• Home
    • Recent
    • Calendar
    • Register
    • Login
    Iron Heart Forum
    Iron Heart Forum

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

    Soaking and Stretching Denim

    The Resource Centre
    44
    148
    133.2k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      Possibly, but you get a load of starch out on the first soak, that certainly contributes to the browniness of the water….

      "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
      • T
        that_was_easy
        Joined:

        Most definitely the brown is startch and when I've soaked other pairs w/ month's of wear, there's only a faint hint of green amidst dirty brown.  The water itself is probably similar in color to Lando's flick, but with the yellowish tub, shit just looks filthy. shrugs  Maybe I'm the filthy one.  😃

        My KMW 1980HD released crazy starch into the fifth warm soak before wearing, but I used the (white)laundry sink for those, where I do most initial soaks because starch is more noticable.  I'm partial to more colorfast denim, but starting to think about maybe picking something up that'll bleed a ton w/ or w/o abuse.  Samurai or Skull, probably, like I need another pair.  ::) 😃

        That's about the extent of my (underdeveloped??)process though.  Temperature of the water and choice of sinks/tubs and that's about it.  No initial soak for the S-B though.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • J Cosmo AspJ
          J Cosmo Asp
          Joined:

          I just let them soak in a rain shower, hung over a patio chair–sometimes for a day of two if it's really rainy.  I leave them indigo-side out and then dry on a wooden rack.  With all of mine made with a 42" inseam, I never worry about measuring after I start--anything from 40-42 inches makes me happy and don't require rolling up out of the way. Never had the luxury of 42s until the Original Spin 501s were available starting in the late 90s, so I'm neutral about the habit rolling them up to see the selvedge--it's just not a part of my experience.

          Ni!

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • STANS
            STAN
            Joined:

            Don't soak with too hot water overnight, mine end up like this.

            EVERYDAY DENIM

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • T
              that_was_easy
              Joined:

              That patch has warped like crazy!  I guess I to will admit to soaking my 9634Z until the patch became deformed, but no where near that!  Who knows, maybe Giles uses extra patches to even out legs of the coffee table…

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • BeatleB
                Beatle
                Joined:

                scorched patch

                We can do anything

                http://bybeatle.com

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S
                  stever
                  Joined:

                  thanks for all the replues everyone! next time i invest in some denim i might give it a quick soak…. i just didn;t know if i was missing out on something major!

                  cheers

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • maltessM
                    maltess
                    Joined:

                    Hello to everyone

                    Does the IH634s actually shirnks a little? do you guys think is going to stretch almost 2 inhes like some menbers said?

                    I am fine with a 32 waist, 10.5 rise and 11.5 tight, all that after the stretching , so I guess my size is 31, but if the stretching is going to be 2 inches in the waist, maybe I should get a 30.

                    Thanks a lot and best regards

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • BeatleB
                      Beatle
                      Joined:

                      it doesn't shrink a lot.

                      And it only stretches 2 inches if it has to - in other words - if your jeans are not super tight to begin with, they will only stretch the average amount. Judging by thigh measurements I would say go for the 31.

                      We can do anything

                      http://bybeatle.com

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • SimonS
                        Simon
                        Joined:

                        My 634S 34 tagged have stretched out from their original 870mm to 910mm. They are just perfect now  😃 . The sizing chat is accurate but in most cases I think they will stretch out a little, if your a true 32 then the 31's should end up perfect.

                        Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities - Frank Lloyd Wright

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • SeulS
                          Seul
                          Joined:

                          True 32 - been wearing my size 31 634s'es… Stretching out SLOWLY...

                          DON'T go with a size 30 - trust me...

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • maltessM
                            maltess
                            Joined:

                            @Beatle:

                            it doesn't shrink a lot.

                            And it only stretches 2 inches if it has to - in other words - if your jeans are not super tight to begin with, they will only stretch the average amount. Judging by thigh measurements I would say go for the 31.

                            Thanks a lot, do you mean is going to stretch more than two inches?

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

                              No, what Beatle means is that under normal conditions, you will get one inch of stretch.  If you start off with them super tight, you can actually force them to stretch two inches of stretch.

                              Go with a 31.

                              G

                              "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
                              • T
                                thpcgr
                                Joined:

                                Another noob question.
                                I currently wear APC Rescues in a size 31 and am looking at getting the correct sizing for IH-634SR.  Here are the current measurement for my APC and 634SR measurements I got off the website.

                                APC 31" IH-634SR
                                Inches 31 32
                                Waist 33 32.6
                                Inseam 31 37
                                Front Rise 11 10.3
                                Rear Rise 14.5 15.1
                                Knee 9 9.5
                                Cuff 8.5 9
                                Thigh 12.5 13.1

                                Would the 634SR in a size 32" shrink then stretch enough in the waist?  And what length should I hem them too?  Wishing the front rise was a little longer, any fits in a 21oz. that is close to the APC?  Thanks!

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

                                  32 is fine.  add 2 - 2.5" on for hemming…G

                                  "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
                                  • riffblaster generalR
                                    riffblaster general
                                    Raw and Unwashed
                                    Joined:

                                    i just got a pair of 634s's in 29 waist.  im usually a 31.  its gonna take a little work but i think i can get these right where i need them.

                                    PUT DOWN THAT STARBUCKS, PICK UP THAT GNARBUCKS!!

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

                                      So look forward to some falsetto for a week or two…...

                                      "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
                                      • riffblaster generalR
                                        riffblaster general
                                        Raw and Unwashed
                                        Joined:

                                        haha yeah its going to be quite an experiment.

                                        PUT DOWN THAT STARBUCKS, PICK UP THAT GNARBUCKS!!

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • BeatleB
                                          Beatle
                                          Joined:

                                          As long as you make it through day 1 you'll be fine

                                          We can do anything

                                          http://bybeatle.com

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • riffblaster generalR
                                            riffblaster general
                                            Raw and Unwashed
                                            Joined:

                                            haha finally got the top button done after a couple hours.    i think you need a little pain at first, it makes it that much more rewarding when you get them how you want them.

                                            these are going to be perfect once they stretch, loving them.

                                            PUT DOWN THAT STARBUCKS, PICK UP THAT GNARBUCKS!!

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright Iron Heart 2025.