5 Best Needles For Sewing Fleece (2024 update)

One of these creative, versatile fabrics, fleece, is known for making the most comfortable things you’ll always want to grab. It comes in a variety of eye-catching patterns and vivid hues. It is a great choice of fabric for both new and experienced sewers because it is so incredibly soft. In order to stitch fleece fabric correctly, you’ll need to know which sewing machine needle will work well. The last thing you want is to ruin your fleece while working on a sewing project. And that is exactly what this post aims to do: provide you with information on various sewing machine needles designed for sewing fleece. So, make sure to read to the end.
With the sewing machine set to a narrow zigzag or straight stitch, a size 80/12 universal sewing machine needle should work absolutely fine with the majority of fleece textiles.

If you are looking for needles beyond sewing fleece, read our detailed articles about the best hand sewing needles and best needles for sewing machines.

Our Top Picks For The Best Needle For Sewing Fleece

• Best Overall: Singer Universal Sewing Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best for Beginners: Euro-Notions Universal Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best Budget: Universal Regular Point Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best for Embroidery: Schmetz Universal Sewing Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best for Quilting: Schmetz Fleece Machine Needles (jump to review)

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Detailed Reviews Of The Best Needles For Sewing Fleece

Best Overall: Singer Universal Sewing Machine Needles

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Best for Beginners: Euro-Notions Universal Machine Needles

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Best Budget: Universal Regular Point Machine Needles

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Best for Embroidery: Schmetz Universal Sewing Machine Needles

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Best for Quilting: Schmetz Fleece Machine Needles

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Buying Guide – Best Needles For Sewing Fleece

What is Fleece?

A fabric knitted with a soft pile made of acrylic fibers or polyester is known as fleece. It was formerly known as “Polar Fleece” and is fluffy on both sides. It is essentially a wash-and-wear cloth that is silky and cozy.
The word “fleece” used to mean sheep’s wool, but today it’s most often used to mean mass-produced synthetic materials that are sold in bulk at most craft and fabric stores. Fleece is a very light material. It’s great for wearing outside in the winter because it keeps you warm and protects you from the elements. It makes a great middle layer.

What are the different Fleece Types?

• Polyester Fleece– The most widely used fleece fabric is polyester fleece, which comes in varying prices and a wide range of styles.

• Medium-Weight Fleece– Sweaters, pants, jackets, vests, socks, gloves, blankets, hats, and hoodies are all made of medium-weight fleece.

• Cotton Fleece– Cotton fleece is a softly napped knitted fabric. It is quite breathable as it absorbs heat well.

• Polar Fleece– Polar fleece is a warm, thick synthetic fleece that works well as a sweater liner and jacket. Even though it doesn’t wick away moisture like microfleece does, it keeps you warm and isn’t too expensive.

• Rayon Fleece– Rayon fleece is a breathable, supple, and smooth fleece made from rayon fibers.

• Microfiber Fleece– Microfiber fleece, or micro fleece, is a very light-weight and soft fleece that can wick away moisture from the body. Clothes like nightwear, diapers, and sportswear often use this material. Housecoats and leggings are also quite popular.

• Bamboo Fleece– Bamboo fleece is made of cotton cellulose and bamboo fibers, and has a silky drape and an absorbent feel.

• Merino Wool Fleece– Merino wool fleece is a type of fleece manufactured from the fibers of a merino sheep. It is a very fluffy fleece that absorbs moisture and provides warmth.

• Hemp Fleece– Hemp fleece is a very fluffy natural fiber with hemp and cotton mixed in. It is smooth on one side and has a deep pile on the other.

• Faux Sherpa Fleece– As the name implies, faux sherpa fleece resembles the wooly, soft sherpa fur. Its curly-textured fibers are great for use in jacket linings.

• Luxe Fleece– Luxe fleece is a durable and high-quality fleece. It is a double-layered fleece that is extremely soft. This fleece does not pill like most fleece, is extremely warm and opulent, and has a pile on both sides.

• Micro Chamois Fleece– Micro chamois fleece is a soft, thin fleece used to make undergarments, diaper liners, and baby blankets.

Sewing Tips For Fleece

• Clean your sewing machine: The accumulation of lint is a huge issue you’ll face when working with fleece. If you want to keep your sewing machine from jamming, you’ll have to clean the area around the bobbin and needle periodically.
  
• Take the nap into account: When laying out the pattern pieces when working with fleece, it’s crucial to consider the surface of the fleece fabric. The pile of these fabrics looks like it has been brushed or “napped,” which means that each fiber is going in the same direction. Before you begin cutting, use a piece of tape to mark the side of the fleece, indicating the direction of the nap. In this way, you can get a clear picture of whether the nap runs in the same direction or not for each piece, when you assemble your creation together.
  
• Cut off the bulk: Grading seam allowances is a common method you can use to cut down on the excess fabric at seams when working with several layers of fleece that might easily become unwieldy and bulky. Trim the outside layers of the fleece closely to the sewing line in order to grade your seam allowance. The longest layers of the seam allowance should be kept at the center of the seam, followed by slightly longer layers, and so on.
  
• Use stay stitch in cross-grain cuts: In order to keep the fleece fabric from stretching out of shape on curves where some of the fabric will be cut by cross-grain cuts, use a stay stitch that is done inside the seam allowance. Without this reinforcement, the elastic weave structure of fleece fabric makes it very likely to stretch out of shape. Also, keep in mind to use a longer stitch length so that distortion of your pattern pieces can be prevented.
  
• Work with caution: Once sewing with fleece fabric is complete, it is very difficult to alter any changes in it. As a result, before stitching each stage, double-check that you’re doing everything correctly. When topstitching, exercise more caution. Your stitches will most likely be hidden by the thickness and texture of the fleece.

How To Set Up A Sewing Machine For Fleece?

• A zigzag, teflon foot makes it easier to maneuver through fleece’s various densities. However, if the thick layers do not feed equally, adding a walking foot will fix the issue. Adjust the pressure of your presser foot to account for the thickness of your fabric.

• Use a zigzag stitch or stretch stitch when sewing with fleece. Use a longer stitch length, preferably between 3 mm and 5 mm. By doing a trial seam on unused fabric scraps, adjust the stitch downwards or upwards as necessary.

• The multiple thick layers of fleece might prevent other needles from penetrating them, resulting in skipped stitches or broken needles. Therefore, use a universal needle or a stretch needle. For fleece, the optimal needle size is 80/12 or 90/14.

Summary: The Best Needle For Sewing Fleece Is

• Best Overall: Singer Universal Sewing Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best for Beginners: Euro-Notions Universal Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best Budget: Universal Regular Point Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best for Embroidery: Schmetz Universal Sewing Machine Needles (jump to review)
• Best for Quilting: Schmetz Fleece Machine Needles (jump to review)

Fleece is popular among both adults and kids, making it suitable for family-friendly sewing projects. However, remember to sew on your personalized labels. This post has tried to list several sewing machine needles, particularly those meant for those working on fleece projects.

If you are looking to setup your sewing equipment, don’t miss our articles about the best hand sewing needles and best sewing scissors. If you are an advanced sewist, have a look at our best sewing books and best sewing magazines posts and if you are looking to get a basic, heavy duty or industrial sewing machine, have a look at some of our great articles.

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