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Fleece Fabric

Soft, plush fleece for the cosy end of sewing. The range covers printed cuddle fleece with a smooth plush face, alpine fleece-backed sweatshirting with a brushed reverse, brushed cotton fleece for lining coats and jackets, and one-sided polyester fleece in plain shades. It's good for dressing gowns, loungewear, children's clothes, blankets and anything meant to be warm, and because fleece doesn't fray there's very little finishing to do.
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Fleece earns its place because it does something no woven fabric manages: it's genuinely warm, it doesn't fray, and it's forgiving to sew, which makes it a rare combination of cosy and easy. If you're making something for a child, a blanket for the sofa or a dressing gown for winter, this is usually the shortest route to a finished result.

Three kinds of cloth sit here and they behave differently. Cuddle fleece is plush on the face and printed in bold designs, soft to handle and warm straight away, and it's the one to reach for on blankets and children's makes. Fleece-backed sweatshirting has a smooth marl jersey face with a brushed fleecy reverse, so the outside looks like an ordinary sweatshirt whilst the inside does the insulating: that's the choice for hoodies, joggers and everyday layers. Brushed cotton fleece is the interlining option, used on the inside of coats and jackets to add warmth without bulk.

What to make with fleece fabric

  • Dressing gowns and loungewear, where the softness is the whole point.
  • Children's clothes, since fleece is warm, washes easily and doesn't need finished seams.
  • Blankets and throws, which can be made from a single cut with no hemming at all.
  • Hoodies and joggers from the fleece-backed sweatshirting.
  • Coat and jacket linings from the brushed cotton fleece.

Sewing with fleece

Fleece doesn't fray, so seam finishing is optional and edges can be left raw, which cuts a project down considerably. Use a ballpoint or stretch needle, a slightly longer stitch and a walking foot if the layers want to shift. Most fleece has a nap, so cut all your pieces facing the same way or the shade will look different across a seam. Press very carefully or not at all: a hot iron directly on the face will flatten the pile permanently, so use a cool iron from the wrong side or finger-press instead.

Care

Fleece washes easily at 30 degrees and dries quickly, but check the individual product page and the care label, particularly for the cotton blends. Skip the fabric conditioner, which coats the fibres and reduces the softness over time, and keep the tumble dryer cool. For quilted fabrics and softshell alongside fleece, see our fleece and quilted fabrics collection.

What is cuddle fleece fabric?

Cuddle fleece is a soft, plush polyester fleece with a dense pile on the face, usually sold printed. It's warmer and thicker than a standard fleece, doesn't fray when cut, and is most often used for blankets, children's clothes and loungewear.

Does fleece fabric fray when you cut it?

No. Fleece is a knitted fabric with a raised pile, so cut edges stay put and seams don't need finishing. That's why a fleece blanket can be made from a single cut with no hemming at all.

Can you iron fleece fabric?

Only with real care. A hot iron on the face will flatten the pile permanently and can melt polyester fleece. Use a cool iron from the wrong side with a press cloth, or finger-press the seams instead, unless the fabric care label states otherwise.

How much fleece do I need for a blanket?

For a single throw, around 1.5 metres of 150cm wide fleece gives a generous lap blanket. For a double bed size, allow around 2.5 metres. Check the width on the product page, since some fleeces here are considerably wider than others.

What's the difference between fleece and sweatshirt fabric?

Fleece has a raised pile on one or both faces and is warm throughout. Sweatshirt fabric has a smooth jersey face with a brushed or looped reverse, so it looks flatter on the outside. Fleece-backed sweatshirting sits between the two, with a jersey face and a fleecy inside.

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