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    Discover our "What Is?" section to learn more about denim!

    Soaking and Stretching Denim

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    • B
      bertoni
      Joined:

      @georgeel:

      First of all, I'm the guy who purchased the last pair of 634SR: W28!

      They arrived today, with a very nice heart shaped box full of chocolate candies: "The last pair! thank you Giorgio"
      Thank you, IH, I say… 😘 ❤ ❤ ❤

      Now they are under soaking.

      One week ago I had bought a pair of 634S, W29, that fit very good, but maybe a little loose. Perhaps I could have worn a 28, after all.
      So, I decided to try the 28 thing with the 634SR. Maybe i made a mistake, but I don't care, I can give them to my sister.

      Last night I dreamed about it. In my dream there was Giles with a strange pair of dungarees (surely not 21oz at all) in his hands. He stayed in front of me with these pants and two or three shirts too...

      Woah! If G was holding the dungarees in his hands…does that mean he was naked?! Good grief Georgeel...you got it bad;)

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • G
        grandmasterben
        Joined:

        woooh, reviving this thread! It really is a good idea, because I was really conflicted when it came to my first (and only so far) iron heart purchase.  I bought a pair of 31 waist busters, my favorite jeans now, which measured 15" across the waistband.  When I put them on they were really tight and it was a struggle, but after a while I finally got them on.  A few months later and they measure 15.5", which is perfect.  Also, if you want to stretch out the thighs, go for a bike ride or 2.  I went on one about 3 months in to them, and to my surprise the thighs were comfortably loose! So yeah, hopefully this helps.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • urbanwoodsmanU
          urbanwoodsman
          Banned
          Joined:

          I can't say I'd recommend sizing like I do but I've been lucky enough to find all my jeans in new condition for an average of $125 each. With that being said, the only pair out of these that gave me trouble were obviously the 33's and now they are the best fitting pair I have. I prefer a smaller hem, so I try to always size down. If I can almost button the top button then, in my mind, they can be stretched to fit me. I put them on the back of a chair and try to stretch them out for a few days and wear them around the house a bit. Again, I am forcing these jeans to stretch, pushing them to see what I can get out of them to suit my needs. I would not recommend going to the extremes I go to. TTS 36.5in

          666od sz36
          actual when new: 35in
          actual after 15 wears: 37in
          no soaks, no chair stretching

          9634Z sz33
          actual when newish: 34
          actual after 10 wears: 36.5
          no soaks, stretching on the back of a chair

          634S sz34
          actual when new: 34
          actual after 30 wears: 36.5in
          no soaks, stretching on the back of a chair

          Also, for reference:
          Strike Gold 2105 Pure Gold sz34
          actual when new: 35in
          actual after 30 wears: 38in (too big, need to soak)
          one hot soak on just the legs

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Finn666F
            Finn666
            Joined:

            stretching on the back of a chair?
            I can't picture that somehow,sry…got anymore info?

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • urbanwoodsmanU
              urbanwoodsman
              Banned
              Joined:

              @Finn666:

              stretching on the back of a chair?
              I can't picture that somehow,sry…got anymore info?

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • bagley920B
                bagley920
                Joined:

                Trying woodsman's strategy on a pair of 36's, I'm normally 38. Measured them before and they are def 36" before. Will post measurements after. Only been worn twice before this so practically new.

                If I am not I, who will be? -Henry David Thoreau

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • TakeshiT
                  Takeshi
                  Joined:

                  reading on some posts , a ' SEA WASH ' gets mentioned ..
                  I take it that means jumping in the sea with yer jeans on ? why ? and what exactly will that do ?

                  You only live once , if done properly then once is enough

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

                    imo absolutely nothing…..but some people love doing it and that's all that matters......

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • TakeshiT
                      Takeshi
                      Joined:

                      just wondered if the salt , and sand gave any good whiskering to the denim .. cheers ..

                      You only live once , if done properly then once is enough

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • ChrisC
                        Chris
                        Raw and Unwashed
                        Joined:

                        In theory, yeah.  The salt and sand should provide extra abrasion and speed up fading in the usual places.  Personally, I wouldn't do it because I feel like the point of washing jeans is to get crap out of the denim and the ocean isn't exactly what I consider clean.

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • bagley920B
                          bagley920
                          Joined:

                          @Chris:

                          In theory, yeah.  The salt and sand should provide extra abrasion and speed up fading in the usual places.  Personally, I wouldn't do it because I feel like the point of washing jeans is to get crap out of the denim and the ocean isn't exactly what I consider clean.

                          Depends where you live. The Gulf is vastly different than here in North Carolina, which is also vastly different than the Shore.

                          If I am not I, who will be? -Henry David Thoreau

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • ChrisC
                            Chris
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            Having seen/been in the ocean along the coasts of Texas, North Carolina and New Jersey, I agree with you about the differences in water quality.  Nonetheless, I stand by my statement that an ocean "wash" isn't going to actually get a pair of jeans clean.

                            But that's just me.:)  To each their own…

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • bagley920B
                              bagley920
                              Joined:

                              @Chris:

                              Having seen/been in the ocean along the coasts of Texas, North Carolina and New Jersey, I agree with you about the differences in water quality.  Nonetheless, I stand by my statement that an ocean "wash" isn't going to actually get a pair of jeans clean.

                              But that's just me.:)  To each their own…

                              Maybe it's just all the kids in my neighborhood but I'm guessing there's less urine in the ocean than in my neighborhood pool haha

                              If I am not I, who will be? -Henry David Thoreau

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • DougNgD
                                DougNg
                                Joined:

                                I find this highly questionable as well. I've gotten soaked in the ocean and let my jeans air dry (in southern california)

                                A day later they stunk of fish

                                I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • GilesG
                                  Giles
                                  IHUK Crew
                                  Joined:

                                  @Takeshi:

                                  just wondered if the salt , and sand gave any good whiskering to the denim .. cheers ..

                                  What gives good whiskering is abrasion at the high points, that is the indigo being abraded off the surface of the rope dyed warp.  This occurs with wear, imo sitting around in an ocean does little if nothing to help….

                                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • Sugar MountainS
                                    Sugar Mountain
                                    Joined:

                                    APC has a lot to answer for…

                                    I figure the abrasion happens when people rub sand over their jeans after taking a dip in the ocean and the salt water wash seems to leach indigo leaving to an overall loss of colour. But as pointed out above, your jeans are going to stink of the sea unless you're close to beautiful, clean waters.

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • DougNgD
                                      DougNg
                                      Joined:

                                      Personally, I prefer to jump into the ocean butt nekkid

                                      I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Dirty DenimD
                                        Dirty Denim
                                        Joined:

                                        maybe a silly question but after i soak a pair of jeans do i try to get out excess water in any way or should i just lay em soaking wet?

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Finn666F
                                          Finn666
                                          Joined:

                                          @Dirty:

                                          maybe a silly question but after i soak a pair of jeans do i try to get out excess water in any way or should i just lay em soaking wet?

                                          i always roll´em up in one or two towels to get out as much water as i can, then i´ll let them drip dry…

                                          lay towel on floor, jeans on top of towel, 2nd towel on top of jeans, start rolling and pressing, unroll, hang dry, wear!...

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • Dirty DenimD
                                            Dirty Denim
                                            Joined:

                                            wow thats brilliant TY TY

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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