Choose the surface you want to live with
Smooth Knit vs Natural Velvet is a useful dakimakura comparison when you want more than an attractive character preview. The illustration can stay the same while the material changes how the cover feels and how you approach its care. Begin with your preference for a smooth surface or a plush one before comparing configured prices.
The store’s fabric descriptions position Smooth Knit as a silky, smooth option and Natural Velvet as a plush, warm-feeling surface. Those descriptions provide a starting point, not a promise that everyone will prefer the same material. Your existing covers, everyday use and willingness to follow the care instructions are more useful than choosing by the most appealing name.
What Smooth Knit emphasizes
The site’s guidance describes Smooth Knit as a smooth, silky fabric with one-direction stretch. Consider it when a smoother surface is the main feature you want to investigate. If you already know that you enjoy that type of feel, use the exact material name in your shopping notes rather than remembering only that your previous cover was soft.
One-direction stretch does not mean an incorrectly sized cover will fit an arbitrary insert. Select the dimensions first and treat stretch as a material characteristic within a suitable pairing. Pulling harder to compensate for a length or width mismatch can place strain where the cover should be sitting naturally.
Keep Smooth Knit distinct from Two Way Tricot in the menu. Their names refer to different choices, even when both appear beside the same artwork. If you are returning to buy another cover, check your saved order details so a familiar-looking label does not lead to an unintended substitution.
What Natural Velvet emphasizes
The store describes Natural Velvet as a plush surface with a warm feel, and its guidance identifies hand washing as the preferred approach. It may suit a buyer whose main interest is that surface character and who is comfortable planning gentle care around it.
The fabric guide also describes a tradeoff in how sharply print detail appears compared with smoother materials. That matters if your favorite illustration depends on small facial lines, intricate accessories or fine background patterns. It does not mean the design changes, but it gives you a reason to consider which aspect of the finished cover matters most to you.
A warm-feeling description is not a measured temperature rating. Do not turn it into a promise about room conditions or assume that a particular season makes the decision for every buyer. Use your own preference for plush textiles alongside the product’s current information.
Compare the practical questions side by side
| Question | Smooth Knit | Natural Velvet |
|---|---|---|
| Surface described by the store | Smooth and silky | Plush and warm-feeling |
| Useful reason to consider it | You prefer a smoother textile surface | You prefer a plush surface |
| Detail to review | Confirm this exact label rather than another knit option | Consider the guide’s print-detail tradeoff |
| Care decision | Follow the specific cover instructions | Plan for the preferred gentle hand-washing approach |
| Fit requirement | Match both dimensions to the insert | Match both dimensions to the insert |
For the broader material context, read the dakimakura fabric selection guide. Compare what it says with the exact material menu on your chosen product. A general guide can explain labels, but it cannot add an option that is not offered on the listing.
Use the same artwork and size for a fair comparison
If two different designs draw your attention, settle whether you like the artwork before attributing the entire difference to fabric. A pale background, dark clothing and dense floral pattern can create very different impressions even before any material choice is made.
One practical method is to open a product that offers both materials and keep its dimensions constant while selecting each option. Read the resulting totals and note what changed. Then compare the decision with your intended use: frequent contact with the surface, mainly displaying the illustration, or rotating the cover with others you already own.
Do not infer the physical surface from screen gloss alone. Product previews help you judge illustration, composition and character arrangement, but they are not a hands-on fabric sample. If you have a specific question that the description does not answer, ask it before ordering instead of turning an image impression into a material specification.
A real product route that lists both materials
The custom cover listing with Front and Back fields currently offers Smooth Knit and Natural Velvet alongside Peach Skin, Two Way Tricot and Upgraded Two Way Tricot. Its listed sizes are 100 × 34, 120 × 40, 150 × 50, 160 × 50 and 180 × 60 cm.

This makes the page a concrete place to inspect the options, not a reason to assume every custom construction supports the same textiles. Read the submission requirements and confirm the selected material as part of the complete configuration. Artwork preparation and any drawing service are separate questions to establish when relevant.
For contrast, the custom listing with Apart Legs and Zipper type options currently lists only Two Way Tricot and Upgraded Two Way Tricot. Neither Smooth Knit nor Natural Velvet appears in that menu. A preference between today’s two fabrics therefore does not automatically translate to that different product route.
Match the cover dimensions before relying on texture
A material choice cannot resolve a size mismatch. Write down both the cover length and width, then compare them with the intended insert. The difference between 150 × 50 and 160 × 50 cm is length, while a move to 180 × 60 cm changes width too.
If you are buying a cover for a pillow you already own, check its label or measured dimensions before choosing the product size. If you are planning a new complete setup, verify cover and insert menus separately. A filled-pillow preview does not establish that an insert is included in a cover order.
Choose a care routine you can maintain
Read the store’s washing and care instructions with the selected material in mind. Check the supplied care label first, remove the cover from the insert and avoid treating the two components as one laundry item.
The guide describes gentle hand washing, mild bleach-free detergent, rinsing thoroughly and pressing water out without wringing. It advises air drying away from direct sunlight and high humidity, and permits machine washing only when the product label allows it. Those steps matter more than choosing a fabric and then assuming any convenient wash cycle will be suitable.
Think about where the cover will dry before it needs washing. If a plush surface appeals to you but a gentle hand-washing routine would be difficult to manage, include that practical constraint in the purchase decision. A texture you enjoy is most useful when you can also care for the cover consistently.
Review the configured price, not only the first figure
Size and material selections can change the product total. Compare the same dimensions and selected options before deciding what the difference costs. Keep any insert, additional components and checkout charges separate from the cover-material comparison.
For a second cover, consider whether you want to repeat a known material or try a different surface deliberately. Record the final label in your order notes so your own experience can guide a later purchase. That is more useful than trying to remember whether the previous cover was simply “the soft one.”
Frequently asked questions
Is Smooth Knit the same as Two Way Tricot?
No. They are separate material labels in the store’s menus. Choose the exact option you intend to order and use the fabric guide to compare their descriptions.
Why consider Natural Velvet?
Its plush, warm-feeling surface may suit your preference. Consider the print-detail and care tradeoffs described by the store before selecting it.
Can either fabric make up for an incorrectly sized insert?
No. Match both cover dimensions to the intended pillow rather than relying on material stretch to correct a mismatch.
Do all custom covers offer both fabrics?
No. The two real custom routes discussed here have different menus. Verify the exact product page before ordering.
Let your surface preference guide a verified choice
Browse the custom dakimakura collection with your preferred surface, matching dimensions and care plan already considered. Confirm that the product offers the material you want, review the configured total and select the cover you can enjoy and maintain in ordinary use.
New designs weekly
Premium fabrics
Secure checkout
14-day returns