What Is Velour Fabric?
Velour is a plush, stretchy knit fabric with a soft, cut-pile surface that gives it a velvety feel. Unlike velvet, which is a woven fabric, velour is knit, which means it has natural stretch and recovery. That stretch makes it far more practical for garment sewing, especially for fitted or comfortable clothing.
The pile surface of velour catches light beautifully and has a rich, luxurious appearance that makes it a favorite for loungewear, activewear, baby clothing, and home textiles. It's the fabric behind the classic tracksuit, but it's also perfectly at home in a cozy robe, a plush baby blanket, or a set of throw pillow covers.
At Nature's Fabrics, we carry both cotton velour and bamboo velour, each with its own strengths depending on your project.
Velour vs. Velvet: What's the Difference?
This is one of the most common questions about velour, and the answer comes down to construction and stretch.
- Velvet is a woven fabric with a cut pile. It has little to no stretch, drapes beautifully, and is typically used for formal garments, drapery, and upholstery. It's more delicate and harder to sew.
- Velour is a knit fabric with a cut pile. It stretches, recovers, and is much more forgiving to sew and wear. It's the practical, everyday version of velvet's luxurious look.
If you want the plush, rich look of velvet but need comfort and stretch, velour is your answer.
Cotton Velour vs. Bamboo Velour
Both types share the same plush knit construction, but the fiber content makes a meaningful difference in how they feel and perform.
Cotton Velour
Cotton velour is the classic choice. It's soft, absorbent, durable, and easy to care for. Cotton velour holds up well through repeated washing, making it ideal for items that get heavy use, like baby clothing, towels, robes, and children's garments. It has a slightly more matte finish than bamboo velour and a familiar, cozy feel.
You'll also find cotton velour included in our organic cotton fleece, terry, sherpa, and velour collection for a full range of plush organic options.
Bamboo Velour
Bamboo velour takes the plush pile of velour and adds the exceptional softness that bamboo fiber is known for. The result is one of the softest fabrics available, with a subtle sheen and silky hand feel that cotton velour can't quite match. Bamboo velour is also naturally moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating, making it an excellent choice for baby items, loungewear, and anything worn close to sensitive skin.
If you're buying in volume for a studio or production run, our wholesale bamboo velour fabric rolls offer excellent value.
Which Should You Choose?
- Baby clothing and sensitive skin: Bamboo velour. The extra softness and moisture-wicking properties are hard to beat for little ones.
- Robes, towels, and bath items: Cotton velour. More absorbent and durable through frequent washing.
- Loungewear and tracksuits: Either works well. Bamboo velour has a more luxurious feel; cotton velour is more durable and easier to care for.
- Home textiles and throw covers: Cotton velour for durability; bamboo velour for a premium, gift-worthy finish.
- Children's clothing: Cotton velour for everyday wear; bamboo velour for special pieces where softness is the priority.
Best Projects for Velour Fabric
Velour's stretch, softness, and plush surface make it well-suited for a wide range of projects:
- Loungewear and tracksuits: The classic velour application. The stretch and recovery make it comfortable for all-day wear.
- Baby clothing: Velour is gentle on delicate skin and easy to sew into rompers, sleepers, and hats.
- Robes and wraps: The absorbent pile and cozy feel make velour a natural choice for bathrobes and post-swim wraps.
- Stuffed animals and soft toys: The plush surface is perfect for toys that need to be huggable and washable.
- Throw pillow covers and blankets: Velour adds a luxurious texture to home decor without the fragility of velvet.
- Activewear and yoga wear: Velour's stretch and moisture management make it a comfortable choice for low-impact movement.
How to Sew with Velour
Velour is a rewarding fabric to sew with, but it does have a few quirks worth knowing before you cut into it.
Cutting
Velour has a nap, meaning the pile runs in one direction and looks different depending on which way you view it. Always cut all your pattern pieces with the nap running in the same direction, typically with the pile running downward for garments. Use pattern weights instead of pins where possible to avoid distorting the pile, and cut with sharp scissors or a rotary cutter.
Needles and Thread
Use a ballpoint or stretch needle (size 75/11 or 90/14 depending on the weight of your velour) to avoid snagging the knit loops. A polyester thread with some stretch is a good match for velour's elasticity.
Stitching
Use a stretch stitch, a narrow zigzag, or a serger for seams. A straight stitch alone will pop when the fabric stretches. If you have a coverstitch machine, it's ideal for hems on velour garments.
Pressing
Be careful with heat on velour. High heat can crush or melt the pile permanently. Always press on the wrong side of the fabric, use a low to medium iron setting, and place a pressing cloth or a scrap of velour pile-side up underneath to protect the surface. Better yet, use steam and finger-press where possible.
Seam Finishing
Velour knits don't fray, so seam finishing is more about neatness than necessity. A serged seam is the cleanest option and also provides the stretch the fabric needs.
Caring for Velour Fabric
- Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold or warm water.
- Turn garments inside out before washing to protect the pile surface.
- Tumble dry on low heat or air dry. High heat can damage the pile over time.
- Avoid fabric softener, which can mat the pile and reduce absorbency in cotton velour.
- Store folded rather than hung to prevent the fabric from stretching out of shape.
Ready to Work with Velour?
Whether you're making a cozy set of baby clothes, a plush robe, or a luxurious loungewear set, velour is one of the most satisfying fabrics to sew and wear. Browse our bamboo velour and cotton velour collections to find the right option for your next project, or explore our full range of organic cotton fleece, terry, sherpa, and velour for more plush natural fabric options. Buying in bulk? Our wholesale bamboo velour rolls are a great place to start.