15 Soft Fluffy Fabric Types and Names (Helpful Guide)
Just about everyone likes fluffy fabrics. They are soft, feel good next to your skin, and can provide a nice barrier between you and the cool air. Plus, they help you relax as these materials fold their long fuzzy fibers around your body telling you everything is going to be okay.
When it comes to this topic, you will find that members of other types of fabrics will fit into this category as well. Faux fur, plush, and even sherpa fleece would all be considered fluffy fabrics. This is a topic that has multiple category listings under it.
To learn more about fluffy fabrics, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to help you find the right material for your fluffy sewing project. Take a few moments and see how this information will help you.
Soft Fluffy Fabrics 101
What is a Fluffy Fabric Used for?
There is a wide range of projects these fabrics can be used for. It will depend on the nature of your project as to which one you would choose. For stuffed toys, possibly pillows, and blankets, a plush fabric would work well.
Then for baby blankets, warm winter coats, and hats, you might want to go with a sherpa fleece fabric. It is a soft fluffy style material that is also durable and helps keep the cold away.
Next, you might substitute Minky for sherpa as it too is very soft and fluffy. Plus, you can add another fluffy fabric to the wrong side of this material and double its fluffiness and comfort.
Or if you are looking to make nice coats, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, and socks, angora wool is ideal. Also, this material is seen as soft and fluffy and not scratchy like other wool products.
If you prefer, you could also choose Merino wool for the same sewing projects. It may or may not be as expensive as Angora wool but it still has a soft fluffy nature to it. Shirling may be a good option for other sewing projects that include items like pet hammocks.
What is a Fluffy Fabric Called?
That is a difficult question to answer simply because these fabrics do not fit into just one category. They could be called pile or napped fabrics, cotton fabrics, or polyester fabrics. The term fluffy is thrown in there to define the style of cloth one wants.
Or the fabrics will go by specific names like Mongolian Tibetan Sheep curly fur, or faux fur, sherpa fleece, and so on. There are many individual names for these types of fabrics including many of the different wool varieties that do not scratch or are not woven in a tweed or twill style.
Fluffy is a term that describes the nature of the fabric and indicates you want long hair, or a long pile type material, or a nice thick option like microfiber or terrycloth. That term is used when you can’t think of the specific name of the actual fabric that you want.
You just know it by sight and feel and that is just about it. It is an easy term to remember than something like Mongolian Tibetan sheep curved fur. or the many Velvet fabrics that all have different names but could be called soft and fluffy.
Soft Fluffy Fabric Types
One of the things about fluffy fabrics is that they cover all three of the different fabric categories. There is not one distinct type as these fabrics can be pulled from just about anywhere and made from a variety of fibers.
Our ranking order will be limited to those three categories.
- 1. Natural fibers - there is nothing that beats natural fibers for any fluffy fabric. These materials can be made from cotton, wool, linen, and other natural fibers and the softness is very tough to beat. The drawback to this group of fluffy fabrics is that they may be more expensive than the other two categories
- 2. Synthetic fibers - marginally better than the in-between category, the fluffy fabrics made from these fibers can compete with the ones from the natural category. But their texture and feel may be more artificial than anything else. Their drawbacks are all the chemicals that are used to create these fibers.
- 3. The in-between fibers - these are few and probably the best one of the lot would be bamboo. Those fibers can produce some nice fluffy fabrics as well as keep them nice and durable. These options may be more delicate than the fluffy fabrics from the other two groups.
How To Make Fluffy Fabric
If you do embroidery one way to make some fluffy fabric is to employ the turkey work or ghiordes knot method. This will produce a nice layer of material that makes different areas fluffy when you are done.
Then to make fluffy pom poms, the instant way, you take a large portion of yarn in the middle with another piece of yarn and make it tight. Then take some scissors and cut those fibers till they are all even and you are done.
It is not hard to make fluffy items out of fluffy fabrics. No one is talking about how to make fluffy fabric as no one has to. It is already done for them by the different manufacturing companies. The process would take a lot of work if you were to try and DIY it.
You can add fluffy fabric to regular fabric and enhance the feel of the latter material. Fluffy fabric is a great liner option when you want to stay warm and comfortable on cool days.
This area is open to experimentation so get your creative thinking cap on and see if you can come up with some interesting ways to make fabric fluffy.
How To Make Fabric Fluffy Again
Some of these solutions will apply to more fabrics than just towels. The first step in the process is to buy nice, thick, fluffy towels to begin with. The better the quality the fluffier the towels.
The second step is to not overload your washing machine when you go to clean them. Towels need room to move and the more space they get, the fluffier they can become. They rinse more thoroughly as well.
Next, don't use silicone-based fabric softeners. These just cut the fluffiness and absorbency right out. Then when you do use fabric softener, use a little. These chemicals build up over time and end the fluffy nature.
You can wash them in a eucalyptus-type laundry soap as that ingredient helps protect the fluffy nature. Add in some vinegar and you should also restore some fluffiness to your towels. A 1/4 cup will do and do not forget to stop using bleach.
That chemical will flatten loops that make towels so fluffy. Oxy bleach may be okay but handle with care. Then keep the heat off the towels. The heat also does destructive work if it gets too hot. Hang dry from time to time to allow the towels to remain fluffy.
Fluffy Fabric For Sewing
There are a lot of fabrics that are considered fluffy and great for sewing. The key is to find the right one for your project. The purpose of your sewing project will help guide you to the right materials to use.
Velvet may look good on the dance floor and in a dance costume but it is not good for those apparel sewing projects for office wear, etc. For coats, fleece is good as is microfiber and for sweaters, you can look at cotton or wool fluffy fabrics.
These may be easier to work with than say Minky or some other slippery materials. Plush is good when you want to make stuffed animals or a nice baby blanket. It is a good fabric when you want to make a movie night blanket to cuddle up in with your mate.
Sherpa fleece is nice for cold-weather items and to get more suggestions you can check Amazon or your favorite big-box fabric outlets for more fabrics you can use while sewing.
How To Sew Fluffy Fabric
Sewing with fluffy fabrics can be quite a challenge. Sometimes it is hard to know where to pin and if you do, you lose the pins in the fluffy exterior. There are several keys changes you need to make when you sew with these materials.
The first is you will need to change your foot to either a walking or even feed foot. These accessories have upper feed dogs which help grab the fabric and keeps it feeding right.
Then if you need to cut and you know the fabric will fray on you, use a rotary cutter with a pinking blade in it. That will slow down the fray and give you time to throw in a stitch line.
Next, you will have to replace your current needle with a sharp one made for this type of material. Check your owner’s manual to find the right size for fluffy materials. When sewing the pieces or layers together, make sure to use some good fabric clips. These are better than pins, easier to see and they can hold a lot of material if need be.
When you are sewing two different materials together, one fluffy and the other regular, be mindful of the cleaning instructions for both. You could run into some interesting situations if you mismatch the fabrics and their care.
Adjust your tension, stitch length to meet the type of fabric you are going to sew. These adjustments may be fabric specific because fluffy materials cover so much territory.
Fluffy Fabric For Chair
One ideal material to use would be faux fur. It is comfortable, did not harm any animals in its creation, and can be used fairly easily. The first step to using this material would be to decide what size the cushions will be.
It doesn’t take much work to sew all the pieces together and when you are done, the fake fur should look nice, add a new element to your home decor. The chair should feel nice and comfortable.
Another material you can use would be one of the many velvet options at your disposal. It may make your room look more adult and serious but it is a fine fabric for chairs. It is very durable as well.
When you are looking for fluffy fabrics to use for your chairs, fluffiness is not the only criteria you should use. You have to determine how much traffic the chair will endure and other factors like stains, kids and pets, and so on.
The fabric needs to be durable as well as soft and comfortable. Then it has to come in the right colors so you can match your interior colors.
Fluffy Fabric For Blankets
When you take on this project do not get fooled by the easy sewing time you will have. Some fabrics can be a bit slippery and you will have your hands full as you work. But good fabrics make up for this hassle as your results should turn out top-notch.
Sherpa fabric is always good for blankets. It is warm, soft, and cozy along with being nice and fluffy. Plus, it should be easy to clean as sherpa fleece is just polyester in disguise. Then you can go to microfiber for breathability, softness as well as fluffy feel.
It is a nice fabric to have next to your skin and it should help you relax as it warms you up and keeps you warm all night. For babies, you might want to try the plush fabric. It comes in a variety of good colors and it is easy to turn into a blanket.
Plush fabrics are very soft and help keep your baby comfortable while they nap. You can try Minky but we have heard that it is a lot like actresses and actors- hard to work with. choose your fabrics wisely.
Fluffy Fabric For a Dog Bed
Well, velvet and suede are out. You do want to have a very durable material as dogs will scratch, bite, roll and even pee on their beds at different times. A good soft plush will handle some of those activities and still maintain a soft, comfortable place for your dog to lay.
Or you can go a little tougher and use terry cloth as cotton can be very durable. Unfortunately, it may not be as soft as some of the other types of fluffy materials you can buy.
Fleece and microfiber may fill the bill as these materials can handle rougher treatment without losing any of their fluffiness. This material should last the longest of them all as well.
A final choice can be faux fur as that material will be tough and it has a lot of long hairs to keep your dog comfortable as he or she sleeps.
Fluffy Fabric For Dresses
One thing about women is that they could make a dress out of a burlap sack, and they will always look good. That means that women have a myriad of fabrics to choose from even in the fluffy category when they want to make a new dress.
Some wool materials would be great for winter but you may want to put a lining in the dress to make sure all you feel is the fluffy nature of the fabric. Or add in some nice fluffy cotton interface to really keep your body comfortable and surrounded by fluffy material.
If you have the money you can try the Mongolian Tibetan sheep curved fur or to save money you can go to any of the fluffy polyester-fluffy fabrics. The options you have are immense and the key would be to get the right pattern that will flatter your form.
Working with the right pattern will turn any fluffy fabric you like into the perfect dress for the occasion you want to wear. When it comes to dresses, you can be a bit innovative as to the type of material you want to wear. Just use some common sense when picking out the material.
What Kind of Fabric is Used for Plushies?
Here are 4 good fabrics you can turn into nice-looking plushie toys:
#1. Fleece solids- this material generates that cozy atmosphere you want your plushies to give off. It is versatile, soft, and easy to work with. This material should be treated gently in the wash.
#2. Minky- another soft material that comes in an assortment of colors and designs so your plushie can have a unique look. Its 10 mm pile makes your plushie look furry. Drying can be tumble dry but with no heat. Hang drying is better.
#3. Stretch velvet- add a sophisticated look to your plushie by using this grand material. With the right design, you can have an upgraded plushie that looks like royalty. The drawback is this material needs to be hand-washed with mild soap or the plushie should be sent to the dry cleaners.
#4. Wool - not just any wool but the softer styles like cashmere. The material does hold its shape well and it remains quite soft if you get the right blend of wool fabrics. This firmer fabric needs to be dry cleaned only but your plushies are worth it.
Where Can I Find Fluffy Fabric?
No matter which category of fabrics you are looking to buy, the list of outlets will remain the same. For price, selection, and delivery to your door, you may want to start your search with the many online fabric outlets.
They are in a position to offer you a greater selection than traditional stores because they do not have limited floor space. Your next best bet would be to go to your big box stores. Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Home Depot, Walmart, and so on.
Their prices may be competitive with the online outlets but you would have to do your own delivery and handling of the package. Plus, they may not have the selection that those online outlets have.
If you do not like shopping at either option, then you can always go to your locally owned fabric stores or the department stores in the malls in your area. The customer service may be better and you may be able to get them to order in for you if they do not have what you want.
Then there are always those going out of business sales, closeout stores, and discount houses that may have what you want at a price you like.
How To Wash Fluffy Fabric
This task will depend a lot on the type of fibers your fluffy fabrics are made from. Then if they are blended with other fibers, you may have the difficult task of washing them. Make sure to check the care label first as those labels will give you the specific information you need.
Cold water with a smidgen of fabric softener and a mild soap is one option you can use. Then hang dry the material so that the dryer heat does not ruin your fluffy fabric. Most of the time you can skip the fabric softener as it will build upon your fabric ruining the fluffy feeling.
If possible turn the fluffy items inside before putting them in the wash. That will help protect the fibers and do not overload your machine. Give the towels and other fluffy fabrics some room to move and restore their fluff.
Some Final Words
Fluffy fabrics come in all three fabric categories. What that does is provide you with an unlimited amount of selection to be creative and to find the right material for your next project. As they say, choose wisely so your results will be perfect and impressive to everyone who sees it.
