IH-888S-UHR - 21/23oz Ultra Heavy Raw Selvedge Denim High Rise Tapered Cut Jeans

[neph93]

@Zecyon:

Hi Everyone - I wanted to see if there were any opinions on the chainstitch unraveling that is currently happening on my UHR's at the crotch. These have been soaked/washed and only worn about 30 days or so. I am concerned that if I keep wearing them without any repair, this seam is going to completely unravel and I am unable to self-repair. Any help would be appreciated. Never had this happen on a pair of IH's before.

I don’t think you have much to worry about. The bar tack is good, and there are no broken threads. Is it the loose thread on the inside that goes over the seam that worries you? If so I’ve seen that on my pairs before, without ot being an issue.

If you want to go for safety you could strengthen it with a very small drop of superglue on the thread, (taking utmost care not to make a mess), or throw a couple of stitches in on either side of the seam. Regardless, that is polycotton thread and it would need a lot to make it break.

[Zecyon]

I would say yes that loose thread. I had a pair of N&F denim that had the same issue and as I kept wearing them, the chain stitch kept unraveling and that whole outer seam pulled apart. I don't know if the construction is exactly the same as these, but it seems to be the same situation from the looks. Just looking for some guidance if they need to be repaired before I keep breaking them in. I'm wearing another pair of 888 SBG's for now!

[weftyarn]

@Zecyon I can totally understand your worries and this is definitely something I would not be lazy about. A similar "unravel" has happened to some of my pairs (although never at < 100 wear days and mostly on 100% cotton threads that Samurai uses). I normally go with the latter solution that @neph93 suggested which is applying some reinforcing stitches to prevent the thread from unraveling any further.

I'm not sure how this will go with (almost unworn) UHR, since that's just a different breed to sew through. But if you use a strong needle and pliers, you should be able to do it!

Even if the seem would have never unraveled any further, it makes you feel safe and enjoy your jeans. It would be sad for them to  be babied just because of such worries, right?

[weftyarn]

50 wear days on these. Slowly showing their character, but still pretty stiff. Looking forward to hit the 100 day mark.

[A Former User]

@weftyarn looks cool dude!! UHR time again, grabbed mine out of the closet again as well

[Bigdog]

How long is the zipper on a size 40?

[DCWS2020]

Picked up a pair of these from a forum member. The waist fits well. The top block and hip area though kinda balloons out at the seams and feels loose. Is this how this cut is supposed to fit and the hip flaring will relax with wear or is this cut not for me? I like the thigh, knee and leg opening a lot.. just the hip flaring is weird.

[A Former User]

@DCWS2020 some peeps are able to size down waist wise in this particular model to avoid this effect. But especially the UHR denim is a crispy and stubborn piece of denim for let’s say the first month or so. Also is this one soaked/washed? My experience asside from the effect that’s almost a necessary thing for this model it settle some things. I remember my first UHR experience.. totally different then what i was used to but awesome! So i would say: soak them inside out in the hottest tap water you have available, throw them in the washing machine on low temp and low or no cycling spin and drip dry/flat dry.

[DCWS2020]

@Heavy_blue they went through the initial soak dry wash dry… so I just decided to wash them on hot and then maybe toss them inside out in the dryer. I can stretch the waist back out if I need. Im used to unsanforized denim just not iron heart weight lol.

[goosehd]

@DCWS2020 I think you bought these here from @Bums_Fan

If so, he’s got the shrink out of it and while you may be able to get a little more shrink out of it, I don’t think you’ll get what you’re looking for. The 888 is meant to be worn higher on the waist than you are currently wearing them. You can try to wear them a little higher or you may need to size down or try a different cut.

This is just my $.02 and FWIW, I had the same issue with my first pair of 888’s. On my second pair I sized down and they fit much better.

[A Former User]

@DCWS2020 yeah 23oz of pure rawness is totally crazy.. but i also must say that i’m normal a 555 or 777 kinda guy and the first days in my 888 were just some getting used to. Hope things work out for you man!

[DCWS2020]

@goosehd yeah.. these are from him. Great transaction BTW. Exactly as described if not better. After posting above my daughter rubbed my wife’s makeup all over the back pockets so they’re in the wash on hot now to get the makeup out / possibly get some more shrinkage.

I think if the denim relaxes and drapes better they’ll be perfect.

[DCWS2020]

@Heavy_blue I’ve been wearing warehouse 1001’s for a while now but they’re a LOT lighter weight so they drape much differently. Hoping these work out.

[DCWS2020]

Update since we are all nerds and love details : washed them on hot for an hour.. then tumble dried them on medium heat…. Fit is now 100% perfect for what I was hoping for.

And… because I’m crazy I took the patch off before washing re sewed it on after

[T4920]

@DCWS2020 I have a lot of respect for your commitment to patch preservation

[T4920]

@DCWS2020 as an aforementioned nerd, I require photos.

[Bums_Fan]

@DCWS2020 I'm glad you were able to find some additional shrink left in them and get them to fit as you had hoped for. I've never run any of my IH jeans through a dryer cycle. Knowing that you were able to get some additional change in sizing may have inspired me to give it a try for one pair of jeans I have that are still a little bit loose for my taste.

And I'm with @T4920 , fit pics post dryer cycle would be cool if you have them.

[Matt]

I dried a bunch of my jeans after losing weight living on the road for a year to see if any shrink was available. No adverse effects to fades or color and some shrink, not much, was achieved. The dryer is not always the bogey man it’s made out to be.

[goosehd]

I've dried a couple of pairs on occasion inside out with no ill effects. I did not take them to the point where they were completely cooked and removed them when they were still slightly damp. Medium heat instead of high heat (mainly for the leather patch).

[sabergirl]

I tumble dry ALL my denim, without exception. I still haven’t ever tackled brand new UHR though. Only really effed up one pair of 301 Od 19 oz something back in the day. Grew to love how marbled they were pretty quickly.