The dictionary definition for "Fleece" is -the coat of wool covering a wool-bearing animal (as a sheep) : the wool obtained from a sheep at one shearing.

 

So what we call fleece fabric is actually a wool fabric made from the fleece of an animal, usually but not always sheep.

 

Wool is derived mostly from sheep. But did you know that the hair from certain llamas, goats and even rabbits can also be called wool?

 

The two distinguishing qualities of wool are: the hair has scales that overlap, kind of like roof shingles and the hair is normally kinked or crimped naturally on the animal. Some species of wool fibers have over 20 kinks or bends per lineal inch.

 

The natural scales and kinks make it easier to spin the fleece because they help each strand attach to each other. So it's easy to spin long lengths of wool. The kinks or crimp also gives wool its heavier bulk too. They kinks capture air in them and help give wool its ability to retain heat. Wool can also help keep heat out too. Some Beduins actually use wool to help keep heat out.

 

The number and length of the kinks or crimps is what determines the thickness of the wool or fleece fabric. A fine merino wool may have over 100 crimps per inch and a karakul wool, which is much coarser may have only a couple of crimps per lineal inch.

 

Another desirable feature of wool fabric is its ability to return to its natural length after being stretched. This ability is greater in wool than in any other fabric. The natural crimps in wool fabric also allow it to stretch to about two times its natural length too.

 

Wool fleece material has a natural ability to absorb moisture and to release moisture. Absorbng moisture up to one third of its normal weight is possible with wool material.

 

Since wool is harder to ignite than most synthetic fibers it is used quite often in high safety invironments like trains and airplanes.

 

It's ability to hold and/or absorb moisture also makes it static resistant too.

 

Recently polar fleece fabric has become more popular. Polar fleece is a synthetic fleece and is designed to increase its heat holding ability by trapping more air between the strands.

 

With its natural bulk, fleece fabric is a little harder to work with when making garments. The 'no sew' fleece items are gaining in popularity too for those not wanting to try sewing something that thick on their sewing machines. Things like the no sew fleece blanket, or the fleece tie blanket have both really gained in popularity recently.