Fleece Fabric

1. Polar Fleece
The most popular form of fleece fabric is polar fleece. This is most likely because they are cheaper, softer, and thicker than microfleece. It has excellent insulating properties, works hard at retaining body heat, and prevents moisture from quickly evaporating. It's ideal for blankets, vests, and other winter garments. This form of fleece is available in a variety of colors and is made entirely of polyester.

2. Micro Fleece
This form of fleece, also known as Microfiber fleece, is lightweight and comfortable to the touch. It is the thinnest fleece fabric and is commonly used to line waterproof garments, children's garments, sportswear, and nightwear. Its plush texture and synthetic fibers make it a healthy option for sewing cozy, long-lasting, and easy-to-care-for garments. Fleece is considered micro fleece if it is less than 200 grams per square meter.

3. Polyester Fleece
This fleece is double-sided with a pile on both sides; it is soft, and like the polar fleece, it does not pill. Instead, its surface is napped and so creates a fluffy texture. With its high insulation properties, it is mostly used outdoors.

4. Cotton And Rayon Fleece
These types of fleece have either cotton or rayon incorporated in them. They are soft and smooth and very breathable.

5. Hemp Fleece
This is a natural fleece that is fluffy and contains cotton. It has a deep pile on one side and is smooth on the other side.

6. Merino Wool Fleece
Yet another natural fabric, it is made from fibers from merino sheep’s wool. It is a very fluffy and warming fleece.

7. Sherpa Fleece Fabric
This fabric is a thicker fleece with a textured and raised pile. The pile is longer than many of the other types of fleece above. It often has a slight stretch and makes warm winter jackets, coats, and blankets. Sherpa fleece can be made from cotton, wool, polyester or acrylic, or a blend of these.

8. Double Sided Fleece
Double-sided fleece is a type of fleece fabric that has napped, push surfaces on both sides. It is exceptionally warm and soft since is fluffy on both sides, unlike most other fleeces, which have a nap on just the outside.

9. Bamboo Fleece
Bamboo fleece is an eco-friendly fabric made from bamboo pulp. Since it is made from a natural fiber, it is soft, breathable and highly absorbent. It is great for sensitive skin and resists odor.

10. French Terry Fleece
French terry fleece is a knit fabric that has a looped underside and smooth exterior. It is lighter than many other types of fleece making it ideal for sportswear.

11. Plush Fleece
Plush fleece is ultra soft with a deep pile. It is often compared to velvet and is especially warm. Use it for blankets and winter clothing.

1. Separate your laundry so only fleece items are together. It also helps to sort by similar fleece items, so keep similarly weighted blankets together, clothing together, etc.
2. Check for stains. If there are any, you should:
● Spot-treat stains with your detergent or a dab of mild dish soap.
● Allow the treated stain to soak in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes.
● Do not rub the stain, but instead press with an old t-shirt or soft sponge so you soak up the stain rather than embed it further into the blanket or garment.
3. Gently roll a lint roller over the item before putting into the machine to help catch larger pieces of dust, lint, and dirt before washing.
4. Turn clothing inside out.
5. Select the gentle or delicate cycle on your machine.
6. Water temperature should be set to cool.
7. Add a mild or gentle laundry detergent to your washer in the minimum amount needed. Do not use bleach, even if the item is white. It's too harsh and can ruin your blanket. Skip the fabric softener to preserve the fleece fibers.
8. When the washer completes its cycle, promptly remove to dry.

1. Use a longer stitch
Since fleece is a knit fabric beneath the fuzzy pile, a short stitch length can cause it to stretch and distort. Adjust your stitch length to be slightly longer than usual, about eight to ten stitches per inch, whether you're using a straight stitch or zig-zag.

2. Take the nap into consideration
When working with deep pile fabric like fleece, it's important to look at the surface of the fabric when laying out our pattern pieces. Fabrics like these have a nap, or a brushed look to the pile that means all the fibers are running in the same direction.

3. Choose embellishments carefully
The knitted structure of fleece means that weighty decorations like large appliques or beading can cause it to stretch and sag. It's also not stable enough to support set-in embellishments or hardware like rivets, snaps, and studs. Instead, opt for stitched alternatives and consider using interfacing to reinforce the areas where they'll be applied.

4. Try decorative stitching
Since fleece isn't the best candidate for appliques or other types of added-on embellishment, it's a great opportunity to break out the decorative stitches on your sewing machine. Remember to use a longer stitch length than you would for woven fabrics, and test carefully on a scrap piece of fleece to get your settings right before you begin sewing.

5. Eliminate bulk
A couple layers of fleece can quickly become bulky and awkward, so use techniques like grading seam allowances to reduce excess fabric at seams. To grade your seam allowance, trim the outer layers of fabric close to the stitch line. Leave the next layer slightly longer, the next longer still, and so on, with the longest layers of seam allowance left at the center of the seam.

6. Clean your cutting tools
Cutting fleece calls for sharp tools, so whether you use a rotary cutter or shears, make sure your cutting tools are sharp before starting your new project. The pile of fleece also poses a unique challenge— it leaves tiny bits of fiber that often cling to your cutting tools, and can clog up the pivot points.

7. Experiment with finishing options
Since folded hems can be bulky and stiff, other finishing options are often more appropriate for fleece projects. The fabric won't fray or ravel, so you can leave the edge completely unfinished if you like. Serging is also an excellent option, as is a simple turned up hem, elastic ribbing or binding, or a line or two of decorative stitching.

8. Avoid high heat
Fleece is commonly made of polyester, sometimes with a small percentage of other fibers blended in. This makes it durable, soft, and safe for the washer and dryer. It's not, however, safe for ironing except at low temperatures. High heat will cause the fabric to scorch or melt. Finger pressing will do fine for most parts of your project.

9. Use polyester thread
It's usually a good idea to match your thread fiber to your fabric fiber. This means that the thread and fabric will have similar properties when it comes to wear, as well as the same requirements for care once the garment or project is finished. With fleece, use a polyester thread for both your top and bobbin threads.

10. Stay stitch cross-grain cuts
If you're making a pullover, vest, or any other fleece item with curved seams, be sure to stay stitch your pattern pieces as soon as you cut them. Stay stitching is a line of straight stitching done inside the seam allowance that prevents fabrics from stretching out of shape, especially on curves, which will have at least sections cut on the bias or cross-grain.