Velvet Popular Books
Velvet Biography & Facts
Velvet is a type of woven fabric with a dense, even pile that gives it a distinctive soft feel. By extension, the word velvety means "smooth like velvet". Historically, velvet was typically made from silk. Today, velvet can be made from silk, linen, cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, silk-cotton blends, or synthetic-natural fiber blends. Construction and composition Velvet is woven on a special loom that weaves two thicknesses of the material at the same time; the two layers are connected with an extra warp yarn that is woven over rods or wires. The two pieces are then cut apart to create the fabric's pile, and the two lengths of fabric are wound on separate take-up rolls. This complicated process meant that velvet was expensive to make before industrial power looms became available, and well-made velvet remains a fairly costly fabric. Velvet is difficult to clean because of its pile, but modern dry cleaning methods make cleaning more feasible. Velvet pile is created by cutting the warp yarns, while velveteen pile is created by cutting the weft yarns. Velvet can be made from several different kinds of fibers, the most expensive of which is silk. Much of the velvet sold today as "silk velvet" is a blend of silk and another fiber, often rayon or cotton. Velvet made entirely from silk is rare and usually has market prices of several hundred US dollars per yard. Cotton is also used to make velvet, though this often results in a less luxurious fabric. Velvet can also be made from fibers such as linen, mohair, and wool. A cloth made by the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo from the raffia palm is often referred to as "Kuba velvet". Modern velvet can be polyester, nylon, viscose, acetate, or blends of synthetics and natural fibers (for example, viscose mixed with silk produces a very soft, reflective fabric). A small percentage of spandex is sometimes added to give the final material a certain amount of stretch (hence "stretch velvet"). Velvet has a thick pile and can be cut 'pile up' or 'pile down' for more shine or more saturated color. History Because of its unusual softness and appearance as well as its high cost of production, velvet has often been associated with nobility. Velvet was introduced to Baghdad during the rule of Harun al-Rashid (786–809) by Kashmiri merchants and to Al-Andalus by Ziryab. In the Mamluk era, Cairo was the world's largest producer of velvet. Much of it was exported to Venice (whence it spread to most of Europe), Iberia and the Mali Empire. Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire, visited Cairo on his pilgrimage to Mecca. Many Arab velvet makers accompanied him back to Timbuktu. Later Ibn Battuta mentions how Suleyman, the ruler of Mali, wore a locally produced complete crimson velvet kaftan on Eid. During the reign of Mehmed II, assistant cooks wore blue dresses (câme-i kebûd), conical hats (کلاه, külâh) and baggy trousers (چاقشیر, çakşır) made from Bursa velvet. King Richard II of England directed in his will that his body should be clothed in velveto in 1399. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition described velvet and its history thus: VELVET, a silken textile fabric having a short dense piled surface. In all probability the art of velvet-weaving originated in the Far East; and it is not till about the beginning of the 14th century that we find any mention of the textile. The peculiar properties of velvet, the splendid yet softened depth of dye-colour it exhibited, at once marked it out as a fit material for ecclesiastical vestments, royal and state robes, and sumptuous hangings; and the most magnificent textures of medieval times were Italian velvets. These were in many ways most effectively treated for ornamentation, such as by varying the colour of the pile, by producing pile of different lengths (pile upon pile, or double pile), and by brocading with plain silk, with uncut pile or with a ground of gold tissue, &c. The earliest sources of European artistic velvets were Catanzaro, Lucca, Genoa, Florence, and Venice, which continued to send out rich velvet textures. Somewhat later the art was taken up by Flemish weavers, and in the sixteenth century, Bruges attained a reputation for velvets that were not inferior to those of the great Italian cities. Types Chiffon (or transparent) velvet very lightweight velvet on a sheer silk or rayon chiffon base. Ciselé velvet where the pile uses cut and uncut loops to create a pattern. Crushed lustrous velvet with patterned appearance that is produced by either pressing the fabric down in different directions, or alternatively by mechanically twisting the fabric while wet. Devoré or burnout a velvet treated with a caustic solution to dissolve areas of the pile, creating a velvet pattern upon a sheer or lightweight base fabric. Embossed velvet on which a metal roller has been used to heat-stamp the fabric, producing a pattern. Hammered an extremely lustrous velvet with a crushed and dappled appearance. Lyons a densely woven, stiff, heavier-weight pile velvet used for hats, coat collars and garments. Mirror a type of exceptionally soft and light crushed velvet. Nacré velvet with an effect similar to shot silk where the pile is woven in one or more colours and the base fabric in another, creating a changeable, iridescent effect. Panne a type of crushed velvet produced by forcing the pile in a single direction by applying heavy pressure. Sometimes, less frequently, called paon velvet. However, since the 1970s, "panne velvet" as used in ordinary fabric stores has referred to a pile knit, perhaps better called a velour, with a short pile that falls in many directions; usually of polyester. Pile-on-pile, also called double velvet a particularly luxurious type of velvet woven with piles of differing heights to create a pattern. It is one of the oldest known velvet weaving techniques. Plain velvet commonly made of cotton with a firm hand. Ponson A very heavy and quite expensive velvet made either entirely with silk or having a pile exclusively of silk, used at one point for women's dresses and cloaks Utrecht a pressed and crimped velvet associated with Utrecht, the Netherlands. Voided velvet deliberately woven with areas of pile-free ground (usually satin) forming a pattern. Wedding ring or ring velvet another term for devoré and/or chiffon velvets which are allegedly fine enough to be drawn through a wedding ring. Fibers Cotton Cotton velvet is highly durable, but lacks much of the luxuriousness of other varieties of velvet, and its colors tend not to be as deep or rich Silk Silk velvet is one of the more expensive kinds of velvet, and is usually shinier and softer than the cotton variety Microfiber Microfiber velvet is a synthetic polyester variety of the fabric that resists stains easily and is lightweight Nylon/rayon blend Nylon/rayon blend velvet has much of the feel and drape of silk-based velvet, but is usually much less expensive; also, it is easier to care for than s.... Discover the Velvet popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Velvet books.
Best Seller Velvet Books of 2024
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Shine
Jessica JungAn instant New York Times bestsellerCrazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl by way of Jenny Han in this knockout debut about a Korean American teen who is thrust into the competitive, ...
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Highland Velvet
Jude DeverauxJude Deveraux steps back to a time and place where revenge and rivalry rule men's heartsand love conquers allin this wonderful Montgomery novel.Bronwyn MacArran was a proud Scot. S...
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Scarlet Nights
Jude DeverauxWhat if you learned that your fiancé was not who he claimed to be? Engaged to the charming and seductive Greg Anders, Sara Shaw is happily anticipating her wedding in Edilean, Virg...
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Risky Whiskey
Lucy LakestoneStirring up trouble in New Orleans ... Eager to shake up her drinks and her life, mixologist Pepper Revelle jumps at an invitation to join the elite Bohemia Bartenders. Leader Neil...
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The Velvet Rope Economy
Nelson D. SchwartzFrom New York Times business reporter Nelson D. Schwartz comes a gripping investigation of how a virtual velvet rope divides Americans in every arena of life, creating a frictionfr...
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Red Velvet Revenge
Stephanie DamoreChampagne, chocolates, and murder? That definitely wasn't on the menu. When Claire London hosts her first allout New Year's Eve Party at London Manor, the last thing she e...
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Velvet
Jane FeatherFrom the bestselling, awardwinning author of Vanity and Violet comes a lush adventure as darkly sensual as velvet. Clad in black velvet and posing as a widowed French comtes...
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Tipping the Velvet
Sarah Waters“Erotic and absorbing…Written with startling power.”The New York Times Book Review Nan King, an oyster girl, is captivated by the music hall phenomenon Kitty Butler, a male...
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The Hour I First Believed
Wally LambNew York Times BestsellerThe profound and compelling story of a personal quest for meaning and faith from Wally Lamb, #1 New York Times bestselling author of She’s Come Undone and ...
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The House of Velvet and Glass
Katherine HoweKatherine Howe, author of the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, returns with an entrancing historical novel set in Boston in 1915, where a ...
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Affinity
Sarah Waters“Gothic tale, psychological study, puzzle narrative…This is gripping, astute fiction that feeds the mind and senses.”The Seattle Times An upperclass woman recovering from a suicide...
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Heather and Velvet
Teresa MedeirosThe innocent and the highwayman… One moment Prudence Walker is living the life of a plain, dutiful orphan, searching for her lost kitten during a storm; the next she finds herself ...
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The Black Velvet Coat
Jill G. HallTwentyeightyearold struggling San Francisco artist Anne McFarland is determined to get a onewoman show, even though no one, including herself, believes she can do it. But when she ...
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Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms
Richard ForteyFrom one of the world’s leading natural scientists and the acclaimed author of Trilobite!, Life: A Natural History of Four Billion Years of Life on Earth and Dry Storeroom No. 1 co...
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Loving Ashe
Liz DuranoA barista in search of the truth. A Hollywood star yearning for authenticity. One fateful meeting that will send them on a journey of selfdiscovery and one unexpected romance. Thre...
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Forever...
Jude DeverauxFrom A Knight in Shining Armor to The Mulberry Tree, Jude Deveraux’s bestsellers sparkle with stunning originality, heartfelt wit, and adventurous passion. Now, this superb storyte...
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Hotel Scenes From the Velvet Paw of Asquith Novels
Thomas CorfieldHotel Scenes from the Velvet Paw of Asquith novels, the infamous international jetsetting adventures of Oscar TeabagDooven, which involve greed, espionage and the odd foray into pr...
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Dark Velvet
Lisa CarlisleHe’s a gifted sculptor. A successful billionaire. And insanely attractive. Completely out of the league of a struggling grad student like me. I shouldn’t think of Antoine as any...
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Velvet Promise
Carole MortimerAnother chance to enjoy this emotional and dramatic story from USA TODAY bestselling author Carole Mortimer.Learning to trust his touch…Jordan St. James has never concealed his con...
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Red Velvet Cupcake Murder
Joanne Fluke“If your reading habits alternate between curling up with a good mystery or with a good cookbook, you ought to know about Joanne Fluke.”Charlotte Observer This summer has be...
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The Velvet Rage
Alan DownsThis groundbreaking and empowering book examines the impact of growing up and surviving as a gay man in a society still learning to accept all identities.In The Velvet Rage, psycho...
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The Velvet Promise
Jude DeverauxOne of Forbes’s 30 Best Romance Novels of All Time!All of England rejoiced on her wedding day. But Judith vowed that her husband would get only what he took from her...At the flowe...
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Room to Dream
David Lynch & Kristine McKennaNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER An unprecedented look into the personal and creative life of the visionary auteur David Lynch, through his own words and those of his closest collea...
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The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook
Jennifer AppelThe complete and “charming” (Gourmet) collection of deliciously oldfashioned and deeply satisfying recipes from everyone’s favorite New York City cupcake bakeryMagnolia Bakery.Ever...
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The Princess
Jude DeverauxBestselling author Jude Deveraux surrounds a regal heroine with the intrigue and excitement of a forbidden love in this lush, romantic tale of adventure and passion.Her name is Ari...
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The Devil in Velvet
John Dickson CarrTo solve a centuriesold crime, a man makes a deal with the devil: “The fantasy, the murder and the historical action are . . . all wonderful” (San Francisco Chronicle). A...
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Black Velvet
Steven HenryErin learned a lot from her partner: stay alert, follow your nose, and once you've got your teeth in them, never let go.It's tough working nights with the NYPD. The crime rate is h...
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Velvet Song
Jude DeverauxTwo outcasts in medieval England are brought together and share a destiny of passion in the third of the Velvet Montgomery Annals Quadrilogy from the New York Times bestselling aut...
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Catching the Big Fish
David LynchIn this "unexpected delight," filmmaker David Lynch describes his personal methods of capturing and working with ideas, and the immense creative benefits he has experienced from th...
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A Vision in Velvet
Juliet BlackwellLily Ivory hopes to score some great vintage fashions when she buys an antique trunk full of old clothes. But she may have gotten more than she bargained for.…As soon as Lily opens...
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The Night Watch
Sarah Waters“[A] wonderful novel…Waters is almost Dickensian in her wealth of description and depth of character.”Chicago TribuneMoving back through the 1940s, through air raids, blackedout st...
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Red Velvet
Carla LunaSix nights in the Northwoods, two best friends, and one big secret. What could possibly go wrong?In her ultracompetitive family, April Beckett is used to taking last place. For yea...
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Saved By Her Velvet Thong
Michelle GomezLike most of her contemporaries Barbara Anderson (the heiress) was young, gothic and a party animal. As the only child of the Andersons, one of America's oldest and richest familie...
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Velvet Angel
Jude DeverauxShe came to him as a precious gift, a naked angel rolled in a rug. Once he gazed into her green eyes, saw her tangle of honey blonde hair, he was undone with passion. Elizabeth wo...
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Vixen in Velvet
Loretta ChaseFrom the Diary of Leonie Noirot: The perfect corset should invite its undoing . . .Lethally charming Simon Blair, Marquess of Lisburne, has reluctantly returned to London for ...
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Velvet
Temple WestEqual parts steamy and funny, with a few genuinely creepy moments, this paranormal romance has everything compelling characters, plenty of witty banter, and a romance that just mi...
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Red Velvet Revenge
Jenn McKinlayFrom the New York Times bestselling author...It may be summertime, but sales at Fairy Tale Cupcakes are below zeroand owners Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are willing to try any...
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Mountain Laurel
Jude DeverauxBestselling author Jude Deveraux spins a rollicking story of a mismatched couple who unearth a sparkling, irresistible passion across the rugged West!Captain Ring Montgomery was ha...
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The Black Lyon
Jude DeverauxA Classic Love Story of a Fearless Lordand the Woman Who Tamed Him Darkly handsome and rich beyond imagining, the boldEnglish conqueror was called “the Black Lyon” for hislionlike ...
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The Velvet Room
Zilpha Keatley SnyderFinding a special place where you can be at peace is difficultbut holding onto it is even harderThe last three years of Robin Williams’s life have been very difficult. She’s had to...
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The Velvet Hours
Alyson RichmanFrom the international bestselling author of The Lost Wife and The Garden of Letters, comes a storyinspired by true eventsof two women pursuing freedom and independence in Paris du...
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Black Velvet
Linnea MayNo man ever made her scream and beg for release. Until now, I say. She claims I’m asking for the impossible. I will prove her wrong. I always get what I want. Always. She's a pro...