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Member since 8/9/05
Posts: 3
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Posted on: 9/7/05 9:53 PM ET
OK, let me warn you, I have not even turned my new machine on yet and have never sewn in my life, but I am determined to make a microfleece baby pouch (baby carrier/sling) from some fabric I have. First, I will practice but I want to have an idea as to how to sew the seams. What kind of seam do you use on fleece? Will any work? And what stitch? Also, I just bought some fleece bias tape to go along the edges. Do you sew that on? What kind of stitch would I use for that? Sorry if these are dumb questions... tomorrow I am going to try to find some old fabric and actually try to get my machine (Janome 8080) going.
TIA!
Melanie
  
Member since 1/24/05
Posts: 4
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Posted on: 9/7/05 11:30 PM ET
In reply to melplusthree
I'm far from an expert, but in the last year I've sewn a number of hooded ponchos and baby blankets from fleece. (Yep, all my nieces got ponchos for Christmas and everyone I know who's had a baby in the past year got one of SewBaby's Wearable Baby Blankets -- I tend to have only one good gift idea at a time!) I generally use a straight stitch and just sew. So far, it's been pretty easy for me to work with.

Fleece doesn't fray, so you really don't need to finish the edges with fleece binding, but it's a nice decorative touch. I usually just do some kind of overlock stitch. The first time I went to buy fleece binding and realized how much it would add to the cost of the baby blanket I was making I decided there had to be another cheaper way to finish the edges! I went home and started messing around with my sewing machine to see what different stitches would look like along the edge of a scrap piece of fleece until I found one I liked.

The one concern I would have in making a baby sling with fleece is the fact that fleece does stretch in one direction. I would think that before you cut it out, you'd want to make sure that the finished product won't stretch too much with the weight of the baby. If you're using a pattern and they list fleece as one of the suggested fabrics, then following the cutting layout should take care of that. I don't know if this would be an issue; the baby sling patterns I've seen have all suggested firm woven fabrics.

Don't be intimidated -- it's only fabric! And there a lots of people here to answer your questions or suggestions solutions to any problems you might have. Good luck!
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 13492
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Posted on: 9/8/05 0:56 AM ET
In reply to melplusthree
Melanie, Malden Mills, the makers of the best fleece (IMHO), have great tips here:

Malden's own fleece sewing advice
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Elona
  
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