Bags for Quilters :: Fusible Fleece & Thermolam Plus

Today we’re going to learn about the difference between Pellon Fusible Fleece and Thermolam Plus. Last week I shared about the interfacing and flannel method that we use for some of our bags. There were a few comments regarding fusible fleece. We’ve occasionally used fusible fleece for our patterns, but often use Fusible Thermolam in our projects. I wanted to share a little about the differences and when you should use each!

Difference between Fusible Fleece and Fusible Thermolam:

Pellon 987FFusible Fleece is a low loft polyester fleece. One commenter said she felt the fleece loses body over time. This is because it is not very dense. I especially like fusible fleece for working with really small items. It is great for tiny pouches. Since it isn’t as dense, and there is little room for bulk in those items, it works great.

Pellon TP971 Fusible Thermolam Plus is an extra lofty needled fleece. It is both thicker and denser than regular fusible fleece. Fusible Thermolam Plus is great for larger pouches and bags that will be soft without a lot of quilting. You can quilt Fusible Thermolam, but it isn’t necessary because it’s fused. Fusible Thermolam is my go-to choice for most projects. I usually purchase an entire bolt (it goes faster than you think!).

Edit to add: Now that Joann is out of business, you may find Pellon Thermolam in some Michael’s stores, Walmart (if they have fabric), Hobby Lobby, or other local quilt shops. For online orders smaller than a bolt, a search shows that a few shops carry it, such as Online Fabric Store and Sewing Parts Online (as of Jan 2026).

Tips for working with Fusible Fleece and Thermolam Plus:

• Set your iron on the medium or wool setting, if you’re iron is too hot the finished items might look creased or wrinkly,
• If your product does look creased or wrinkly after you finish, use a medium iron to press again,
• If you need to reposition or get a thread between the interfacing and your fabric, you can warm up the glue and gently peel back your fabric to move or remove threads.
• If you’re pressing a bag or pouch, use an oven mitt on your hand inside the bag or pouch to press,
• For small items, cut the Fusible Fleece or Thermolam Plus to the size of the piece minus the seam allowance, this avoids bulk in the seams.

I hope this has helped you decide if Fusible Fleece or Thermolam Plus is the right interfacing for your project! You can read about our interfacing and flannel combo here. Read about ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable here, for more info.

Do you have any more questions about interfacing? Unless there are some other interfacing specific questions, we’ll be moving on to some more techniques in our Bags for Quilters series next week. Let us know what you’d like to learn about.

Updated: January 2026

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