Winter’s imminent arrival means it’s time to get fleeced

Global warming may have become a fact of life, but winters in Maine still contain enough cold days to train my thoughts on warm things to wear once the thermometer registers below freezing.

Many of us will reach into our closets for items made of polar fleece when the frost is on the pumpkin. Some of us will be drawn to the aisles in fabric departments and stores where big, bulky bolts of that fabric are shelved. Armed with several yards of the fabric, we will stitch a few things to keep the cold at bay.

Polar fleece has endearing qualities. Once cut, it doesn’t ravel, eliminating the need to finish seam edges. This invites one to get creative with applique embellishments.

It comes in a multitude of colors and prints, so many that choosing one is a big decision. But having such a wide choice assures that you’ll leave the store with exactly what you want.

Fleece fabric is usually 58 to 60 inches wide so a little goes a long way. A yard of the fabric will yield a simple vest or several caps and as many ear warmers.

It’s easily washable, can be tossed into the dryer or hung on a rack indoors to dry. And it’s a very democratic fabric – all members of the family from newborn infant to the very elderly can wear it. It’s lightweight, durable and breathable. Last, but not least, it’s moderately priced at $6 to $7 a yard.

Lightweight polar fleece fabrics can be used for linings, robes and baby blankets. Medium weight fleece works well for toys, caps, mittens, scarves, jackets, vests and blankets. Fleece fabrics that contain spandex or Lycra work well for socks and head bands.

Patterns for items to make from polar fleece are easily obtained at fabric stores and departments and online by Googling “polar fleece projects.” To learn how to braid a rug using polar fleece visit www.fabriclandwest.com.

Find out how to make a fleece no-sew fringed purse at www.hancockfabrics.com.

Patterns are not always needed, however. Making a scarf is as simple as cutting a strip the width and length you want and making cuts at both ends to create fringe.

Need a dog toy? Cut a strip of polar fleece and tie a knot in it. A dog or cat blanket is as simple as cutting a piece several times larger than the finished size you want, folding it to the proper dimensions and placing it where Puppy or Kitty likes to sleep.

But polar fleece has some drawbacks, too. Static cling is a big problem, especially when it comes out of the dryer. A fabric softener sheet can help with that or spritz it with an anti-static spray.

After fleece has been washed a few times the nap can change its personality and begin to look ugly – it pills, forming those minute knots that make the fabric surface look as if it has been sprayed with glue and dragged in sand.

It melts if you stand too near an open fire, a definite drawback if you have a wood stove and like to “back up to the fire,” as my mother would say.

Polar fleece is made from petroleum products. To offset that bad mark it also can be manufactured from recycled plastic beverage bottles. A statistic at www.madehow.com states that “the leading manufacturer of recycled polyester fleece garments estimates that 25 soda bottles goes into each jacket made from the fabric.” That is most certainly a good thing.

Sewing with polar fleece requires a size 11 needle in your machine, good-quality thread, a pair of sharp scissors and your personal ingenuity.

Plan ahead, it will be winter soon.

Snippets

The Gifted Hand fine art, craft and gift show, will offer the work of local artisans 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Maine Grind Coffee Bar in Ellsworth. A $2 donation for admission will benefit Ellsworth Arts, a nonprofit organization.

Lion Brand Yarn recently conducted a survey of online knitters and crocheters.

One of the results shows that more than 50 percent of survey responders read blogs and another 50 percent listen to podcasts. The most popular blog was Yarn Harlot, with Crazy Aunt Purl and Mason Dixon Knitting coming in second and third. Favorite podcasts included Lime and Violet, Cast On, and Stash and Burn. Many responders also are members of MySpace, Facebook and Flickr, the study discovered.

With all this online activity eating up the hours of the day, when does anyone actually find time to knit?

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.