When you lose some weight and are on a diet, shrinking a denim jacket becomes a major concern. Because the jacket won’t fit anymore and you need a smaller jacket for your fit body. In that case, the best thing is to choose a method to shrink your denim jacket. Though there are many ways to do that, we will discuss some of the easiest methods here on how to shrink denim jackets for further use.
What Is A Denim Jacket?
The name of the jacket denotes the type of this jacket. That means the denim jacket is made from denim. And, it is also known as a trucker jacket or jean jacket. In any case, the denim jacket is made with the same fabric. However, the denim jacket is always popular as casual apparel for both men and women. Besides, this jacket is considered an iconic element of American fashion.
Specifically, denim is a sturdy cotton textile, which is identifiable because of its warp-faced type characteristic. In general, you will find two or more warp threads over the weft, and diagonal ribbing is available due to the twill weaving. For this reason, you can easily differentiate this textile from cotton duck even though they almost look the same.
Methods of How to Shrink Denim Jacket
Mostly, the denim jacket is famous for its constant use for decades, and you will always find it as an item of fashionable clothing for both genders. Though this jacket doesn’t go out of style, you may need to shrink it sometimes for perfect fitting using some specific method. Here, we will focus on three simple methods to help you shrink your jacket perfectly.
Method 1: Using An Iron
It is very common to have an iron in your home. And, you can simply use it to shrink your denim jacket by following the below steps.
1. Prepare The Jacket Before Ironing
You should remember that dry denim won’t shrink much like wet denim. So, when you want to shrink your denim jacket more, you should wash the jacket before ironing. For better results, you can also boil it using water.
If you want to avoid the boiling process, applying hot water using a sprayer can solve that. When you need to shrink a specific area, use the sprayer to spray hot water into that particular area of the jacket like shoulders, sleeves, sides, etc.
2. Arrange The Ironing Board
If you have an ironing board, make it ready to lay the jacket. Otherwise, you can also use a wood or steel table covered with soft cotton fabric for the ironing process. However, we will always recommend using an ironing board for safer use and better output.
3. Set The Iron Setting
As the denim jacket is made with hard fabric, you should use the highest temperature setting of the iron. But, don’t change the hot setting repeatedly. Because it may slow the ironing process, and the shrinking won’t be perfect.
4. Iron The Denim Jacket
When ironing the jacket, use a constant motion and apply it in wet sections. Otherwise, you may burn the denim damaging the jacket. So, you should glide the damp areas in a constant motion and give more force where the denim feels sturdier until the whole jacket is dry.
If you want to shrink more, use more hot water in your desired area and iron it for drying again. Repeat it until you get your desired result, and this way, you can shrink your whole denim jacket.
Method 2: Using the Boiling Process
If you are not interested in using any kind of tool or device, you can simply shrink your denim jacket using the boiling method. This method is the simplest way to make the process done. Follow the below steps for using this method.
1. Arrange A Large Pot Of Water
Bring a pot large enough that will fit the jacket as well as with the hot water so that any of the water doesn’t spill out. Now, fill the pot with water and heat it at a high temperature until the water is boiling and bubbling.
2. Keep The Jacket On The Pot
After boiling the water, put the denim jacket into the pot and lower the heat. Because of the sturdy cotton, it will take some time to get fully wet. Make sure the jacket is submerged in the water and use a spoon or stick to make it done.
3. Remove The hot Water
After boiling the jacket for 30 minutes, stop heating the pot. Now, all of these things are very hot. So, drain the hot water from the pot carefully and let it cool.
4. Dry The Jacket
When the jacket is cooled enough to handle, you can either machine-dry or hang-dry it. Then, check after drying it if it has shrunk enough. Not to mention, you can dry it at a high temperature for higher shrinking.
5. Repeat The Process For More Shrinking
If you are not satisfied with the shrinking, you can repeat the whole process again for more shrinking. Don’t forget that repeatedly boiling the denim jacket may be the cause of losing its color and shape after multiple attempts.
Method 3: Using A Dryer And Washing Machine
If you have a dryer and a washing machine at your home, you can use these tools to shrink your denim jacket smoothly. The whole process is explained step by step below.
1. Check And Prepare The Jacket
Some denim jackets may not be suitable for use in machines. So, you must check the tag of the jacket to see if it is machine-safe. After being sure about that, you should turn the jacket inside out to avoid fading.
2. Put The Jacket Inside The Washing Machine
Then, place the jacket inside the washing machine and set the temperature at the highest level. Because the hot water will help the jacket to shrink more.
3. Wash Using A Suitable Detergent
Now, choose a color-safe detergent to prevent fading and start the washer with the longest washing cycle. Because a long washing process will enhance the possibility of better shrinking.
4. Dry The Jacket
After washing the jacket, remove it from the washing machine and hang dry for primary drying. Then, use the dryer for one hour to perform a further drying process, and the jacket will shrink.
5. Repeat The Process
Lastly, you need to repeat the method for shrinking more. When you are satisfied with the shrink, stop straight away.
Final Words
We’ve discussed several methods here to shrink your denim jacket. However, you should use machines for a safer shrinking process as there is less chance of getting damaged, and you don’t need to put extra effort into creating a balance in temperature and drying. On the other hand, if you use the other two methods, there is no machine required, but you must be careful when performing the necessary activities.
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