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Top Tips For Working With Fleece
The best thing about the fleece is that no matter what body type you have or no matter how choosy you are, this fabric is suitable for everyone. It is one of the most versatile fabrics you can find in the store and can make almost any kind of project out of this. The fleece fabric is made up of the polyester fabric that is stretchable, warm and soft in nature to provide comfy feeling to your skin.
These amazing properties of this fabric are attractive but due to these qualities, this fabric behaves differently as compared to the rest of the fabrics. If you have the best sewing machine for beginners then it will be quite easy for you to handle fleece in the best possible way. Let’s have a look at some of the tips and tricks you can apply at the time of sewing fleece.
1 - Decorative Stitches:
Fleece comes in different types and whenever you are working on this kind, you have to analyze what type of stitches and embellishment this fabric is capable of taking? In some of the cases, you may feel that you can’t use embellishment or long stitches on the fabric. In this case, it’s a time to use decorative stitches from your sewing machine and let your machine show the skills.
Fleece Decorative Stitches
Before using decorative stitches, take a small piece of fleece fabric and test out the settings of decorative stitches of your sewing machine. As fleece is a sensitive fabric so you better check the settings of the decorative stitches than regret in the end. Once you are satisfied with the tension and quality of the stitches, then you can move on.
2 - Embellishments:
Of course when you are sewing something fancy then how your work can be done without using embellishments on the fabric. Some fabrics have the ability to handle embellishments really well no matter if they are heavy in weight. Fleece looks tough but it can’t handle too many embellishments and you have to take care of it while sewing to save fabric from damage.
If you have to use some buttons and snaps on the fabric then the best way to use them is to apply to interface and then attach whatever you want to. Even if you are attaching snaps and studs to the fabric, then fleece is not able to support these either. You definitely have to use interfacing to make sure the embellishments are going to hold the place strongly.
3 - Nap Direction:
When working with the fleece, you can see the fluffy and brushed look and at the time of sewing, it’s important to analyze the direction of the nap. The fibers of the fabric must be running in one direction and when you are laying this out, make sure that the line of the fiber is straight. When you are about to sew fleece then always mark the fabric from the right side with the help of taping.
Note the direction of a nap before cutting and in all the pieces, the direction must be the same. A small change in direction is going to change the cutting pattern and you have to trim it later. If a nap is going to be different then you will be able to see a disturbance in the nap in the end. You can keep tame the fiber of the fleece while using best rated sewing machines for beginners and achieve the desired results.
4 - Eliminate Bulk:
As fleece fabric is a bit thick in nature so once you are done with the sewing, you may see the bulk layers of the fabric. Now you have to use the grading seam technique to trim the bulk and make it close to the stitching line. The best way to reduce the bulk from the fleece fabric is to keep an eye on the number of layers you are sewing inside.
Sewing fleece on a home sewing machine
Once you see how the layers are getting thick then you can trim them down with the help of pair of scissors and the seams must be crisp and thin. It should not be uncomfortable in wearing. If you will swap woven cotton then this trick will reduce the weight as well as the bulk of the fabric.
5 - Needle and Thread:
While working with the knitted fabrics like fleece, you need a ballpoint needle which has rounded tip at the front and it has the ability to pierce the fabric for the quality stitching. If you will go for the normal needles then you can see how it can damage the fiber of the fabric, as well as the stitching quality, will be worse. Ballpoint needle is going to extend the life of a fabric.
When it comes to choosing the thread for the fabric then always check if the properties of the fabric and thread are the same or not? If the properties are same then it can work out in the best possible way. I prefer to use the polyester thread even for the upper and bobbin area.
6 - High Heat:
If you are an experienced sewer and if you can analyze the making of the fabric then you can see how fleece is made up of the polyester. There will be a small ratio of the other fabrics blended in this one. This is the reason why fleece is soft and cozy in nature but this quality also makes this fabric heat sensitive.
If you are using a too hot iron on the fleece fabric then you can see the burning and melting of the fiber of this material. You can work with the finger pressing as well but if you have already used the interfacing then I recommend using the heat cloth over it to save it from huge damage.
Conclusion
Fleece is one of the fabrics you are going to have fun when sewing something out of that. The thing which can also help you in sewing a perfect project is a sewing machine. If you are struggling to find the right machine to create a masterpiece out of it then read Which Is The Best Basic Sewing Machine For Beginners And Home Sewists To Buy and get ultimate guidance about sewing machines.