in the tailoring of soft and fluffy bears, hares, dogs.
- Manufacture of wearing apparel. Especially for children. Light and pleasant to the touch material is ideal for delicate baby skin. The manufacture of clothing for adults is also gaining momentum: both female and male. For the most part, these are models for the home, but depending on the texture of plush fabric, you can also sew outfits. For example, dresses, skirts, cardigans, vests. Often, plush with a thick woolen pile is used for interior decoration and insulation of outerwear.
- Along with fleece, plush can be found in the production of interior decoration of shoes, both demi-season and winter. Depends on the type of material.
- Fabric with a pile is used for sewing covers for furniture and its upholstery. The more textured and interesting the pattern, the more spectacular the furniture looks. Accordingly, the more expensive it is.
- Production of home textiles: curtains, curtains, tablecloths, pillows, bedspreads, blankets. On sale you can find various home decoration for every taste and budget. Of course, decoration with plush material looks very elegant and expensive, subject to a sense of proportion and style.
Benefits
Plush has a lot of positive qualities due to its special structure and composition.
- This material is attractive not only to the touch, but also has an aesthetic appearance.
- The plush practically does not crease.
- It is very durable and can easily withstand such mechanical stresses as abrasion, tension, tearing.
- Quality plush is not deformed. And it doesn’t matter if he has a woven base or knitted.
- A low level of peeling, that is, villi almost do not roll together into ugly lumps.
- Long pile retains heat perfectly.
- Plush is a fabric that drapes well and lays in beautiful and spectacular waves.
- Thanks to modern technology, the material has a high degree of color fastness and retains an attractive appearance for a long time.
- It has a wide scope.
disadvantages
There are undoubtedly many pluses, but there are also disadvantages. And quite substantial.
- A long pile collects dirt and dust perfectly, which is not very good for babies and allergy sufferers.
- But the care of this material is quite problematic.
- With long-term use of plush products from them, pile may begin to pour.
- Plush is a matter that is difficult to sew, so it will be difficult for beginners to master it, especially if the pile is very long.
- The thicker and longer the hairs, the heavier the finished product will be in weight.
Care Tips
We figured out what kind of material it is - plush. And if you are not afraid of the possible difficulties associated with the proper care of him, useful tips will come in handy:
- Items made of plush fabric can be washed in water, the temperature of which is not higher than 30-40 degrees.
- If you machine wash, set the mode to "delicate". And do not wring it at high speed. The number of revolutions of the drum during the spin cycle should be minimal.
- When hand washing, it is not recommended to unscrew the product.
- To clean large items like sofa covers, it’s better and easier to go dry cleaning.
- If the product has stubborn stains, it is advisable to entrust the item to specialists.
- Plush cannot be ironed. In order to straighten the pile after washing, vertical steam is recommended.
- Drying products is better in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight. This will help maintain color brightness.
- A synthetic fiber fabric is easier to care for than a natural material.
- Do not use aggressive detergents.
- Always follow the directions on the label.
What kind of fabric - plush - and how capricious it is, you decide. But it is unlikely that you will find more comfortable and pleasant things than plush ones.