Sponsors
Sponsors
tyoes of berber fleece (Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952)
Posted on: 12/10/18 7:49 PM ET
baabaazuzu, a fabulous “green” line of clothes, sells berber fleece lined hats and gloves. I am going “green“ too, so I want to re-purpose a few containers worth of fabrics and vintage clothes for What may be a very long, cold winter.
i searched online for berber fleece. Found it at Walmart and fabric direct. other than the price, I don’t know about the differences. Any thoughts?
i searched online for berber fleece. Found it at Walmart and fabric direct. other than the price, I don’t know about the differences. Any thoughts?
Posted on: 12/10/18 10:02 PM ET
In reply to sewladynow
Berber refers to the texture of the fleece, and sort of shades into "sherpa", the sort of texture you see on shearling wool coats, but it's actually polyester fleece. https://news.orvis.com/products-we-love/shearling-vs-sherpa-better
I've tried a number of brands of fleece over the years, but the one I keep coming back to, the only two I'll pay money for, is Polartec, which used to be Malden Mills. and Glenoit, which is a brand I"ve had less experience with. Much of the other brands I've tried have looked good for a few washes, and then looked like h. Some of it looked that bad before it even got sewn completely.
Of late, most of the fleece I've gotten has come from Mill Yardage: https://www.millyardage.com
I've tried a number of brands of fleece over the years, but the one I keep coming back to, the only two I'll pay money for, is Polartec, which used to be Malden Mills. and Glenoit, which is a brand I"ve had less experience with. Much of the other brands I've tried have looked good for a few washes, and then looked like h. Some of it looked that bad before it even got sewn completely.
Of late, most of the fleece I've gotten has come from Mill Yardage: https://www.millyardage.com
Posted on: 12/11/18 0:02 AM ET
In reply to sewladynow
The word seems to cover a lot of dissimular yardage on the internet. But the best and most hefty, and heavy of it would probably be wool. Next would probably be Acrylic, next down would probably be Polyester/Acrylic combination of some sort, and the least heavy feeling, and the thinnest and most feeling of lightweight and more just like air, (and having a smooth slick feeling knitted back) that probably does almost nothing, would be all polyester. Without seeing the backside of it, and how that was knitted, it would be hard to impossible tell what you were getting, or even the fabric content by just an internet photo and no fiber content description. Have not bought any of it, in a long, long time. And always in person off a bolt, when I did- long time ago. But if you want to thickly line scrap woven wool things with it, I think get at least one that said all Acrylic or a Acrylic/Polyester combination and not just only Polyester.
Posted on: 12/11/18 1:01 AM ET
I buy fabric from the Rain Shed for winter wear every year. It's excellent quality. I made a jacket three years ago with Polartec 300 with sherpa lining, and I still wear it throughout the cold months. It's warm and comfy. They sell other fabric that is even warmer, if you want it. Rain Shed.
-- Edited on 12/11/18 at 1:02 AM --
-- Edited on 12/11/18 at 1:02 AM --
Posted on: 12/11/18 6:57 AM ET
In reply to sewladynow
If you are going green, then the material to use is wool. Polyester will never disintegrate, ever. When you say "repurpose" do you mean up-cycle? Do you have thoughts you can share about what you are thinking you will make? I'm a huge fan of boiled wool for the winter--warm, light and a dream to sew and wear. It's expensive, but it's worth it. And completely recyclable!
Posted on: 12/11/18 2:55 PM ET
In reply to sewladynow
If you want it to look tweedy and flecked and have some "medium spongy toothed texture" to it like this hat of theirs, the gray trim on the brim on part of this baabaazuzu one

It would have to have at least some acrylic in it, and maybe cotton too for the flecks. The all wool kind, most times comes in a cream color (no color variation in it or flecks) but it might come in other colors too, from someplace, somewhere. The all wool cream color kind (with the knitted back) is sometimes used for mattress pads and such too.
There is a very good reason why I don't order fabric off the internet though, (and with no samples in hand) and it's because even though I am excellent in a real fabric store, with real fabric between my fingers, just from a photo someplace on line, I do loose most of that ability. I think I still got some like that flecked gray, from years ago, probably got it at the now non existing and out of business, Hancocks brick and mortar store either on a bolt or maybe a flat fold table. Their stuff could be old too, just since they are making new stuff out of old stuff.
-- Edited on 12/11/18 at 3:06 PM --
-- Edited on 12/11/18 at 3:33 PM --

It would have to have at least some acrylic in it, and maybe cotton too for the flecks. The all wool kind, most times comes in a cream color (no color variation in it or flecks) but it might come in other colors too, from someplace, somewhere. The all wool cream color kind (with the knitted back) is sometimes used for mattress pads and such too.
There is a very good reason why I don't order fabric off the internet though, (and with no samples in hand) and it's because even though I am excellent in a real fabric store, with real fabric between my fingers, just from a photo someplace on line, I do loose most of that ability. I think I still got some like that flecked gray, from years ago, probably got it at the now non existing and out of business, Hancocks brick and mortar store either on a bolt or maybe a flat fold table. Their stuff could be old too, just since they are making new stuff out of old stuff.
-- Edited on 12/11/18 at 3:06 PM --
-- Edited on 12/11/18 at 3:33 PM --
Posted on: 12/12/18 7:16 AM ET
In reply to mmcp
I am not sure I understand the difference between re-purpose and upcycle As I have seen the words used interchangeably
over many years I saved wool clothing... my mother’s wool skirts, dad’s wool jackets, My wool slacks, etc, Everything was rolled into a container. And then when I had the time, (this was very hard for me to do, emotionally), I cut out the lining, zippers, pockets, buttons from all the pieces.
I washed all the large irregular pieces (without soap) and dried in Machines several times until everything was felted. Then I cut all the pieces into 10” squares. I sorted the squares into colored stacks.
from the stacks, I sewed 4 lap blankets using overlapped seams. Each one is light, warm, And meaningful. Upcycled and Repurposed.
-- Edited on 12/12/18 at 7:57 AM --
over many years I saved wool clothing... my mother’s wool skirts, dad’s wool jackets, My wool slacks, etc, Everything was rolled into a container. And then when I had the time, (this was very hard for me to do, emotionally), I cut out the lining, zippers, pockets, buttons from all the pieces.
I washed all the large irregular pieces (without soap) and dried in Machines several times until everything was felted. Then I cut all the pieces into 10” squares. I sorted the squares into colored stacks.
from the stacks, I sewed 4 lap blankets using overlapped seams. Each one is light, warm, And meaningful. Upcycled and Repurposed.
-- Edited on 12/12/18 at 7:57 AM --
Posted on: 12/12/18 12:38 PM ET
It's a term for the texture. It is also used in carpeting. Berber carpets were very popular in the 80s and 90s.
------
------
http://lasewist.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 12/12/18 12:42 PM ET
In reply to sewladynow
I hadn't heard the term repurposed, but that's how I would describe cutting wool up and making it into lap blankets. BTW, I do the same with my moth-eaten cashmere sweaters, ($6 each at my local thrift store).
I think of upcycling as taking something that's too big, or the wrong style, taking it apart, and turning it into something stylish that fits. It's recycled, but improved from the original.
I think of upcycling as taking something that's too big, or the wrong style, taking it apart, and turning it into something stylish that fits. It's recycled, but improved from the original.
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns






