Sewing fleece fabric

Fleece is also referred to as polar fleece. From blankets to sweaters, it can be used for different kinds of projects. In most cases, fleece is made from polyester fiber. Unlike other fabrics, fleece is soft and it can be stretched. Even though it has a lot of different properties, it is one of the best fabrics available out there. If you want to know how to sew fleece, you should study the tips listed below

Long stitches should be used

If you use a short stitch, your fleece can easily distort from too much stretch. That is why you should only use a stitch of long length. If possible, it should be as long as nine stitches per inch. You can use any kind of stitch to be sewing fleece. Both straight and zig-zag stitches work well depending on your project.  If you’re using a machine that only works for stretch fabrics, you should use one of those two stitches. With a long stitch, fleece can even be used as a fabric to make blankets.

Carefully select embellishments

Since fleece is knitted, it would make it difficult for you to use heavy decorations. The reason is that your fleece would likely stretch. So you should avoid beading and other decorations with much weight. Due to its unstable nature, it is not advisable to use rivets, studs, and other hardware on the fleece. You should focus on alternatives that have been stitched.  You can also reinforce areas of application with interfacing. It is one of the best tips for sewing fleece

Reduce bulk

If your fleece is more than one layer, it could become bulky within a short time. That is why you should use grading and other similar techniques to eliminate the excess fabric. If you trim all the outer layers properly, you can easily do the grading. Just don’t stop trimming until it reaches the stitch line. All the remaining layers should be left longer than each other. You should also ensure that the longest layer is positioned at the center.

Woven clothes can also be used to reduce bulk. You just have to swap them for fleece.  If you do that, the weights would significantly reduce. Your fabric would also have a better shape.

Try different finishing options

Apart from folded hems, other finishing options work for fleece. Those are even better than folded hems. Unlike folded hems, they are not bulky. You can even leave your edges in any condition. You can be rest assured that they won’t fray. You can also try to use serging.

Serging can be used as elastic ribbing or lines of stinting. Decorative stitching to be precise. If you don’t like working with machines. You can be sewing fleece with your hand. If you’re fast with your hand, you can even use fleece as a fabric to make blankets.

Make use of polyester thread

One of the best things that you can do is to join a thread fiber to a fabric fiber. By the time you’re done with your current project, you would notice that the two would have a lot of similarities. Their requirements would also be identical. With a good fleece, you would find it easy to use polyester threads for your bobbing threads. Polyester dreads can also be used for top threads. It is a useful thread for fleece fabric

Select the right needle

Since you’re working on a knit fabric, you should use a ballpoint needle for learning how to sew fleece. If you use a pointed needle, your fabric would be pierced. There is a rounded tip in ballpoint needles. That is what helps the needle to move among several loops. Those loops are used to make the fabric. After using pointed needles on the fleece, you would surely get holes. Those holes are used to know when fibers are in bad condition.

To always have your fleece in a good condition, you should only make use of ballpoint needles. That is when you can be sure that your fleece would last for a long time. Pointed needles are not completely perfect. After a long time, they start developing hooks. Those hooks can tear and damage your fabric. If you consider all the needle options available, you would still have no choice but to go for ballpoint needles

Don’t apply too much pressure

Since fleece is quite soft, it doesn’t take much stress to get it on your sewing machine. You shouldn’t use your presser foot to apply much pressure. That is one of the most important tips for sewing fleece. If much pressure is applied, the distortion would be unavoidable.

Use different thread colors

In most cases, you never get to see your stitches after you complete your project. That is why you should consider using other colors if the best color for your project is not available. You shouldn’t pause or stop a project because you can’t find the right thread color. In case you’re planning to make stitches a big part of your design, you should know that they have limits.

Unlike denim or other fabrics, stitches are not so obvious when sewing fleece fabric. You can only make your stitch fleece fabric to be more visible if the tension of the thread for fleece fabric is drawn back. It is not advisable to do things that way. Your project would look less professional.

Consider the nap

When you’re working on a project that involves fleece, you should always study the surface of your fabric. Most especially, whenever you’re laying out the pieces of your pattern. While sewing fleece fabric, there is usually a nap and brushed look. That is why it would look like all fibers are in a similar direction.

Just before you cut, mark your fleece. The mark should be placed on the right side. You should always use tape to mark your fleece. To remember, you can snap your fleece before you cut. It would help you know the previous direction. If you don’t similarly run your naps, it would become obvious whenever you’re ready to start assembling.

Try to stitch fleece fabric for decoration

Since you can’t try embellishments on the fleece, you can always use it to carry out your decorative stitching ideas. The more you carry them out, the more you will improve. To be on the safe side, always remember to use a long stitch.

If you’re working on an important project, you shouldn’t use a new stitch on the project. Before you use any new stitch on a new project, you should have tested it on fleece that you’re not using anymore. Since fleece can’t cope with much ripping, you should ensure that your mistakes are minimal.

Cutting tools should be kept clean

Only sharp tools can be used to cut fleece. No matter what project you’re working on, you should only use sharp tools. You would work faster and better that way. Since you’re going to find bits of fiber on your tools after work, you should always clean them. You just have to Insert a slightly wet cloth in alcohol and use it to clean your tools.

Don’t work where heat is much

Since fleece is made of fiber and polyester, it can be cleaned with washers. You can also use a dryer on your fleece. However, irons should not be used on the fleece. If you insist on using one, you have to set it to its lowest temperature. If you set the iron to a high temperature, your fleece would melt within a short time. You don’t even have to use irons on the fleece. You should focus more on finger pressing.