How to Make a Fleece Jumper
Soft, warm and easy to maintain, a fleece jumper is a quick garment to make. Fleece comes in different weights, colors and designs. Most fleece is synthetic and it washes and dries easily, does not fray when cut and does not have a nap to consider when laying out the pieces. When choosing a pattern for a fleece jumper, find something simple, since garments can become bulky if the pattern has pockets, zippers or front bands.
Things You'll Need
- Fleece fabric
- Pattern
- Long pins
- Measuring tape
- Sewing machine
- Interfacing
- Ironing board
- Iron
- Needle
- Thread
Instructions
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Cutting the Jumper
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1
Lay the fabric on a work surface and open the pattern. Sewing patterns contain guide sheets that include drawings that show you how to arrange the pattern pieces on the fabric. Since most jumpers do not have center seams for the back or the front, you may have to create two folds in the fabric. Open the fabric so it lies flat and straight on the table. Lift one side of the fabric at the selvage edge and fold it toward the middle of the fabric. You can use the crease from the centerfold of the fabric as a guideline.
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2
Place the pattern pieces on the fabric and pin them down with pins as you go, verifying that the arrows on the pattern are straight with the selvage by using a measuring tape. Check the distance from the selvage at both ends of the arrow.
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3
Cut out the pieces and remove the pins and pattern.
Sewing the Jumper
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4
Pin the front and back together with long pins that won't disappear into the fabric, with the right sides of the fabric facing each other on the inside. Some fleece fabric has a distinct right side and wrong side. Sew the shoulder and side seams together with the sewing machine. Turn the jumper inside out so that the right side is on the outside.
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5
Determine whether you need interfacing for the facing. If you are using heavy fleece, you may not need to use interfacing on the facing to add body. If it's a lightweight fleece, you may need to add fusible interfacing for the facing to provide enough body for the garment. When attaching the interfacing to the iron, use the coolest setting possible to generate steam and apply the interfacing to the wrong side of the facing. Do not place the iron on the facing, but hold it 1 inch above the interfacing and the facing and press on the steam button to melt the adhesive.
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6
Sew the facing for the sleeves together, then for the neckline. Pin the right side of the facings to the right side of the jumper and sew them down. Finish the bottom of the facings by running a zigzag stitch along the bottom edge. Most fleece fabric does not fray, unravel or run and adding a hem creates unnecessary bulk in the facing. Tack the facings to the side and shoulder seams with a needle and thread.
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7
Zigzag the bottom of the jumper and fold the hem over to the wrong side of the fabric. Use the sewing machine to either sew the hem or finish the hem by hand, using a needle and thread. Trim off all the loose threads and go through the garment, verifying that you removed all the pins.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a new needle in the sewing machine when sewing synthetics like fleece to avoid catching the fabric in the needle.
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
