A Narrow Strip That Adds Soft Structure
Most fusible fleece comes on a wide bolt — but not every project needs a wide cut. Pellon® 987F Fusible Fleece in this package comes as a 2.5-inch-wide strip on a 25-yard roll. That jelly roll strip format puts that idea into a narrow, ready-to-use width for borders, straps, and other long, straight elements.
This is a fusible interfacing-style fleece, not a quilt batting. Batting is the middle layer of a whole quilt sandwich. This fleece is a support layer you fuse directly to a piece of fabric (or even to cardboard or wood) to give that piece more body while keeping a soft, padded feel.
What It Is Made Of
The fiber content is 100% polyester, and the application method is fusible — one side carries the adhesive that bonds when you press it with an iron. Pellon describes 987F as a one-sided fusible fleece that adds softness, body, and stability to home decorating, craft, and apparel sewing.
That combination is the point. A firm stabilizer makes fabric crisp and rigid. A fleece makes it thicker, softer, and more substantial without turning it into board. If a project should still drape or bend, but should not feel thin or flimsy, fusible fleece is the middle ground worth reaching for.
Where a 2.5-Inch Strip Works Best
Think in long, narrow shapes. A strip is handy for reinforcing a bag strap or handle area, adding padded body along a border, backing a long panel, or giving a craft strip a little cushion before you sew it into place. Because the roll holds 25 yards, you can cut the exact lengths you need for repeated pieces — useful when you are making a batch of gifts or several matching home décor items.
Pellon notes this fleece can also be fused to cardboard or wood, making it a friendly choice for craft projects where the base is not fabric at all.
How to Fuse It
Start by cutting the strip to the length your pattern piece needs. Identify the fusible side — that is the side that will bond — and place it against the wrong side of your fabric. Pellon's promise for this product is simple: no pinning, no basting, and no sewing needed to attach it.
Press, do not slide. Set the fused piece down on your ironing surface, place the iron on one section and lift and move to the next, rather than dragging the iron across the surface. Sliding can shift a narrow strip out of alignment before the bond sets. Work along the full length, then let the piece cool flat so the bond firms up before you handle or sew it.
Always test on a scrap first, especially with a fabric you have not fused before. A test tells you how your fabric responds to the heat and pressure you plan to use, and it lets you check that the finished hand — the softness plus the added body — is what the project wants.
Tips and Care
Cut accurately. A narrow strip shows crooked cutting more than a wide panel does, so measure and trim before you fuse, not after. Fuse before final assembly, while the piece is still flat and easy to press. And keep the strip roll stored loosely rolled rather than folded, so you are not pressing out sharp creases before you start.
Good news at the machine: this fleece is completely sewing machine safe, so once it is fused you can stitch through it as your project requires. Care for the finished item according to the care requirements of the outer fabric and the other materials in the project.
If you love the soft structure of fusible fleece but often work in narrow pieces, this strip package saves you from slicing strips off a wide bolt — the width is already done for you.
Shop the Pellon® 987F Fusible Fleece 2.5" x 25 yds Jelly Roll Strip Package. Color: White. at Linda's Electric Quilters.
