Fleece is a useful and versatile fabric. Easy to sew, it is an excellent choice for beginning sewing projects. This is actually a type of knit with cross-grain stretch.
Suitable Sewing Projects for Fleece
This fabric can be used for various types of home furnishings, such as throw pillows. Use it to create warm, cozy, fleece sheets for winter. For wide beds, one width of fleece won’t be sufficient. So it will need to be pieced.
Fleece is often used for throws. These are both decorative and functional. This material is an excellent choice for stuffed toys, which will withstand lots of wear and tear.
Many kinds of cold weather clothing are made from fleece. Fleece mittens are an easy sewing project. Make fleece hats with matching scarves.
Fleece can be used for elasticized pull-on pants, vests, and sweat shirts. This also works for A-line skirts. It is great for headbands and slipper socks.
Fleece is an excellent choice for cold weather gear. Ideas for outerwear include jackets, ponchos, and capes. There are a number of reasons to choose fleece for winter sewing projects. This material allows perspiration to evaporate. At the same time it keeps you warm and retains body heat.
Choosing Fleece
Many types and brands of fleece are available. Some are intended for outdoor use. Shop carefully for the one that meets your needs. Buy good quality fabric that will last for years.
The best brands tend to be anti-pill. While most fleece is pure polyester, there is also a fleece blend made from polyester, silk, and other fibers. Make It Green fleece contains 30% recycled plastic and 70% polyester.
In addition to the usual prints and solids, beautiful embroidered fleece is also available.
Sewing Fleece
For fleece clothing, patterns with raglan, dolman, or kimono sleeves work very well. Shawl collars are a good choice.
Because the edges of fleece don’t ravel, special seam finishes are unnecessary. Instead of hems, consider adding decorative stitching to the raw edges.
Being a knit, fleece can stretch out of shape. To keep this from happening while you’re sewing the fabric, use a stabilizer on necklines, shoulder seams, and crotches. Interfacing is used mostly for zippers and openings.
You can choose which side of the fleece you want facing to the outside. Cut and sew all of the pattern pieces accordingly.
To embellish a fleece project, there are several options. Add machine embroidery or fringe. Create fancy-shaped cut-outs along the edges of throws, capes, and scarves.
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