Fabrics and care · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read
How to get creases and crush marks out of velvet
How to get creases out of velvet: steam it from the reverse, lift flattened pile with a soft brush, and know which crush marks and shiny patches will not come back.
InspirationSteam from the back, never iron the face
To get creases out of velvet, hang the piece and let steam pass through it from the reverse, then brush the pile up gently while it is still warm. Never press a hot iron flat on the face: velvet is a fabric with a raised pile, and weight plus heat flattens that pile into a shiny mark that may never recover.
Most crease and crush problems are a pile problem rather than a fabric problem. The short fibres standing up on the surface have been pushed over, usually by folding, sitting, or being packed under something heavy. Moisture and warmth let them relax and stand again, which is why steam works and pressure does not. Our velvet guide explains how the pile is made and why it catches the light the way it does.
Check the care label before you start, and try the method on a hidden area first, such as an inside hem or the underside of a shawl corner. Silk velvet, viscose velvet and polyester velvet all react a little differently to heat, and a label that says dry clean only is worth following.
Step by step for a kameez or a shawl
A hand steamer is the easiest tool. If you do not have one, hang the piece in the bathroom while a hot shower runs with the door closed, keeping it out of reach of the water itself.
- Hang it properly. A kameez goes on a padded hanger, turned inside out. A shawl goes over a padded rail or the top of a door, with the pile facing outwards and the reverse towards you.
- Steam the reverse. Hold the steamer a short distance from the fabric and move it slowly over the back of each crease. Do not let the head rest on the cloth.
- Lift the pile. Turn the piece the right way out and, while it is still warm and slightly damp, stroke the creased area lightly with a soft clothes brush or a clean, dry baby brush, against the direction the pile lies, then smooth it back.
- Leave it alone to dry. Damp pile crushes again very easily, so let the piece hang until it is completely dry and cool before you wear, fold or sit in it.
If you must use an iron
Sometimes a seam or a stubborn fold needs more than steam. Use an iron only on the reverse, on a low setting suitable for the fibre, and never on the pile side. Lay the velvet face down on a thick, fluffy towel folded several times, or on a needle board if you sew, so the pile sinks into something soft instead of being squashed against the board. Hover or press very lightly; do not slide the iron. Our article on ironing and steaming kurtas covers temperature settings for other fabrics in the same outfit, such as a chiffon dupatta or lawn trousers.
What will not come back
Steam lifts pile that has been bent. It cannot replace pile that has been worn off or melted, so it helps to know the difference before you spend an hour on a mark.
- Shiny patches from a hot iron: on polyester velvet the pile may have glazed or fused, and that is usually permanent.
- Bald areas at elbows, cuffs or the seat: the fibres have rubbed away, so there is nothing left to lift.
- Deep marks from months of storage under weight: these often improve with several rounds of steaming but may stay slightly visible in some light.
- Crushed velvet: this is a deliberate finish, pressed into the fabric during making, and it is not damage to be fixed.
Keeping velvet crease-free next time
Velvet creases least when it hangs. Store a velvet kameez on a padded hanger with space around it, and roll a velvet shawl around a cardboard tube or a towel instead of folding it. When travelling, pack velvet last and on top, with tissue in the folds, as our guide to packing formal outfits describes, and hang it as soon as you arrive. Avoid sitting for long in a velvet outfit that is still warm from steaming.
If you are planning a winter outfit, our article on velvet for winter weddings has ideas for wearing it as a guest. To have a velvet piece made to your measurements, describe it on the quote form or read how Fabric + Stitching works; we confirm which fabric and design are possible in your written quote.
Common questions
Can I put velvet in the tumble dryer to remove creases?
It is not a good idea. Tumbling can crush and twist the pile further, and heat can glaze synthetic velvet. Steam the piece while it hangs instead, and follow the care label.
Why does my velvet look lighter in some places after steaming?
Velvet pile reflects light differently depending on which way it lies. If one patch was brushed in a different direction, smooth it all the same way once it is dry and the shade usually evens out.
How long should I wait before wearing velvet after steaming?
Wait until it is fully dry and cool to the touch. Damp, warm pile flattens easily, so putting it on too soon can create new crush marks where you sit or where the dupatta rests.
