Melanzana fleece material

I don’t know if that’s the material but the material they use is not what I would call a “heavier weight fleece”. It’s pretty thin.

BCap,

Your link is for Polartec 100:

mm thick = .30, clo = .8, and typical 1/4 zip pullover’s total weight clo/oz = .104

The Melanzana fleece (used in their Thermal Pro Hoody) is Polartec Thermal Pro:

mm thick = .70, clo = 1.8, and their blue Melanzana TP hoody total weight clo/oz = .102

Seems like there could be some confusion since Melanzana uses a number of different Polartec fleeces for different products, including MicroGrid, HardFace, PowerDry, WindPro, and HiLoft/ Thermal Pro (which Richard referenced). I’m assuming you’re asking about the Melanzana MicroGrid fleece? If so, it does seem to be the same, and shares some naming conventions (“Micro”) between the two companies.

I’ve had great experiences with Mill Yardage, and their owner is very accessible by email if you have a question about the fabric.

Thanks for the responses.  I was indeed referring to the their microgrid as opposed to the thermal pro.  I’ve been drinking some of the ultralight reddit  koolaid and have been really wanting to pick up one of the microgrid hoodies.  But then when I saw the pictures of the fabric over on gear swap I realized I might have already made a pullover with that material (Millyardage has had it on the cheap as seconds for a while now).  From the responses here it sounds like it probably is the same material.  I like it a lot as a baselayer so far this winter.  I guess I can save my $69 for for something else.

I used the pattern here if anyone cares.  It was true to size and stupidly easy to make.

https://www.shelbyoutdoor.com/?cPath=405_436_486

BCap – I’ve got a couple yards of Power Wool from Millyardage and was hoping to use the exact same pattern to sew one or two base layers, to be similar to my current Patagonia Capilene thermal weight 1/4 zip.

I didn’t see anything in the pattern about doing the 1/4 or 1/2 length zipper.  This is my first clothing project, but I do have experience sewing several synthetic quilts and a few waterproof rain “kilts”.

Any tips you’d care to share?  Your base layer looks really nice.

I found a walking foot to be helpful.  I just have a crummy plastic singer one and it was fine.

I made the piece without a zipper, then pinned and machine basted the zipper on ( i left the zipper an inch or two long at the top and trimmed it later), then cut the 1/2 zip, then finished sewing the zipper on (zig zag).  The top of the zipper is just folded down and sewed.  The bottom of the zipper has a piece of grosgrain folded over sewed on as reinforcement and as a zipstop.  I put the zipper on the outside because I figured it’d be more comfy as a baselayer that way.  I used a zigzag stitch with enough zigzag such that when I stretched the material the thread wasn’t being stressed too hard.  I found the sleeves a little short, so the second one I made had 1.5 inches length added vs the pattern.  The collar was a little tight with my fabric so I seam ripped the first collar off and made it an inch longer.  I double sewed all seams, though don’t think it was really necessary.  I sewed a little chin-zip guard on.  And I just did a 3/4″ hem on the sleeves and bottom.

But honestly, fleece materials are so forgiving it is hard to mess it up.  The first version I goofed in a bunch of places and it is still totally serviceable but the second one came out quite nice.