17 Fuzzy Fabric Types and Names (Stop Fuzzy Shedding Tips)
Sometimes you are just in the mood to get a cup of hot chocolate, start a fire in the fireplace and wrap yourself into a nice fuzzy blanket. These fabrics are soft, comfortable as well as cozy making sure you have a great evening at home.
There are not as many fuzzy fabrics as there are other types. Even if they are soft, cozy, and comfortable. Fleece would be a heavyweight option and flannel would be more of a medium weight both keeping you nice and warm when you use them.
To learn more about fuzzy fabrics and their types just continue to read our article, it has the information you want to know about in order to identify them and use them correctly. Generally, they are not for summer attire or use unless you are up in the mountains somewhere.
What is a Fuzzy Fabric Called?
There could be several names that could be applied to this fabric material. Then there may be many regional names as everyone seems to have their own label that they place n these types of fabrics.
One word that comes to the forefront is pile. This term is defined by the upright loops of yarn that create a nice fuzzy feel to many of the fuzzy fabrics. The term pile came from the Latin word pilus which simply means hair.
That may be what a lot of these fuzzy fabrics feel like when you run your hand over them. It is like running your fingers through your mate’s hair. Sometimes pile fabrics are called napped fabrics but there is a difference between the two.
The napped fabrics, another name for fuzzy materials, have a special finish given to them. They are simply regular materials but finished differently. The drawback with the napped finish is that it is said to weaken the material and this may be so.
Both the pile and the nap fabrics have a distinct look to them and depending on the way you look at them, one side will be darker than the other.
Fuzzy Fabric Types
It is difficult to really rank the different types as there are two categories of fuzzy fabrics and each fabric can be made from different fibers. But here goes:
1. Piled Fabrics
There are two types of pile fabrics, the short pile which includes some of the top fuzzy fabrics you can buy, and the long pile. The latter category usually has among its members faux fur.
This might be easier to rank as velvet, corduroy, velveteen are all great fabrics and do not bring negative connotations with them like many of the long pile fabrics do. Both styles may have a plush surface but the short pile seems to provide a softer, warmer, and more attractive style than the long pile fabrics do.
Also, the short pile fabrics seem to upgrade the look of any room and make it more adult, sophisticated, and rich-looking. Within these two categories are two more. There is the fill pile type and the warp pile type. Each type has its own special way of being woven together.
Some of these types of pile fabrics are used every day in normal situations especially when they are made into towels. For some purposes, these fabrics rank higher than the next group but not so high for other purposes.
2. Napped fabrics
While this group and the pile fabrics group share many characteristics, there is still a little difference between them. The special finishing given to nap fabrics helps make them feel and look warmer than the pile group.
Also, the napped group of fabrics do not have special weave styles nor do they have any filling thread to create ribs, ridges, and other fine features that the pile group has. There is a brushing technique used to help the fibers stand up which adds to their soft, comfortable, and warm nature.
The drawback to sewing with napped fabrics is that you have to be careful when you put two or more pieces together. If you do not get the direction of the nap going in the same direction with all the pieces, your sewing project will look weird.
Napped fabrics may be a bit cheaper than the pile materials and they have different uses. To rank them would be a disservice to both groups as they all have different purposes and one fabric is better than the other in certain uses and vice versa in other applications.
Both groups serve you well for the purpose they were designed to do.
Full Fuzzy Material Names List
The following chart will provide as many names as can be included in this category. The names will be from both types listed above and a brief description and use. There may be a few generic names mentioned and that is because so many variations are under that generic label.
| Fabric name | Fibers used | Application |
| Chenille | natural & synthetic | upholstery, curtains, some clothing items |
| Velour | cotton | gowns, curtains, upholstery |
| Fur | animal hides | coats, stoles, wraps and rugs |
| Fake fur | synthetic | clothing, jackets, coats, stoles, wraps |
| Plush | natural & synthetic | toys, blankets, and similar objects |
| Velvet | natural & synthetic | upholstery, clothing, drapery |
| Terry Cloth | cotton & synthetic | robes, towels, and so on |
| Velveteen | natural & synthetic | the same as velvet |
| Corduroy | cotton & synthetic | Jackets, pants, upholstery, drapery |
| Brushed denim | cotton | clothing, pants, jackets |
| Suede | animal hides | shoes, clothing items, upholstery, car upholstery |
| Ultras suede | animal hides & synthetic | shoes, jackets, coats, upholstery, car upholstery |
| Microfiber | synthetic | cloths, towels, jackets, sweatshirts, and more |
| Flannel | natural & synthetic | cloths, shirts, jackets, bedding |
| Flannelette | natural & synthetic | cloths, bedding, shirts, etc |
| Fleece | synthetic | jackets, coats, cloths |
| Wool | natural | socks, pants, coats, shirts, bedding, dresses, blouses |
What to Make With Fuzzy Fabric
This is one of the great things about fabrics no matter if they are fuzzy or regular types. You can make a wide variety of different fabric items. Not every pile or napped fabric will work with every sewing project because they were all made for a different purpose.
You will have to analyze the different fabrics and see if they will work with what you want to create. Some fabrics can be interchangeable but that will depend on the project as well. here are some projects you can work on using these fabrics:
- Coats - winter or late fall, early spring styles. You can use fleece, fur, suede, fake fur, and more.
- Jackets - for both casual, semi-formal, and possibly other events. Same as above.
- Bedding - great sheets can be made from flannel and blankets could use some of the other materials.
- Towels - terrycloth and microfiber are top choices here.
- Shoes - if you are handy enough. Ballerina slippers can be sewn and made from a pile fabric.
- Costumes or tutus or similar clothing - there are several good choices in the chart you can use.
- Furniture upholstery - chenille, suede, fake suede, brushed denim are all hardy materials for different pieces of furniture as is velvet.
- Clothing - a wide array of clothing can be made from these materials. From wraps to shawls to pants to shirts, blouses, and more.
- Rugs - fake and real fur make excellent rugs keeping your feet warm when you get up in the morning.
Fuzzy Fabric For Stuffed Animals
Plush seems to be the go-to fabric when you want to make stuffed animals for your kids or grandchildren. It is soft, cozy, and nice to cuddle with and it should be absorbent just in case anyone spills some liquid on it accidentally.
This material should also be easy to clean and great for daily use or for being dragged around the house when a child is too tired to carry it. as for cleaning you may get away with spot cleaning this material after it is made into a stuffed animal.
The experts recommend that you use vinegar instead of laundry soap as the former ingredient helps make the fabric soft again. Then avoid the dryer as that may stiffen the fibers again.
Hang drying is the best method to retain the softness of the material. The same will go for those times you turn your extra-plush fabric into a cozy nighttime blanket. Just read the care labels to make sure you handle the cleaning aspect correctly.
How do You Make Fuzzy Fabric?
Usually, the process is out of reach of the normal household because it is just too complicated of a procedure to make fuzzy fabrics. You may not have the chemicals needed either to turn a regular piece of fabric into a fuzzy version.
The instructions we get are that you have to add a fuzzy fabric to a regular one in order to make a nice fuzzy blanket. Or you can join two fuzzy fabrics together and make one nice blanket.
That seems to be the option everyone uses when they want a nice warm and cozy material to cuddle up in when they are watching their favorite movie and having a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows.
The instructions for turning a sherpa fleece material into a fuzzy fabric are as follows:
First, you need a yard of sherpa fleece and a yard of flannel. Cut the fabrics to size (these instructions are for a 30 by 30 inches baby fuzzy blanket. Add more material for larger options) and get ready to lay them out.
Third, place the sherpa material right side up and the flannel piece right on top of it with the right side down. The two right sides should be facing each other. Fourth, clip the two pieces together using your favorite fabric clips. Keep the clips about 2 inches apart.
Next, sew your seam at about 1/2 of an inch in from the raw edge and go all the way around the fabrics. Stop when you have a six-inch opening left. You need that opening to turn the fabrics right side out.
Now clip the corners to reduce bulk but take care not to cut your seam or stitches. When that is done, insert your hand into the opening and pull the right sides out. At this stage, you need to fold the edges of the material under at the 1/2 inch mark and clip to hold.
Then, topstitch around the fabric about 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch in from the edge. Watch how you sew those corners and when you have sealed the fabrics you are done.
How to Stop a Fuzzy Fabric From Shedding
The first option would be to simply avoid those low-quality fabrics that shed. You can do that by following these three simple steps:
- 1. pick up a part of the fabric and hold it in your hand
- 2. use the palm of your other hand and rub the material in a circular motion. The pressure should not be gentle but firm to heavy. Do this for about 10 seconds or so
- 3. after 10 seconds, stop the rubbing and inspect the fabric. If there are no pills etc., it is a non-shedding type of material
For fleece, you want a low pile material and not the long hair versions but to stop the shedding is almost impossible. As one expert said, to stop the shedding do not buy low-quality fleece materials.
For some polyester fabrics, you can use some spray starch to hold the fibers in place. If you do not overdo it with the spray starch, you should still have a fairly flexible fabric that won’t be too stiff.
For sweaters, you probably need to hand wash without agitating or kneading the fabric. The reason shedding takes place at all is due to the friction other fabrics, and your hands, create when the fabric is moved by the agitator in the washer or the drum in the dryer.
Or when it is handled roughly by your hands or other activities.
Where Can I Find Fuzzy Fabric?
The real question is not where can you find fuzzy fabrics but how much they have in stock. Most fabric stores, if not all of them, will have some selection of fuzzy fabrics. How much will depend on the amount of space they have.
Probably the greatest selection of fuzzy fabrics will come from online outlets. They tend to cut costs by having 1 or more large warehouses that hold hundreds of bolts and rolls of materials.
When you order from them, they simply have someone cut the amount you want and ship it to you from the closest location. Check your online outlets first, as your local big box fabric stores may not have a large selection due to many reasons including putting the material on sale.
This would go for those other big box stores like Home Depot, Walmart that may carry some fabrics but not a lot of options. Your local mall department stores may not have a huge amount either for the same reason.
There may be fabric outlets that are discount stores and their whole business is selling low-cost materials. They may have more than the brick-and-mortar stores combined.
Finally, you can check your locally owned small fabric store business to see what they can do for you. The owners are usually far more helpful and knowledgeable than other stores.
How to Sew Fuzzy Fabric
Each fabric will have its own technique to handle it without getting too frustrated. These instructions are for plush fabrics. Cutting is one of the first steps you need to do. A rotary cutter with a regular or pinking blade will be the best cutting tool to use. You get an accurate edge with this tool.
Then you should have a walking or even feed foot on your sewing machine. These two feet are made with upper feed dogs to help grip the slippery fabric. Then make sure you have a 90/14 needle that is sharp in your machine.
Next, your stitch length should be between 3 and 4 mm, you want a longer stitch length for this material. Adjust your tension using some scrap pieces of this fabric. Because the nap of this fabric can be quite thick, ignore using decorative or specialty threads.
Just go with an all-purpose thread in both the spool and the bobbin. Pin your layers about 1 inch apart and you can use lots of pins if you need to. Your seam allowance should be a minimum of 1/2 inch. then use a top stitch to reduce bulk. Topstitch in the nap’s direction.
Some Final Words
Fuzzy fabrics are more than just fuzzy. They can be warm, cozy, and perfect for a cool night. Pick the right fabric and your sewing projects should always look good.
