Leather Shrinkage

[WolfeMan]

Hello, i have a leather jacket id like to shrink. Its a bomber jacket ( not anything nice, just a $100 knockoff ) and its about a size too big. Ive read an earlier thread on the matter, but i can't use the dryer to dry it because its too heavy, and a tailor is out of the question. Any other techniques? Thanks

 

[442RCT]

My Advice

My advice is to sell the jacket and buy one that fits. I had and still have a used Banana Republic A-2 style jacket that I wanted to shrink the sleeves to fit. The jacket was purchased used for $ 35.00 so I didn't want to spend $ 40 with a tailor to shorten the sleeves. I tried soaking the sleeves in hot water, it did nothing. I decided, what the heck it's only $ 35.00 and tossed the whole jacket into a washing machine then into a dryer with a couple of towels and some softballs. I had to take out the softballs after the dryer drum kept flinging them out the door, which stopped the dryer. The jacket showed absolutely no signs of anything...it looked and fit just like it before I did the washer-dryer treatment.

Would I treat a jacket I liked like this...nope, the lesson I learned was if you want to keep the jacket, get thee to a tailor. If it's a jacket you don't really care about, then go for it...

Go ahead and try this at home, be aware, your milage may vary...

 

[too much coffee]

I've had fair results shrinking a US Authentic A-2 HH somewhat, not nearly a full size though. Washed on machine delicate cycle with hot water and dried in the Arizona sun, about 105F. Took 3/4" off chest and 3/8" off sleeve length but nothing off of body length. Also made some serious grain pop.

Best of luck with it!

 

[WolfeMan]

Well, im 15 so a lot of options are not open to me. I suppose i could try and sell it on ebay, my aunt has an account, but after paying 100 dollars for it (rather a a lot for me) i would really like to shrink it, or at least try.

 

[captaincaveman1]

Well if it's just a matter of the sleeves being too short, there is something you can do.

My Cockpit USA had sleeves just a tad too long for my taste which promoted "tunnelling" of the cuffs into the sleeves. I poured warm water over the arms and just wore the thing till it dried. That did the trick. The leather doesn't really shrink but creases and wrinkles formed at the elbow joint which do pull up the sleeves a tad from the wrist. Fit is perfect now.

I also wetted the jacket and threw it in the dryer on low heat with some towels for 20 minutes. Then wore it for a few hours till dry and the goatskin took on the shape of my body. See pics below.



BEFORE

AFTER

 

[WolfeMan]

The entire jacket is just a size too large, sleeves are long and loose, body is the same

 

[captaincaveman1]

The entire jacket is just a size too large, sleeves are long and loose, body is the same

Leather will only "shrink" so much. IMO it is more accurate to say it will shape to your body rather than actually decrease in size.

Not much you can do if you're a whole size off. Post some pics of you wearing it and maybe we can offer some more specific advice. Otherwise, tailoring or finding a better fit are your best options. Perhaps not what you wanted to hear...

 

[Atinkerer]

Did you say you're 15? If so, why don't you just live with it a while, and you'll very likely grow into it.

Tony

 

[WolfeMan]

Did you say you're 15? If so, why don't you just live with it a while, and you'll very likely grow into it.

Tony

Too impatient

 

[442RCT]

Just out of curiosity, what size is the jacket you have ? What brand is it ? Do you know what kind of leather it is ? Cowhide? Lambskin ?

 

[WolfeMan]

Just out of curiosity, what size is the jacket you have ? What brand is it ? Do you know what kind of leather it is ? Cowhide? Lambskin ?

its an L, American hide and leather, pretty sure its cow. Posting photos soon.

 

[WolfeMan]

After taking photos and looking at it more, im thinking i might just leave it be and grow some more. I would rather have the waist length tighter fit, i guess ill have to get another one. But here are photos anyways.(not very high quality) I bough it at Overstock.com.

 

[WolfeMan]

My advice is to sell the jacket and buy one that fits. I had and still have a used Banana Republic A-2 style jacket that I wanted to shrink the sleeves to fit. The jacket was purchased used for $ 35.00 so I didn't want to spend $ 40 with a tailor to shorten the sleeves. I tried soaking the sleeves in hot water, it did nothing. I decided, what the heck it's only $ 35.00 and tossed the whole jacket into a washing machine then into a dryer with a couple of towels and some softballs. I had to take out the softballs after the dryer drum kept flinging them out the door, which stopped the dryer. The jacket showed absolutely no signs of anything...it looked and fit just like it before I did the washer-dryer treatment.

Would I treat a jacket I liked like this...nope, the lesson I learned was if you want to keep the jacket, get thee to a tailor. If it's a jacket you don't really care about, then go for it...

Go ahead and try this at home, be aware, your milage may vary...

What size is it? and are you thinking of selling it?

 

[Peacoat]

Soak the jacket in warm water until the leather has absorbed all of the water it will. Then drain on a towel to get rid of the excess water. Let it dry in your Florida sun until dry. That ought to take some of the size out of it.

 

[WolfeMan]

Ill probably wait until it warms up a little, upper 50s to low 60s tomorrow.

 

[captaincaveman1]

You're right, that jacket is really big on you. Use the water and sun technique but also consider tucking it away for storage until you grow into it.

I personally don't like to wear clothes that are too big for me. You're young so I'm sure in a few years you'll fill out the shoulders and get some height to make the length right.

 

[westinghouse]

Take a spray bottle filled with water and spray the jacket all over then wear it until dry. Do this a few times until the leather has "molded" to your body.

 

[442RCT]

What size is it? and are you thinking of selling it?

What size suit jacket do you wear ?
I'm a medium, 40-42.
I have 2 'orphan' A-2 jackets, one is about a 42, and the other jacket that's smaller.
Let me know which size you'd like.

PM me with which jacket you want and I'll mail it to you.
What I want you to do in exchange is study the history of either the American Volunteer Group, aka Flying Tigers, or the history of the 442 Regimental Combat Team.

ps- My wife says I have way too many jackets. The way I look at it is, when I get rid of one, I'm allowed to buy a replacement

 

[HighandDry]

Now that's a really generous offer!

 

[WolfeMan]

Excuse my ignorance, but how exactly do i go about doing that?