Show Your Fleece!
I'm interested to hear how those hold up in the washer, Lisam.
I sew really crapy pads and I've been thinking of branching out into really crapy blankets or beds! The pigs don't care if we can't sew straight or that the sewing machine is out to drive you insane.
I recently found out that you must sew with the bobbin wound full of thread from the spool on the top of the machine. Otherwise, it gets all snarly and not working right due to some tension thing that I didn't fully grasp. Apparently, this is something most sewing people know but I totally missed that part of the lesson!
I sew really crapy pads and I've been thinking of branching out into really crapy blankets or beds! The pigs don't care if we can't sew straight or that the sewing machine is out to drive you insane.
I recently found out that you must sew with the bobbin wound full of thread from the spool on the top of the machine. Otherwise, it gets all snarly and not working right due to some tension thing that I didn't fully grasp. Apparently, this is something most sewing people know but I totally missed that part of the lesson!
- New Guinea Mom
- There is No Cure
Purplepeep. do you make that in big people size, cuz I wanna move in. That's totally adorable! I want to see pictures of piggies in there.
Lisa, I made what it sounds like you are making-- fleece and matress pad covers. I found out after many errors that the best setting is actually in zig-zag form on tension #3. I have a Brother sewing machine that was always giving me trouble but that setting has worked wonders for me!
They actually hold up really really well! I would say make them about 2 inches wider and longer than needed because after one wash, the do shrink down to fit just right and wont shrink afterward. It makes cleaning so much easier. Im so thankful I took the time and money to make a few. Ive also found that little fleece and batting pads work really well for heavy traffic spots.
Hmm, we really should start a crafting thread. I would love to learn how to make better tunnels and cuddle cups. Somehow, I always measure something wrong.
They actually hold up really really well! I would say make them about 2 inches wider and longer than needed because after one wash, the do shrink down to fit just right and wont shrink afterward. It makes cleaning so much easier. Im so thankful I took the time and money to make a few. Ive also found that little fleece and batting pads work really well for heavy traffic spots.
Hmm, we really should start a crafting thread. I would love to learn how to make better tunnels and cuddle cups. Somehow, I always measure something wrong.
My fleece set-up is neither interesting, creative, nor especially functional- the pigs still find ways to mess it up. So no pictures.
But, what does everyone do to keep their fleece smelling fresh after being washed in the winter? In the summer I can hang out my fleece and towels outside, but obviously not in winter. They don't smell gross really, but I always think my towels smell always a little wet-towelish (hate that smell) and never really that great. I use vinager sometimes, but have to just dump it on the pile of towels because of my washer and the fact that I use powdered detergent. I'm sure there's suggestions, but searching makes me sift through piles and piles of threads where the word "fleece" was once mentioned.
Ooh, I like the idea of a thread with instructions for fleecey tunnels.
But, what does everyone do to keep their fleece smelling fresh after being washed in the winter? In the summer I can hang out my fleece and towels outside, but obviously not in winter. They don't smell gross really, but I always think my towels smell always a little wet-towelish (hate that smell) and never really that great. I use vinager sometimes, but have to just dump it on the pile of towels because of my washer and the fact that I use powdered detergent. I'm sure there's suggestions, but searching makes me sift through piles and piles of threads where the word "fleece" was once mentioned.
Ooh, I like the idea of a thread with instructions for fleecey tunnels.
Are you line drying in winter too? I don't have space to line dry all my pig bedding so I'm not familiar. Do you have a dryer? If so, maybe tossing them in to fluff when they're almost dry will help.
Vinegar needs to go into the rinse cycle. If your washing machine has a fabric softener dispense, you can fill that with vinegar, otherwise you can buy a Downy Ball and use that to automatically dispense into the rinse. In general, your fleece and towels shouldn't smell. The best routine will depend in your washing machine and water, but most of us wash on warm or hot to really get things clean. I find a good soak in the wash water helps get things really clean as does the addition of oxy booster and Borax (I have hard water). I hope that helps. When my fleece was getting really stinky it turned out I had the wrong detergent by accident. I've also added a 1/4 cup of bleach on occasion to get things really clean. It won't mess up your fleece even if it's colored.
Vinegar needs to go into the rinse cycle. If your washing machine has a fabric softener dispense, you can fill that with vinegar, otherwise you can buy a Downy Ball and use that to automatically dispense into the rinse. In general, your fleece and towels shouldn't smell. The best routine will depend in your washing machine and water, but most of us wash on warm or hot to really get things clean. I find a good soak in the wash water helps get things really clean as does the addition of oxy booster and Borax (I have hard water). I hope that helps. When my fleece was getting really stinky it turned out I had the wrong detergent by accident. I've also added a 1/4 cup of bleach on occasion to get things really clean. It won't mess up your fleece even if it's colored.
What do you all do to battle the static cling? It seems like poor Coco, Boomer and Lion are walking zappers on the fleece. Their hair is long and it gets all wacky sticking up and when you pick them up you get that nice little electric zap. That can not be comfortable for them. So any ideas how to reduce the static without fabric softener?