Soaking and Stretching Denim

[stever]

heheheh excellent. thanks again giles! i think i'll be going with the 30w for 634S and 3230FI

[Giles]

30 in the 3230FI is out of stock at the moment.  Have PI, or getting a restock in about 5 weeks.  G

[stever]

that's ok - it'll give me a chance to really break in the 634Ss!

[hectic]

IME, stretching on the 634S is fairly easy and ample, i.e.: I got 38s and they did not wear tight (I like em loose), now (admittedly a lot of wear down the line) they measure 40 inches.

[stever]

too late now simon! the die has been cast…
thankfully i have all winter to stretch em out. i'll be looking to get some 3x works come summer though; it gets pretty hot around here

[stever]

hmmm, i am beginning to see the merits of your argument simon

these are gonna take a long time to break in proper

[Giles]

Yes, Stever.  That would be very useful.  This is actually one of the most uesful threads on the Forum - the more data the better.  G

[hectic]

Agreed, good data.

Quick question of my own - I have a pir of flatheads that have been very sparingly washed (always cold soaked), and they have not nearly shrunk as much in the leg as my other FHs (which were warm washed).

Is there a point a which, due to the age of the jeans, a subsequent (first) hot wash would not shrink them at all?

Kinda of the opposite of shrinking but it seemed the right thread.

Ta
H

[Beatle]

nope..jeans actually shrink their whole life / but they also stretch..

fibers get thinner with wear - and every time you wash them they shrink in order to fill the "gaps"…weird to explain

[hectic]

ok, ta, Beats, cool wash still then i think.

[stever]

oh best believe i ain't giving up that easy.
worn them every day so far; normally take them on a hourish walk around the neighbourhood in the evening. walked to and from work a couple of times instead of cycling to get some more wear. had to leave the top button undone on the 2nd day because my hips were a bit shredded.
going for another walk now…

[Beatle]

the 21oz selvage denim is so comfty - even when worn tight. I am currently doing a stretching experiment on a certain sample jeans - so that we'll be able to give you exact size advice on a new fit. My impression - you will be able to get away with a really really tight fit to begin with…

[stever]

hi all,
i was wondering if anyone has advice or instructions with regard to soaking. i've never soaked my jeans before, and i'm not too sure if i need to (or even what it does)… i just normally buy them and wear them and leave it at that. does it help with the aging or the durability or help them break in?
thanks guys

stever

[Beatle]

Simple

If jeans are raw you need to soak in order to shrink and get rid of some of the starch.

If jeans are sanforized, no need to soak.

Fill tub with warm water(hot if you need to shrink a lot, cold if you're afraid they may end up being too tight).
Insert jeans - leave in the water for at least 1 hour - but anything up to 5 or 6 hours is fine.

Take out, hang dry and wear.

[DrPat]

@Beatle:

Simple

If jeans are raw you need to soak in order to shrink and get rid of some of the starch.

If jeans are sanforized, no need to soak.

Fill tub with warm water(hot if you need to shrink a lot, cold if you're afraid they may end up being too tight).
Insert jeans - leave in the water for at least 1 hour - but anything up to 5 or 6 hours is fine.

Take out, hang dry and wear.

Although sanforization does include the use of water or steam, it seems that what you refer to as sanforized is popularly referred to as raw+sanforized and what you refer to as raw is referred to as raw+unsanforized.

I believe the only IH jeans that need a soak are the 634SR and SEXIH07.  Both are unsanforized.  Somewhere on this forum there is a discussion about threads bursting when you don't soften up the 634SR with a soak.

[Simon]

Personally I pre soak everything before wearing the first time. It may not be necessary but at least removes most of the starch and other chemicals used in production.

I had a nasty experience with some LVC's a few years back when at the start of the raw denim learning curve. Put a year in to them before washing, you can guess the rest; great fades but no chance of ever fitting me again!

[deadendpro]

The kiya way works best for me:

Anything more than 45 mins won't do anything to the denim.

Soak hot or cold, either way the shrinkage will occur (though it will happen a lot faster with warmer water)

Air dry or dry in the sun.

–---------------------------

Maybe it is just me but I find soaking to be the most difficult thing in regards to denim. Not that I don't know how to do it, but because the only thing left to do is wash or wear. Soaking is the only even remotely "complicated" process. Still totally fuckin easy, but it can be intimidating to those who haven't done it very much if at all before.

[Giles]

My method.  Measure.  Chuck in sink of hot water.  Leave in there until I remember that they're there.  Dry (for max shrinkage in the hottest place I can find, for min shrinkage coolest place I can find). Re-measure…G

[LandoCal126 0]

Just soaked my new TW HR01 the G way in the Denim Dungeon Shrink Sink. Just like G said, I left them in the sink until I remembered and then they hung outside. Measured before and after. The less you worry, the better they will turn out…

[that_was_easy]

Sometimes I hate having an off-white tub.  Makes the water brownish instead of that lovely pale blue.