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Snapping
Up Polar Fleece
 Snaps
and Polar Fleece fabrics make a great combination when care is used
to prepare the fabric. For example, Polar Fleece fabrics are bulky,
yet the loft of the fabric will compress to accept a snap. With the
correct fabrics, interfacing and snap products, the task of attaching
snaps to this incredible fabric can produce wonderful results.
If the
fabric is prepared correctly, a long-prong snap is the best choice
for a closure on Polar Fleece. Try our Size 24 Capped Prong Snaps with
our Size 16 SnapSetter™ and Size 24 Tool Adapter.
What's
even more important is choosing your patterns wisely for Polar Fleece.
Look for patterns that call for Polar Fleece fabrics or use patterns
from companies that test their patterns to ensure perfect results.
We recommend the Kwik
Sew Pattern Company and Great
Copy Patterns.
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Eliminating
the Bulk
 Whether
or not your pattern calls for Polar Fleece fabric, consider
looking at the construction method and determine where
the bulk of the fabric can be eliminated. Doing this will
reduce the thickness of the fabric to accept prong-style
snaps and provide you with a "bulkless" facing application.
If
you examine ready-to-wear Polar Fleece garments in the
store, you will see that most manufacturers use this method
of "bulkless" facings. By using this pattern drawing as
an example, there are three areas where the fabric bulk
can be eliminated from the original pattern instructions.
(Note:
This pattern example is intended for use with Polar Fleece.
However, I would never have constructed the garment according
to the pattern instructions. At one point of the construction,
there were 6 layers of Polar Fleece to seam together. Just
imagine trying to get this many layers of Polar Fleece
under the presser foot of your serger or sewing machine!!)
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1.
Cut the collar from the bulky fabric and cut the under
collar from two layers of coordinating woven quilt cotton.
The second layer of quilt cotton will act as the stabilizer
for the collar.
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2.
Cut the facing from the two layers of a coordinating, woven
quilt fabric. One layer will be the facing and one layer
will be the interfacing.
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3.
As with the collar, cut one tab from the bulky fabric and
the other from two layers of a coordinating, woven quilt
cotton.
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Facing
Alternatives
Look
at your pattern to determine if there is a separate pattern piece
for the facing or extra fabric for use as a fold-over facing.
If there is a separate piece for the facing, consider cutting
the facing from a coordinating woven quilt cotton or a lighter
weight fabric such as flannel to eliminate the bulk. If there
is extra fabric for a fold-over facing, try this method to alter
the pattern to accommodate this type of facing.
(Note:
Work from the original pattern and trace the pattern front using
the tracing material of your choice.)
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1.
If the pattern calls for a fold-over facing, trim the facing
to within 1/4" from the front fold line. Cut two garment fronts
according to the pattern instructions.
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2.
When it comes time to complete garment front closure according
to your pattern instructions, cut a strip of 2 layers of a coordinating
quilt cotton or flannel 2" wide by the length of the front edge
of your garment. Align the strip to the cut edge of the garment
front. With right sides together, stitch the 2" strip of fabric
to the garment with a 1/4" seam allowance.
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3.
Understitch the seam allowance to the facing and overcast the
unfinished edge of the facing as desired. Turn the facing to
the inside of the garment. Do not press -- the understitching
will keep the facing in place. Finish the garment according to
your pattern instructions.
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You'll
be amazed at how nicely the garment lays next to the body by
eliminating the bulk from the facing. By adding the lighter layer
of fabric as the garment facing, the bulk is reduced from the
closure area, allowing the snaps to penetrate the fabric with
added stability.
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Fabric
Compression
When
using Polar Fleece fabrics, another way to help make snap attaching
easier is to compress the fabric with a sewing machine before
the snap is set. This can be done by using one decorative stitch
(such as a star) or an 'x' to compress the fabric layers to accommodate
our long-prong snaps.
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 Post-Style
Snaps on Polar Fleece Fabrics
What
happens when you punch a hole in a knit fabric? Unfortunately, it can
run without proper fabric preparation. Keep this in mind when considering
the type of snap you would like to attach to Polar Fleece. A "post-style" snap
requires a pre-punched hole in the fabric to accommodate the snap.
Therefore, when attaching a post-style snap to Polar Fleece, use a
woven fabric to surround both sides of the garment underlap and overlap
to create a woven placket. The woven fabric sandwiches the Polar Fleece
and absorbs the stress the fabric endures from the snap use. For best
results, we recommend using the above instructions for setting prong-style
snaps to your Polar Fleece garments.
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