Yarn Bee Perfectly Plush vs Velvety Smooth: Which Velvet Yarn Wins for Your Next Project?
We offer two distinct velvet yarns — Perfectly Plush and Velvety Smooth — and the choice between them trips up even experienced makers. Both deliver that signature chenille-like softness, but their differences matter when you’re three skeins into a blanket or starting a garment that needs to drape just right.
This velvet yarn comparison walks through fiber content, hand feel, drape behavior, care requirements, and which projects suit each yarn best. We’ll also cover what happens when you substitute one for the other mid-pattern, because that question lands in our inbox every week.
Fiber Content and Construction Differences
Perfectly Plush uses 100% polyester chenille with a twisted core and cut pile surface. The pile stands perpendicular to the core, giving it that plush teddy-bear texture everyone recognizes.
Velvety Smooth blends 95% polyester with 5% spandex in a brushed construction rather than true chenille. The spandex adds recovery and a slight stretch you won’t find in Perfectly Plush, while the brushed surface lies flatter against the core.
Both yarns clock in at #4 medium weight, but Perfectly Plush runs slightly thicker at 120 yards per 100g skein versus Velvety Smooth’s 140 yards for the same weight. That extra yardage in Velvety Smooth comes from the denser, less lofty construction.
Drape and Hand Feel on the Hook
Perfectly Plush creates a stiffer, more structured fabric. Swatches stand upright when you fold them, and finished blankets hold their shape without sagging. The pile grabs onto itself slightly as you work, which some makers love for stitch definition and others find slows them down.
Velvety Smooth drapes like butter from the first row. The spandex content lets the fabric relax and flow, making it the better pick for garments that need to move with the body. It also works up faster — the smoother surface glides through your fingers without the slight drag Perfectly Plush produces.
Stitch Definition
Perfectly Plush shows every stitch clearly, even in low light. The standing pile catches shadows and highlights individual stitches in a way that flatters textured patterns. Velvety Smooth blurs stitch definition intentionally — the brushed surface creates a unified fabric plane where stitches melt together, which works beautifully for smooth, drapey pieces but hides cables and bobbles.
Care and Durability Over Time
Both yarns are machine washable on delicate cycle, but their behavior in the wash differs. Perfectly Plush sheds lightly for the first two or three washes, then stabilizes. The pile can flatten slightly with repeated washing, though it bounces back after air drying.
Velvety Smooth sheds less overall but is more prone to pilling where the fabric rubs against itself or other surfaces. The spandex content also means you should avoid high heat — tumble drying on medium or high can degrade the stretch over time, leaving the fabric limp.
Color Saturation
Perfectly Plush holds dye more vividly because the pile structure catches and reflects light. Jewel tones look especially rich. Velvety Smooth’s flatter surface produces more muted, sophisticated color — the same dye lot reads softer and more understated on Velvety Smooth than on Perfectly Plush.
Best Project Matches for Each Yarn
Use Perfectly Plush for baby blankets, stuffed animals, textured throws, and anything where structure and stitch visibility matter. The yarn’s body supports itself, so large pieces don’t stretch out of shape under their own weight. It’s also the safer choice for items that will be washed frequently — the polyester-only content tolerates abuse better than blends.
Velvety Smooth shines in cardigans, shawls, infinity scarves, and any garment that benefits from flow and drape. The slight stretch makes it more forgiving for fitted projects, and the softer hand feels better against skin for hours at a time. Just like our other velvet yarn options, it works beautifully for lightweight wraps that need to move.
If your pattern calls for one but you have the other on hand, expect to adjust hook size and possibly yardage. Perfectly Plush typically requires a half-size larger hook to achieve the same gauge as Velvety Smooth, and you’ll need about 15% more yardage to account for the shorter meterage per skein.
Picking Your Velvet Yarn for the Project Ahead
Both Perfectly Plush and Velvety Smooth deliver softness and visual appeal, but they solve different problems. Perfectly Plush gives you structure, vivid color, and stitch clarity — ideal when the project needs to hold its shape or show off texture work. Velvety Smooth trades structure for drape, stretch, and a refined hand that works better against skin.
The choice comes down to what you’re making and how you want it to behave. Blankets, toys, and textured pieces lean toward Perfectly Plush. Garments, wraps, and anything that needs to flow favor Velvety Smooth. Once you know which property matters most for your project, the decision makes itself.
Common Questions About Choosing Between Perfectly Plush and Velvety Smooth
You can, but the finished blanket will drape more and show less stitch definition. Velvety Smooth’s fluid hand works better for throws you want to puddle on furniture rather than structured blankets that hold their shape. Adjust your hook up a half size and add 15% more yardage to compensate for gauge differences.
Perfectly Plush is more forgiving for beginners. The pile grabs onto itself slightly, which helps stitches stay put and makes it easier to count rows. Velvety Smooth’s slippery drape can feel harder to control if you’re still building muscle memory for consistent tension.
Perfectly Plush is the better pick for amigurumi. The structured body holds stuffing without stretching, and the pile hides small gauge inconsistencies that show up more obviously on Velvety Smooth’s flat surface. The lack of stretch also means stuffed shapes keep their intended form over time.
Perfectly Plush makes colors pop with more intensity — great for bright, playful projects. Velvety Smooth reads more sophisticated in the same shade, with a subtle sheen that works better for garments you want to look polished rather than cozy-casual. Darker colors on Velvety Smooth can show lint and pet hair more than Perfectly Plush does.
Perfectly Plush resists pilling better overall because the 100% polyester chenille construction doesn’t create loose fiber ends as easily. Velvety Smooth will pill wherever the fabric rubs against itself, especially under arms or along bag straps, though a fabric shaver removes pills cleanly without damaging the base fabric.
Yes, but plan for the texture difference to be obvious. Mixing them works well for colorblocking where you want distinct visual zones — a Perfectly Plush body with Velvety Smooth sleeves, for instance. Avoid mixing them within the same row or in subtle stripes, since the drape and sheen differences will fight each other rather than complement.