[KathyS]

Hi,
We are due to pick up our first hedgehog this weekend! I was wondering about things he would need and have found so much info here! WoW! I was wondering about the term "fleece". Are you meaning polar fleece or fleece thats is used for making pajamas? Or something else I'm not aware of?
Thanks!
Kathy

 

[JennyBeans]

I use polar fleece for my liners, bags, etc. The stuff pjs are made you might mean flannel? I have used flannel for the outside before and flannel on the inside. Hope that helps!

 

[KathyS]

I guess I'm thinking of so many different kinds of fleece out there. Longer, shorter. I never thought about how absorbent they are either. Flannel baby blankets would be a nice alternative doubled I think. I have some of those left over from my last child. Along with cloth diapers that might make for a good "batting" in between for cubbies or hidey caves.

 

[Alastrina]

Polar fleece is more than likely what you're thinking of when you hear the word fleece.
Flannel is that stuff they make PJ's, sheets, etc out of, it's much thinner.

Fleece isn't really absorbent at all, at least not in a "Sham-wow" kinda way. *grin* Fleece is popular for the outside of liners because it's soft, warm, and lets liquid run through it to something you've placed between layers of fleece or underneath them to absorb the liquid.

An ultra-simple version of this concept is a folded fleece blanket on top of a bath towel. (Note: I do not encourage terry-cloth towel use because of the fact hedgie toes get caught in the loops of the cloth.)

If you really want the scoop on fleece, liners, and just about any of the good hedgie craft info, look for Nancy, she's got the market cornered. ^_^

~Katie

 

[Bengall77]

I believe that Nancy is still taking a break from sewing due to health reasons. Please correct me if I'm wrong, Nancy!

A lot of people like fleece because you don't have to sew it. Flannel is more absorbent and comes in a lot of cute colors and prints. I prefer 2 layers of flannel or 3-4 layers of heavy weight cotton for cage liners. Fleece is good if you can't sew, but as others have pointed out it is not absorbent.

I would recommend using flannel if you can sew. I have also heard of people using denim but I never tried that myself.

 

[KathyS]

I do sew and I'm a big believer in recycling. I can always hit the second hand store and get what I need for the core and buy the fleece and bottom new. Yeah, I know I'm going to spoil him. So I can sew up lots of nice things for him. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting the wrong stuff. I heard that some folks like Vellux and others stay away from it if they have hedgies that are chewers. We have a winter storm hitting us, so we may have to wait till next week to pick him up.

 

[Alastrina]

I'd say no to Vellux as well since I've seen the way those blankets can come apart, and they way hedgies (kinda like babies) like to put stuff in their mouths. ^_^

I would love to see what kind of things you make for your little one, might give me some ideas for mine!

~Katie

 

[LizardGirl]

Vellux can work but isn't good for a hedgie that likes to chew on things or dig at all. It shreds more easily than fleece.

 

[KathyS]

Thanks for the 411 on Vellux! I'd sooner not take a chance since we don't know Puck yet. He's three, so I'm sure he's set in his ways if he is a chewer. I'm going to be going through my fabric bin to see what I have here and get to sewing this week!