Fun with Fleece Crafts

Everyone can enjoy making fleece crafts. Fleece is a great fabric to work with and wear. It is soft and cuddly, lightweight, and fairly easy to work with and take care of. I read that fleece was developed to use as the alternative to wool. It is supposed to keep you just as warm as wool without the itchiness, shrinking, and absorbency of wool.

Most projects and commercial patterns made for fleece are easy enough for a beginning, yet versatile enough for an expert. The only thing you really need to watch for when working with fleece is that it tends to be heat sensitive. Fleece is prone to melting and scorching, so if you must iron it, use a warm iron with a pressing cloth and test a hidden area or scrap. When washing your fleece, use a cold water setting and wash with like colors; air dry or tumble dry on a low setting.

One of the best things about working with fleece is that the fabric does not ravel and fray so you do not have to worry about finishing seam edges. Because of this, you do not have to worry about leaving much of a seam allowance, which can help cut down on bulk. This also means that you do not have to worry about hemming any edges unless you want to.

Fleece is easy to sew using a machine. In no time you can create fun items such as this snuggle bag or drawstring pajama bag. I usually use a universal needle, size 12/80, and synthetic thread. I select a medium stitch length. I have heard that it may be helpful to loosen the pressure on the presser foot, but I cannot do that on my machine and I have never had a problem.

There are several projects you can make with fleece that require no sewing at all. You can make a throw blanket by simply cutting a piece of fleece to the desired size or you can make a nice scarf buy cutting out the desired size. Even the youngest kids can make a variety of these projects, such as this pom-pom ball!

No matter what your preference is - sewing or not sewing, blankets for your home or items to wear, simple or more complex - you should be able to find something here:

• My Fleece Craft Patterns
  Check out all of these free fleece craft directions and patterns that I have posted.

• Clothes and Accessories
  Learn how to make articles and clothing and fun accessories out of fleece.

• Projects For the Home and Car
  You can use fleece to make a variety of items for your home.

• Toys and Fun
  Use these patterns to make a collection of fun toys.

• No-Sew Fleece Projects
  If you want to make fleece crafts but don't want to pull out your needle and thread, try some of these projects.

• Sewn Fleece Projects
  You don't have to be an experience seamstress to be able to make these fun projects.

• Fleece Books
  If you want to explore even more fleece crafts, you might want to look into getting one or more of these books.