Fleece width and fabric content: All fleece has a usable width of at least 56"wide; by the time you cut off the selvages. Actual width may be 58"-62". 100% Polyester.

Fleece weights:

At Fabric Diva, we refer to fabric weight in grams. The higher the gram number, the heavier the fabric is and the more it weighs per yard. One gram weighs .0353 ounces. There are approx. 450 grams per pound. The most common fleece produced by all manufacturers is medium weight. Typically referred to as "blanket weight."

Solid and print fleece on our website weigh between 320-380 grams (medium weight) unless specifically noted.

FLEECE TYPE	AKA	GRAMS PER YARD	OUNCES
lightweight/microfleece	100	200-240	7 TO 8.5
medium/regular weight	200	320-380	11 TO 13.5
heavy weight	300	400 & OVER	14 TO 17

Features of fleece:
Provides warmth without weight
Soft to the touch
Will not shrink, ravel or run
Water-resistant
Moisture wicking properties
Easy to work with

Fleece is made from polyester, and is part of the stretch knit family of fabrics. Twisted yarns are knitted into fabric. Then a series of wire brushes rough up the surface and create the nap. Finally, the fabric is sheared.

Which is the right side?
This is very easy to tell on fleece with a plush velour finish, brushed on wrong side and sheared on the right side, and fleece with printed words. But what about the rest of the fleece fabrics? Fleece is a knitted fabric, and has webbing on the non-cut edge called a "selvage". If you unroll the selvage, you will be looking at the right side, or face of the fabric. Now, pull along both selvages. The fabric will curl to the right side. Fleece is stretchier in one direction more than the other. If you stretch from the cut side to the other cut side, there will be more stretch. This is also known as the crossgrain, and the fleece will curl to the wrong side.

Different fleece finishes:
Brushed finish: Most print fleece fabrics have a surface similar to felt. It seems reasonably flat and smooth. This is referred to as a >font color="blue">brushed finish and is the most common finish on fleece. The design is visible on both sides; however there is a definite right side and wrong side. (see above explanation)

Velour/premium finish: The design on the right side ("face") of the fleece is visibly crisper and clearer than the wrong side. The face is most always antipill as characterized by the plush sheared, short, nubby texture. Typically heavier in gram weight and more costly than brushed finish fleece.

Microfleece: Is slightly lighter in weight than regular fleece.
Microchamois: Though a type of fleece, microchamois is known for its chamois-like feel. It is extremely lightweight. Its buttery and soft texture make it a favorite for under garments, baby blankets and diaper liners.

Berber: Short curled fibers with a nubby appearance. One sided with a flat knit backing. Commonly used for pillows and throws.
Sherpa: A bumpy, curly texture which simulates lambs wool. One sided with a flat knit backing. Commonly used for pet beds and jacket linings.

Did you know polarfleece* is a trademark name, not a product? Just like most people refer to window cleaner as Windex, it is a trademarked name. Yet people seem to use Windex to generically refer to any type of window cleaner. The term polar fleece has become the generic equivalent for fleece.

Anti-pill& is it important?
Bet you didn't know all fabrics pill. It's just more visible on fabrics with a nap. So why all the debate? When the fabric rubs against itself, it creates little balls of fiber on the fabric. This is called "pilling."
The fleeces of yesteryear were notorious for unattractive little balls clinging everywhere. Remember having a fuzz buster?
Recent achievements in technology have produced a more pill-resistant fleece than just 5 years ago. Fleece is a synthetic fiber and is more likely to pill than a natural fabric such as cotton. Brushed fleece will probably pill more than an antipill fleece.
Bottom line: If you're creating an heirloom, invest in the more expensive premium velour antipill fleece. Otherwise, most agree regular brushed fleece is just fine. Here at Fabric Diva we offer a wide array of choices so you can choose the fleece that is appropriate for your project. (The Fabric Diva is partial to the premium antipill fleece since it has a nice crisp design.)

Sewing with fleece:
Just like sweatshirt fabric or stretch kits, longer stitches work best. 7-9 stitches per inch (3mm - 3.5mm) is suggested. Still puckering? Lessen your presser foot setting. Or try a walking foot or roller foot. These also may eliminate layer shifting. Always use the "with nap" yardage requirements on the pattern envelope for your fleece projects. Needle recommendations for 2 layers of fleece:
Lightweight (microfleece) 70/10 or 75/11
Regular weight 80/12 or 90/14
Fleece is a knitted fabric, so use a universal, ballpoint or stretch needle.

Laundry tips for fleece:
NO...NO...NO...
Fabric softener or dryer sheets when laundering (diminishes the water-repellant properties)
Bleach
Ironing
Wash in warm water with other fleece items; not harsh surface items such as towels, or jeans.


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