:: March 2002 
Feature
Fun with Fleece
One of the most comfortable fabrics for the cool transitional weather between winter and spring is fleece. Polyester fleece feels good next to the skin and provides insulation when worn as outerwear over clothing. Once used primarily for sleepwear and loungewear, today's fleece is made in a variety of weights that can be sewn into tops, vests, and jackets for fun casual wear that can be worn for work or play.
Fabric stores carry fleece in a wide range of solid colors and clever prints. Some of the prints are border prints and can be sewn into very attractive clothing and home furnishings featuring these scenes or repeating designs at strategic places on the garments for striking effects.
Advantages of sewing with fleece include the following:
- No prewashing is required before sewing fleece because the fabric does not shrink.
- No lining is needed.
- Sleeves ease nicely at armholes due to the mild stretch in fleece fabric.
Fleece garments should be washed wrong side out in warm, not hot, water. Use the gentle cycle in your washing machine, and the low heat setting for your dryer. Do not place your iron directly on fleece fabric because it will leave an imprint. Ironing is usually not needed, but use a pressing cloth on the wrong side of the fleece between the fleece and the iron if you see an area you feel you must press