Fleece

All You Need To Know About Working With Fleece

Fleece is an amazing fabric, with most types made from 100% polyester. Even though it is made from a manmade material, fleece delivers amazing softness and comfort, making the fabric suitable for clothing as well as some comfortable blankets. But what are some of the main things you should know about working with fleece fabrics?

Do I Need To Finish Seams On Fleece?

One of the major advantages of fleece fabrics is that the material does not fray. So, even if you cut the material, you will not notice any fraying if you do not finish the edges.

Even though the material does not fray, Spotlight does recommend finishing the edges for one particular reason. Over time, unfinished edges of fleece can start to curl up, which obviously does not deliver the best result. Therefore, you can choose to neaten your edges with a simple zigzag stitch.

One of the reasons why fleece can curl up is the natural stretch of the material. In other words, you need to stop the edges from stretching, not the material. To get the best result, Spotlight recommends using a walking foot and the previously suggested zigzag stitch.

Do I Need To Use Different Methods For Different Kinds Of Fleece?

While many types of fleece are made from polyester, you will find other fleece fabrics made from different fabrics fibres such as cotton, rayon and even bamboo. While you can maintain your sewing techniques for each type of fleece, it is important to consider the properties of the source fabric fibres nonetheless. For example, cotton can be much softer than rayon, while polyester is the more durable option.

How Do I Recognise High-Quality Fleece?

All types of fleece may look quite similar upon first glance, but there are some differences crafters should be aware of. In fact, there are a couple of simple tips you can use to choose fleece fabric of the highest quality.

The first thing to look at is the overall density of the fabric fibres. As a general rule, the denser the fabric fibres on your fleece fabric, the higher the quality and the durability of the fleece. Good quality fleece will also recover quickly after it has been stretched. So, give the material a quick stretch and see how fast it snaps back to determine the quality of the fleece.

There are many reasons to look out for higher quality fleece, mainly because higher quality fleece is less likely to pill. If you rub the fabric, high-quality fleece should not get any small pills upon the surface. If this does happen, you will need a higher quality fleece fabric.

Should I Wash Fleece Before Sewing?

Spotlight always recommends pre-washing fabric before starting to sew with it. The same applies to fleece, especially when made with materials that tend to shrink upon first wash like cotton.

After you have washed your fleece, never put your fleece fabric in the dryer. The material is less resistant to high heat from your dryer, so you want to let this fabric air dry instead. The same applies to any clothing or blankets you make from this fabric. Fleece fabrics should not be dyed either, it is much better to buy the colour you want from the store.

Great Range Of Fleece Fabrics At Spotlight

Spotlight provides an exquisite range of fleece fabrics, made from a variety of materials. Our fleece fabrics can be used for numerous applications too, this goes from outdoor sportswear to blankets, jacket lining, and jackets. The range also contains some wonderful themed fleece, which can be a great option for pyjamas.

Check out the catalogue with fleece fabrics today and uncover some amazing deals only a single mouse click away! Discover the sharp prices per metres and find the perfect fabric for your project.