Halloween Sewing Tip #5:
Fleece makes a great (easy to sew) costume. It stretches, so fitting is easier and more forgiving. Plus, you don’t need to finish the raw edges because it will not fray!
Fleece also creates body, since it is fluffy and, depending on it’s thickness, can hold a sturdier shape well. It also provides warmth for a small trick-or-treater in a cold climate!
Tips for sewing with Fleece: (Along with these you can read 12 tips for sewing knits.)
- Use a ballpoint needle: Fleece is a knit fabric and regular needles will cut small holes wherever there is a seam. Ballpoint needles are easily found online or at your local fabric store. Also, a good rule is to change your needles after every 8 hours of sewing to keep them fresh and avoid skipped stitches.
- Use a stretch stitch or a zigzag stitch: This is a good rule for any knit fabric. It allows the sewn seam to stretch while it is being worn.
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Disclaimer: I am a Canadian Janome Artisan. Janome provided artwork (with my photos) for this project and the Skyline S9 on-loan machine I am currently using. As with all the products I write about – I always tell you my own honest opinion.
It didn’t occur to me that fleece was knit until my latest project. I made a jacket out of fleece (as practice), and then another out of an older “fleece” with a less-than-soft backing. I was surprised that the sleeves in the second one were too tight – but there was no stretch. Now to go back over the first one with zig-zag stitches since the hood is already coming off from a popped seam, and remake the sleeves in the second one. Thanks for the heads up!
Interesting results Mindy! Seems that some fleece has stretch and some not, hmmm… good to know! The zigzag stitches should help for sure on the hood.Sounds fun!