דעם גראף'ס 'כתונת פסים'...

Flax:
A plant with blue flowers that is widely cultivated for its seeds, which produce linseed oil, and its stems, from which the fiber to make linen is obtained. Latin name: Linum usitatissimum

Linen:
A thread or durable fabric made from the spun fibers of flax

Velvet
textiles a cotton, silk, or nylon fabric with a dense soft usually lustrous pile and a plain underside

Basically velvet is a pile fabric that stand up from the back of the cloth. The surface of the fabric is a series of loops which can be cut or left uncut dependant on method of manufacture or end product. An uncut pile fabric will have a pile surface whereas a cut pile fabric will have a nap surface.

Pile fabrics can be made by weaving, knitting or tufting. Similar techniques are used in carpet construction and towelling can be made from cut or uncut (loop) warp pile.

Velvet has a very close and dense pile. There are several methods of weaving it, but for centuries it has often been woven as a double cloth. In this method the warp yarns are specially woven as shown in the picture below. The warp loops are formed over wire rods. Next the loops are cut during the weaving process. The double cloth is then separated and processes begin which help the bloom of the velvet to develop. After dyeing it is sheared or cropped even further to make it level. Then it is brushed so the cut threads splay out and stand up from the surface backing. Steaming gives the velvet the bloom that makes the fabric so appealing. The finished dense piled cut fabric is called velvet. People either love or hate the texture of velvet.

Velvet can be made from silk, rayon, nylon, polyester or cotton. Silk or silk viscose mixes are usually luxurious, soft and flowing and very suitable for evening wear as they drape exceptionally well. They are though slippery to handle and more difficult to sew than cotton velvet.

Cotton velvet is hard wearing and tailors well for daywear. Velvet is best dry cleaned. Pile velvet, should never be pressed in the normal way of ironing. They are all are best carefully teased and steamed with a velvet board, kettle and special pressing instructions.