Polar Fleece top

[bill]

Hi
I bought some polar fleece and Kwik Sew pattern3388. The pattern instructions mention ironing fusable interfacing and steam pressing seams. On site
Planet fleece they say not to iron fleece as it will melt. Can you give any tips please as I would prefer not to ruin the material before I get going. I make shirts and although Kwik Sew call this a shirt to me it is more of a winter pull-over type.
Any suggestions appreciated .
Bill

[LeapFrog Libby]

I don't press seams when sewing on fleece.. I usually serge all my seams on fleece anyway.. I have never had a problem with pressing with a fairly cool iron.. I mean just a little warm).. Not on a wool or cotton or (never) linen setting .The only time iI have done that is when the fabric was crushed into a wrinkle by weight of something on top of it.. I just did enough to remove the wrinkles..

[J H]

I wouldn't dream of pressing seams when sewing fleece. In fact, I never iron fleece at all, it gets washed, thrown in the drier and then either hung up or folded - I like things that don't need ironing - normally never iron anything that doesn't show

Sometime I use my overlocker (serger) and other times I use the stretch stitch on my sewing machine and as fleece doesn't fray it doesn't really matter which I use. It's a very forgiving fabric (and cosy in winter)


Jill

[Sancin]

I have ironed fleece, when it first came out and it did melt the fabric. As I had spent a great deal of time on the garment, I spent many hours picking at the melt with a fine pin to bring up the pile again - NEVER AGAIN. When I later made garments I 1. grade the seam and/or 2. make a flat felled seam

I have done both on lighter weight fleece quite successfully. I also do not use facings on fleece as it becomes very bulky. The nature of the fabric is that it really doesn't need facings. If something may show you should bind the seams with some sort of stretchy binding, like fine sports knit in a matching colour. The fabric stores in my area used to sell swim suit knit fabric already cut and on a roll to be used as binding on fleece, but I have purchased fabric and cut my own. It doesn't ravel.

Good luck

FYI - I have some very heavy fleece to make another winter coat and am struggling with how I will insert a long zipper without facings. The last one I made I sewed the lining right out to the zipper, but I can't find any lining to match my fabric that I would like showing. In the mean time I am fiddling with bits of paper to see what may work.

[kaitlinnegan]

I have used fusible interfacing on fleece - a low iron setting + a press cloth seemed to work, but you could test a scrap first. You might prefer to use a sew-in interfacing instead - it can be hard to get the fusible to stick at low heat.

You might be able to press the seams with the iron on a low setting, but it's probably safer and easier to finger press (or use your iron without heat, maybe) where it's necessary.

[MartySews2]

I have successfully used fusible interfacing on fleece tops. They just don't hang right without some stabilization. I use a cotton press cloth over the fleece and hold the iron on the press cloth 10-20 seconds long enough for the interfacing to fuse to the fleece. The iron is set for the press cloth on cotton. I saw this on Nancy Zieman's show and I believe it is in some of her books. However, I would have to go look it up. Because our winters are somewhat mild, I usually wear fleece jackets and tops. Have not worn my wool coats in several years.
Marty

[Sancin]

Re jackets and coats not hanging well in fleece without facings. One thing I discovered with a purchased fleece jacket is that fleece does have a grain and if off even slightly to the bias will cause the garment to hang poorly. I am going nuts trying to hang and hem, hang and hem a reversible coat, purchased because I liked the non fleece side!

[bill]

Many thanks for your replies and help, I will be very careful with the iron and hope that I manage to make the top ok. I did buy double the suggested amount in case I mess up so I can at least get one top ok I hope.

[DorothyL]

I don't use much fleece but I just checked a jacket in my closet and apparently I was able to iron Fusi Knit to the facings because there is some there. I'm sure I used a press cloth. By the way, I haven't any bubbling problems.
Dorothy

[sewingmom]

Spam!
What do people get out of posting stupid stuff like that?