Fleece

Definition and Overview

Fleece is generally a knit fabric with a relatively smooth surface on the front and pile-like loops on the back. In English, it is called French terry. Because it contains air between the loops, it is characterized by being easy to give thickness and light warmth retention.

Many are made mainly from cotton, and some are blended with polyester. Depending on the composition, thread thickness, knitting density, and industry weight, the texture and applications vary from thin and light to thick and substantial.

Features

The front side has a casual, relatively clean look, and the loops on the back contribute to a soft feel against the skin and moisture absorbency. Because the back is not brushed, it is generally more breathable than brushed fleece and is a material that can be used across a long season.

Because it is a knit fabric, it has more stretch than woven fabric, but the amount of stretch and recovery differs depending on the structure and blended fibers. Washing and wear may cause fuzzing or pilling on the surface.

• The loops on the back make it easy to achieve skin separation and moisture absorbency.
• Thick textiles help hold their silhouette, while thin textiles are easy to use for layering.
• Heathered effects and garment dyeing make it easy to create a casual look.

Main Applications

It is used for sweatshirts, hoodies, zip hoodies, pants, skirts, and dresses. Depending on the thickness and finish of the textile, it is used widely for spring and autumn tops, autumn and winter casual wear, loungewear, and kids' wear.

Taking advantage of its stretch and ease of movement, it is also used for sports-style clothing and casual uniform items. When deciding on applications, check not only the required warmth retention, but also the appearance of the surface, drape, and washing frequency.

Selection and Handling Notes

When selecting, check the industry weight, thickness, size of the back loops, composition, and stretch in the horizontal and vertical directions. For tops, moderate thickness and shape retention are important; for pants, resistance to knee bagging and rebound are important; for rib knit accessories, color tone and shrinkage compatibility are important.

Before cutting, prewash or test wash to check shrinkage, skewing, and color fading. Because knit fabrics tend to curl at the edges and stretch easily during sewing, it is necessary to use needles for knits and differential feed, and adjust to suppress seam stretching and waviness.

For washing, follow the care tag instructions. Turning the item inside out and using a laundry net helps reduce surface friction and stress on printed areas. Dark-colored items may transfer color under friction or in wet conditions, so care such as washing separately is necessary.

Differences from Similar Terms

Sweatshirt is a broad term referring to knit fabrics such as fleece and brushed fleece, or garments made from them. Fleece refers to the structure of a knit fabric with loops on the back. Therefore, even if something is called sweatshirt fabric, it does not necessarily mean that all of it is fleece.

Brushed fleece is a material in which the loops on the back of fleece or similar fabrics are brushed to create fuzz. It tends to provide higher warmth retention than fleece, but the appearance of the back, the feel against the skin, and breathability differ. Jersey is a thinner, flatter knit fabric that does not have loops on the back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can fleece be used in summer too?

Thin fleece made primarily from cotton is used for items that address air conditioning in spring and summer and temperature differences between morning and evening. However, because it has back loops, it feels thicker than jersey, so it is important to check the industry weight, composition, and breathability when selecting it.

Which is warmer, fleece or brushed fleece?

In general, brushed fleece, with its fuzzy back, can hold more air and therefore has higher warmth retention. Fleece retains its loops, so it is more breathable than brushed fleece and tends to be comparatively easy to use from early autumn through early spring.

What should be noted when sewing fleece?

Fleece has stretch, and the area around the seams may wave or stretch during sewing. Align the grain and cut the fabric, then test a needle for knits, thread that accommodates stretch, and differential feed according to the textile, and adjust the sewing conditions.