Random questions to which you seek an answer

[mitzimeow]

I got my first pair of Iron Heart jeans recently, an old womens discontinued tomboy pair I was happy to snag off ebay for the cheap-ish! I really love these jeans and wish they were still in production- but now, for my question. My pants are a very close fit for me, and are very snug around the waist. The denim is obviously very stiff, the 21 oz, and sometimes i feel like the waistband is cutting into my sides. I have had them for four months now, and havent washed them yet, i think for now i would prefer not to, but i wonder if anyone has any advice on how to soften the waistband up a bit?

[popvulture]

@mitzimeow people on here (myself included) will probably tell you that the 21oz is the softest denim IH makes, aside from maybe the 16oz slub. If you wash them, they might shrink a bit but they'll stretch back out to where they are now with just a couple wears.

You can stretch out the waist with a pant stretcher like the one I'll post below. I bought one and it was well worth it, as it's helped me get a little extra in the waists of a couple pairs of jeans that were a little too tight for me. I haven't done it myself, but I believe you can get even more stretch if you use the stretcher while the jeans are wet.

https://www.amazon.com/Generic-Stretcher-Adjustable-Stretch-30-YSKC001/dp/B0D2Q6FQDF/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=5ZEOQWNWPFE1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.d0f57AKW1ICzCy8-TRuIwF7sgOFZ9KpGDxtAETly0njT_H5T0BCol8GT3AncKFXzCv9cJrY5p4jSl3pUOqxv0XyS_WQTamltRmaGt-b792d8PyR4N4aOVo2Vhxc4RHFXL6Al0_ICdcYhCD7UNHJPfrhAs1xa7kc_D25R2YIdznraKAaDowyAhMSqyvGbvKTo7rUo2BYnBTKQB8IfRL3z9c1-kMZb-nvlEuxnJu_5fjd7MwpDwI8tzYByghVd0AJ1bBZdiLtAlaRlj8kzxsyXQoAiukYU8omjiuYb2PsMHzQ.iMBkJZFFzGIsvksuIbvKmjjcXGVFCoMEjIuOMTI-0YM&dib_tag=se&keywords=pants+stretcher&qid=1736783051&sprefix=pants+stretcher%2Caps%2C335&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

PS sorry for that big ugly link. You can also just look up "pants stretcher" on Amazon and you'll get quite a lot of options. Typicall the wooden semicircle bits with the adjustable threaded piece in between.

[Giles]

@popvulture said in Random questions to which you seek an answer:

people on here (myself included) will probably tell you that the 21oz is the softest denim IH makes

The Tomboys are made out of non-selvedge, which is not nearly as soft as the selvedge 21oz

[popvulture]

@Giles Ah, right on! I saw the tomboy part but didn't realize that was an actual model. So it's non selvedge 21oz, or another weight? Totally different fabric? I'm intrigued.

[jordanscollected]

@mitzimeow I agree with Pop that the pant stretcher is the way to go for you. I sized my 888xhs wrong and bought them an inch too small in the waist for where they sit on my body and the pant stretcher was the solution for me. I got 1" or more in the waist. I initially put them on the stretcher for 2 days to get the initial stretch and then kept them on the stretcher all the time between wears.

If you go this route. stretch them with the pants fully buttoned and made sure the top button is touching the wooden stretcher. That is you stretch front to back and not side to side. this will help keep from popping a button.

start by stretching them nice and firm and then let them sit for a few hours. Then give them another small crank to get some more stretch. repeat a few times but you can overdo it and pop the button, so use care.

If you want to get additional stretch by getting the denim wet (but you don't want to wash them, you can dip just the waistband in water till it's soaked and take the steps above.

[Giles]

@popvulture said in Random questions to which you seek an answer:

So it's non selvedge 21oz,

Yep.

Same denim as this:

https://www.ironheart.co.uk/jackets/ih-527j.html

[Oaktavia]

@Giles is it the same denim used for the IHC-06?

[Giles]

Good question. I am not 100% sure, but I have always believed the IHC-06 to be selvedge.

You are probably in a better position than me to check it it looks the same or differs, becxause I gave my cap away years ago.....

[popvulture]

That's cool. I dig the lighter blue, almost sort of a Lee or Wrangler vibe.

[Oaktavia]

@Giles

The weft does not appear to be beige to me. Looks more like white if that helps.

[Giles]

Not a lot.....

The weft on the selvedge 21oz used to be white, Haraki changed it to beige some time after I started working with him, because he thought it would be better for my market.. So it could be old stock....

What does the face feel/look like? The non-selvedge is super smooth compared to the selvedge.....

[Oaktavia]

@Giles

It feels pretty smooth and even. No irregularities that I can see.

[Oaktavia]

@Giles after scrolling through the IHC-06 page:

@Giles said in IHC-06 - 21oz Indigo Denim Cap:

I'm sure we can.  He is still not 100% happy with the patteren and is working on perfection at the mo'.  Here is his latest update to me:

_Regular 21oz, CAP (IH-461 as denim) made 1st sample.

@Giles said in IHC-06 - 21oz Indigo Denim Cap:

It is the 634S selvedge denim.

Haraki designed it so that it could be folded and stuffed into a pocket, but still retain its shape when un-schrunched.

G

[Giles]

So I contradict myself in those 2 posts, classic

[Oaktavia]

@Giles the top quote refers to the sample cap while the second is to the revised caps. Not sure it that helps or changes anything.

[sabergirl]

The cap was billed as selvedge when it was sold. I’m pretty sure that it is. I had a non selvedge 21oz type III that felt different.

[Matt]

Am I the only one here not at all shocked that @giles doesn’t know what he’s talking about?

[Giles]

I'm not.

Ann, thank you. I did not even think that the cap I bought back from The US to The Uk for @Oaktavia could be non-selvedge. But once the questions started I realised that I did not actually know. Well, I did once, but obviously forgot....

[Oaktavia]

@Giles seems as though it's the old 21oz selvedge with the white weft @sabergirl is this what you remember? Fascinating chat this evening.

[bluemantra]

Got a pair of jeans with two little vampire holes in the back pocket from the tag that was there I believe. Do these close up with wear and washing?