What is Antron Fleece?
Antron Fleece is a special fleece fabric used by many professional puppet builders as a
“skin” for their finished puppets. In foam hand puppet construction, antron fleece is
usually used to cover foam pieces (the puppet’s head or hands). Many Muppets™ and
Sesame Street™ characters are constructed in foam with antron fleece coverings.
Why Use Antron Fleece?
Dying Antron Fleece
The main objective in dying is to get even color. Using two large plastic storage
containers for a normal sized project. Fill one with clean water. Fill the other with hot tap
water. Make the dye bath deep enough to cover the fabric. Before lowering the fleece into
the dye bath, soak it in the clean bath. Try not to squeeze the water out. Place the fleece
quickly into the dye. Soak the fleece. Just like a tie-dyed t-shirt, if the fleece is folded or
twisted, the dye will not take in those areas. You will need to gently stir the dye bath to
ensure even coverage. Do not overwork it or it will cause the fleece to pill (Pilling is when
a fabric mats into little balls). Instead of a single “dip” with a strong color, make multiple
dips, darkening the fleece little by little. This method works especially well when dying
darker colors. Rinse the fleece. After the fleece has been dyed the desired color, remove
it from the dye bath. Rinse under running water until the water squeezed from the fabric is
clear. Lay the fleece flat to dry overnight. Do not put it in a dryer. Drying antron fleece in
a dryer will without exception cause the fleece to pill, partly from overheating and partly
from being overworked.
Stitching Antron Fleece
You can use a machine but for the best results, hand stitching is the way to go.
Keep in mind that stitches should be very close to the edge of the fabric, but not so close
that the edge will unravel; the stitches have to be fairly small; and the tension of the
stitches has to be reasonably consistent. Other stitches can be used but the whip stitch is
easiest and the fastest.
Finishing Touches
Pick your seams.
With a straight pin, simply pick the seams, freeing any fleece fibers that may have been
trapped by the stitching.
Shave the fleece. If your fleece has pilled, shave it. Yes that’s right, shave the fleece-
covered head. Here are some guidelines:
Use double-bladed disposable shaving razors. Shaving one puppet head may take 6-10
razors to achieve a nice even look.
Be careful around the seams, corners and folds of the puppet head. It’s easy to shave the
fleece too close in these areas. Just ease up on the pressure when shaving these areas.
Antron Fleece is a special fleece fabric used by many professional puppet builders as a
“skin” for their finished puppets. In foam hand puppet construction, antron fleece is
usually used to cover foam pieces (the puppet’s head or hands). Many Muppets™ and
Sesame Street™ characters are constructed in foam with antron fleece coverings.
Why Use Antron Fleece?
- It’s fuzzy pile makes sewn seams virtually invisible.
- Its ability to be dyed. Most fleece fabrics that you may find in your local fabric store
are 100% polyester. These fabrics cannot be dyed easily.
Dying Antron Fleece
The main objective in dying is to get even color. Using two large plastic storage
containers for a normal sized project. Fill one with clean water. Fill the other with hot tap
water. Make the dye bath deep enough to cover the fabric. Before lowering the fleece into
the dye bath, soak it in the clean bath. Try not to squeeze the water out. Place the fleece
quickly into the dye. Soak the fleece. Just like a tie-dyed t-shirt, if the fleece is folded or
twisted, the dye will not take in those areas. You will need to gently stir the dye bath to
ensure even coverage. Do not overwork it or it will cause the fleece to pill (Pilling is when
a fabric mats into little balls). Instead of a single “dip” with a strong color, make multiple
dips, darkening the fleece little by little. This method works especially well when dying
darker colors. Rinse the fleece. After the fleece has been dyed the desired color, remove
it from the dye bath. Rinse under running water until the water squeezed from the fabric is
clear. Lay the fleece flat to dry overnight. Do not put it in a dryer. Drying antron fleece in
a dryer will without exception cause the fleece to pill, partly from overheating and partly
from being overworked.
Stitching Antron Fleece
You can use a machine but for the best results, hand stitching is the way to go.
Keep in mind that stitches should be very close to the edge of the fabric, but not so close
that the edge will unravel; the stitches have to be fairly small; and the tension of the
stitches has to be reasonably consistent. Other stitches can be used but the whip stitch is
easiest and the fastest.
Finishing Touches
Pick your seams.
With a straight pin, simply pick the seams, freeing any fleece fibers that may have been
trapped by the stitching.
Shave the fleece. If your fleece has pilled, shave it. Yes that’s right, shave the fleece-
covered head. Here are some guidelines:
Use double-bladed disposable shaving razors. Shaving one puppet head may take 6-10
razors to achieve a nice even look.
Be careful around the seams, corners and folds of the puppet head. It’s easy to shave the
fleece too close in these areas. Just ease up on the pressure when shaving these areas.
