Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Mike, Indydawg
Yes, that was my guess as well but how much does it bounch back after shrinkage?Hollowpond wrote:I would guess lamb due to its elasticity. But it is just a guess...
Travis
, leather is not meant to be in water (if it was then cows, sheep, goats, bison and horses would have webbed feet and not hooves! 
). LOL! It is so true! Who in their right minds would wash a brand new leather jacket? That's right! Nuts like us!!!Hollowpond wrote:I think you are gonna get a bevy of "Your results may vary, proceed with caution" replies in this thread. There are no real guarantees when it comes to water and leather. For anyone other than us nut jobs
Travis
The best part is, were not talking about some cheap item here. These jackets cost bucks! With that said, the drive to get that "look" 
is ever so dominating, and pushes us to do so!](./images/smilies/Indy_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
John Ok that makes some sense.. what type of leathers?djd wrote:If it's washed cold and dried gently it doesn't really shrink at all. My magnoli hasnt lost any size. I had a wested that did but that was dried with heat...
So when the wested lamb lost some size years ago it stayed that way? Or did it eventually return to original size it was before the cold wash/heat dry?djd wrote:About three years back. Can't remember all the details but as I recall I just hung it over a line with a space heater in the room. It dried in a day as instead of around four days without heat... Obviously it's cold and wet where I am - somewhere with some sun would be quicker!
Like I said...too many variables. I don't think there is one cure all for this question. Even different jackets from the same vendor could have some quirky variation from hide batches, imperfections in a particular hide, etc., etc. I am right there with you though friend, seeing all these "newly washed" jackets makes me itchy! I would reiterate though, your results may vary.Texan Scott wrote:Depends upon the density of the leather and the amount of heat applied to it.
You are thinking along the same line as I. I am really digging that US Wings Legend Striated Lamb but heard it runs a little long in the sleeves, so I figured I have a back up plan if I picked one up!Texan Scott wrote:Righto. If you have a new, good fitting jacket to begin with, and want to take the shine off the jacket, it is better to use cold water and just hang it to dry, this way you minimize the shrink factor. Some would say, use rubbing alcohol, etc. If you have a jacket that is maybe one size too large, for instance, then maybe it's time to turn up the heat some? Depends on the situation.
I'm with you.. I think the Roz Schott sleeves are a little long in the Legend Striated Lamb.. One heck of a leather but I like a little less in the sleeves in all The Legend Cow USA and Imports...Next week I will have my first run of Striated Lamb and I will see the measurements with those to our USA Roz is making.. BTW Keep in mind do not wash the Import Cow Leather! Major mistake.. This leather is over 30 plus years old and never seen before on any jacket and has the old country look and smell and I have no idea what would happen to it if the leather was washed.. I would ask _ what He thinks first!! As for Roz and I.. every time we read about a Jacket being washed we open another bottle... I like red wine helps the heart.Digger4Glory wrote:You are thinking along the same line as I. I am really digging that US Wings Legend Striated Lamb but heard it runs a little long in the sleeves, so I figured I have a back up plan if I picked one up!Texan Scott wrote:Righto. If you have a new, good fitting jacket to begin with, and want to take the shine off the jacket, it is better to use cold water and just hang it to dry, this way you minimize the shrink factor. Some would say, use rubbing alcohol, etc. If you have a jacket that is maybe one size too large, for instance, then maybe it's time to turn up the heat some? Depends on the situation.
I will keep that in mind if I pick up an import. Also if I ever wash a leather jacket, I will make sure to tip the glass at this end as well! Sounds like a nice tradition!
As for myself... I do like what _ did with His Raiders Legend Jacket and may let Him do that to one of My Jackets.. I nor Roz Schott has ever washed a Leather jacket and would not want to take a chance... I do love the look.ron521 wrote:The hot tip for getting boots to fit perfectly used to be to soak them overnight in cold water, such as the washing machine or bathtub. Then put them on and wear them till they dry. The leather would shrink slightly due to your body heat, and conform perfectly to the shape of your foot, although this could take hours or days depending on the ambient temperature.
I've seen jackets which have been shrunken improperly, one roomy size 42 Schott went down to a snug 38, and sleeves were no longer the same length (an inch difference, maybe one sleeve was nearer the heat source while drying?).
If I DID ever wash a jacket, it would only be in cold water, and I'd be VERY careful about how I dried it.
did you?
stevemahaffey wrote:So is there any re-stretching a shrunken jacket?
My AC Hero was not INTENTIONALLY washed, but it did meet with enough water to saturate it. Warm water at that. I did not properly explain to my wife that the fuller's earth would come off with wear. To make things worse, she then tossed it in the dryer with a load of other clothes. Medium-High heat.
The leather may relax enough with the Pecards to allow you stretch out the pleats again. Really, at this point what do you have to loose? Pics may be instructive to all of us. I would go with the pecards and work it into the leather really good. I would even warm the pecards up a little before I worked it in. I have a pair of leather gloves I hand washed in warm water then dried them in the drier. They shrunk up pretty good but were very dry, so I worked warm beeswax into them to soften/seal them and it worked. As a result though the leather drank it up and the gloves went almost back the original size. I don't think all hope is lossed for your jacket.stevemahaffey wrote:So is there any re-stretching a shrunken jacket?
My AC Hero was not INTENTIONALLY washed, but it did meet with enough water to saturate it. Warm water at that. I did not properly explain to my wife that the fuller's earth would come off with wear. To make things worse, she then tossed it in the dryer with a load of other clothes. Medium-High heat. I found the jacket when checking the other clothes and took it out before it got Completely dry and, thinking this accident might actually turn out to be a good thing, I put the jacket on and wore it until it was dry.
Overall, I do like MOST of what happened. (sorry, no pics before really, so I can't do a comparison). BUT, the sleeves shortened maybe a quarter-inch more than they needed to, and I have lost the loose, blousy feel that the shoulders had, and so lost some freedom of movement. Also, I think the back panel may have narrowed or something because the pleats in the back are no longer pleated. They are puckered open. Are there any suggestions of how to, in a controlled manner, stretch back out those areas? The leather is EXTREMELY dry feeling now, could a healthy dose of Pecard's make the leather more pliable for working with?
Allow me to help you scream:stevemahaffey wrote: (I would insert some screaming smilie here, but I don't know how)
I agree stay away from the iron, it might even make it peel. Stick with what you did and wear it. If that does not do the trick in a couple of weeks, then maybe hang it and steam it a bit. Then work it out to where you want it pulling on it with your hands.Indiana Holt wrote:no, no. do not iron the leather, if it shrank in the dryer you can bet your hand that it will shrink with the hot iron.
I think it just need to relax again. its been shock treated an it stiffend and shrank alittle. just put some pecards on it and wear it so it will relax again.
maby throw it in the dryer with NO heat. just put a couple shoes in the dryer along with the jacket and spin it for a couple hours. like money laundering. not that I have any experience with it....
