SandyinZ4

I wanted to make a baby blanket fast (instead of quilting one). I bought two pretty pieces of fleece and am trying to sew the edges together. My sewing machine does fine with cotton but with this fleece, it skips stitiches (I am zig-zagging) and then the thread breaks every few inches. Is it just sewing with fleece that causes the problem? Does anyone else ever have this problem? Could it be my machine? I put in a bigger needle thinking that would help but seems tonot make a difference. Any ideas??
I don't want to do those fringe edges that everyone does. I like to outline the design (in this case, fish) and then on the other side, I cut out just one layer and then the fish shows through on the backside. Then I stitch around the outside edge (again with zig-zag) and then cut just outside that with my wavy rotary cutter.

KatFish

I have good luck with a walking foot.

GABBYABBY

Maybe loosen the stitch length a little. Fleece is
stretchable so a looser stitch may be needed.

QuiltnNan

sounds adorable. be sure to post when done. sorry you are having issues.

gramajo

Or maybe a ballpoint needle? I'm not sure about this, but it seems to me when a sewed fleece that I was told to use a ballpoint needle.

Just an idea! I'm not responsible if it doesn't work LOL

BKrenning

A ballpoint needle, poly thread, smaller zig-zag and loosen the top tension just a little.

CoriAmD

I sew decorative stitches on my fleece blankets using the walking foot. Works very well and no problem with skipping stitches or thread breaking.

Phyllis42

I made a wildlife lap quilt with heavy batting and fleece backing. Used my walking foot and loosened the top tension.

SandyinZ4

You asked me to post a pic when done so here it is. I finally struggled through with the thread breaking every 3-4 inches. I did order some ball-point needles so I will have them for the next time, though. Anyhow, I got it done. Actually made two as have girl and boy baby shower gifts to make. I take two pieces of fleece, one with a cute pattern on it, square them up, pin and then on the cute pattern side, I pick a shape and zig-zag around it. Do the same thing for a couple other designs. This just helps hold the layers together so they don't shift so much. Then I go around the outside edge with a zig-zag stitch and about 1/4 inch outside of that, I use my scallop rotary cutter to do the edges. Then I turn blanket to back side and carefully cut out just the one layer of fleece so that the design of the pretty side shows through. A fast and easy baby gift. This isn't really in regards to quilting but it does make a soft blanket quickly. I will save making the quilted ones for family babies.