Fleece is a fabric that has been around for centuries and has been used to make many different things. It is usually made from polyester but can also be mixed with other natural fibers such as wool, hemp or rayon.
It’s a soft, warm and durable material that was discovered in the late 1800s. It was invented by an American engineer named Aaron Feurstien who never got a patent for his invention but fleece is now a staple in winter clothing.
The main difference between fleece and wool is that wool is a fabric that comes from a sheep’s pelt, while fleece is a manmade knitted fabric that is not a pelt. It is often a blend of different fabrics or made from recycled plastics such as water bottles.
There are several reasons why wool is better than fleece for making clothes or blankets. It is thicker and can be warmer than fleece.
Firstly, wool wicks moisture away from the body which means it will dry faster and prevent the formation of sweat on the skin. Secondly, it is a very insulating material so the temperature of your body stays warm and your feet stay cosy.
It is a very versatile fabric as it can be dyed to match your colour scheme. It is also a very durable fabric and will not wash out or fade easily.
You can find a wide range of colours and textures in wool fleece. These can vary depending on the amount of natural or synthetic fibres that have been blended with it, the thickness and manufacturing process.
Most commonly a fine polyester fibre is woven into the fabric and then brushed to make the material thicker. Sometimes other natural fibres such as wool, hemp or rayon are incorporated into the yarn to create an interesting texture.
The most common way of getting wool fleece is from a sheep breeder who then sells the fleece to a mill. A mill then processes the fleece into a fabric and can add any number of different features to it such as colours, finishes and treatments.
Some people buy their fleeces direct from a farm or a spinner. They may be purchased unwashed and raw or they might be scoured to remove any impurities before they are spun.
A scoured or washed fleece is one that has been thoroughly cleaned from impurities, lanolin and any other natural oils that might be present. This will help to ensure that the wool is smooth and even suited for spinning.
Combing is another way to tidy up a fleece before spinning. It aligns the wool fibres so that they are parallel to one another and removes any particles of vegetable matter such as seeds and leaf or twigs that might be inside it.
This will help the spinner to work more effectively with it because they will have less problems with short fibres that can be difficult to control. It’s also a great way to get rid of any short fibres that have come from the shearing and skirting processes.