Fleece questions

[kjh9835]

Been awhile since I've worked with fleece for anything since I can't remember what I made but I do know I've worked with it before.

To square it up, can I fold it in fourths and cut with rotary cutter? I know it gets pulled/stretched quite easily but I don't have room to lay it out flat and square it up like I do my quilts since I can't get on the floor and my table is not useable right now.

I need to sew two small polyester flags onto the center top right/bottom left and the put two small footballs on the top left/bottom right. Do I need stabilizer or interfacing of some sort underneath the flags (maybe 12x18) to help them keep their shape? Can I fuse them down first? The footballs are small so prob. no trouble with those.

She also wants binding on the edges even though I told her it wasn't necessary. She wants it for accent color and brought me satin blanket binding. Will that work or should I make my own with cotton fabric and bind it like I do quilts?

I've actually had these since Feb. as they belong to a former co-worker. I moved them, forgot them, found them then had to give up my sewing room and I've been looking for them since she called to see if I would be able to finish them. Finally found them in the large tote full of felt out on the porch so I need to get them done today/Friday if possible.

Kathy

[DorothyL]

I stabilized appliques on fleece. Not only does it make it easier to sew down it gives the appliques a little "pop" so they stand out better on the fleece.
I'd go ahead with the satin. Just go slow.

Dorothy

[MartySews2]

I second what Dorothy says. I don't do appliques as I would rather embroider but I do stabilize all designs. The satin blanket binding will lood very nice on the fleece. Most of the fleece that I have worked with does not stretch out of shape too much.
Marty

[momquilts]

I used the extra wide blanket binding on a fleece project....PIN IT! I agree with Dorothy ~ go slow and carefully. It also helps to use the widest zigzag stitch to catch in the front and back of the binding.

[carman]

stabilize back of fabric as well as under the design

carman

[kjh9835]

Hmm, the orange satin binding really clashes with the orange that's in the blue and orange fleece print not to mention she only brought me one package and it's not enough.

Off to Walmart, got stabilizer and some orange double fold bias tape and some orange cotton fabric that matches the fleece color better.

The bias tape is really skinny so that might look out of proportion to the full size fleece design but I could make my own 2 or 2.5" wide with the fabric.

The solid orange fleece is getting the two flags and two footballs with navy blue satin binding. It looks fine laid out on the bed.

I took a picture of the solid one with the flags and both versions of the printed one and will send them to her phone when dd17 gets home from work with my phone (hers shattered when she drove off with it on top of her car, imagine that)

Thanks for the help.

Kathy

[kjh9835]

Thankful that the Wii has internet capabilities, still no computer.

On the satin blanket binding....I have never used it before so do I just put it around the blanket edge making sure the center (pressed crease) is exactly along the edge, pin it, then sew both the front and back at the same time with a wide zig-zag?

How do I miter the corners since the binding is not folded over? When I got to the corner while pinning, I can't figure out how to keep the binding lined up with the edge and still get a mitered corner?

It doesn't seem like I can put it on like quilt binding because I know ready-made blankets that have satin binding, it is 2" wide not 1" that is folded.

I can't think of any other way other than to stitch both top/bottom at the same time but I wanted to make sure before I actually start putting it on. I have the flags and footballs already on so the binding is all that's left.

Kathy

Edited to add the mitered corner question.

Kathy

[MartySews2]

Satin blanket binding goes on like bias tape where one side is a little smaller. To miter a corner, here is a link with pictures ... basically you make a pleat at the corner.
https://sew4home.com/tips-resources/sew ... ed-corners I've never used a wide zigzag stitch on the times that I've used satin blanket binding. I just used a straight stitch using my edge stitch foot (has a little blade that runs along one side) to keep my stitches even. Since I don't quilt, I can't advise you if it's like quilting but have made lots of baby blankets. Now, I just use a rolled hem & go around the fleece blanket.
Marty

[kjh9835]

Got the corners figured out, you have to open the binding and do it similiar to corners on quilts but do the top and the bottom separately b/c you have to open it.

I laid it out on the bed and pinned it 3/4 way around before I ran out of pins and started sewing.

Started stitching with zig-zag from center bottom, up one side, across the top and part way down the other side but now I've stitched it and ripped it out three different times b/c it keeps getting puckers. I did have to move it from the machine back to the bed to finish pinning with pins from the first part I stitched.
I also noticed this last time that the selvage edge was rolling under so now I not only pinned it crosswise but right along the crease vertically to keep that in place. Stitched again, more puckers. Ripped it out. Quit for the night and am now having warm chocolate chip cookies and milk

Kathy

[bridesmom]

Good luck Kathy! I tried the satin binding once and threw it out having the same problems u are. If there has to be a binding what about a knit one or make your own.