Hot Water Treatment - Headwind Capeskin A-1

[Skyhawk]

Hello all, I have been beta testing the A-1 for some time now and have really given it rough treatment. It has held up to everything I have thrown at it. I decided to do a HWT on the jacket to bring out more grain, and to shrink it a little as it was a little big on me. The results were fantastic!

I used an extreme method of HWT as I wanted to see how the jacket would hold up. I first soaked the entire jacket in scalding hot water in the bath tub. I then put it in the dryer on high heat, inside out at first, and then leather side out. I did this twice and I am very happy with the results. It shrank about 1/2 size which is just about what I was aiming for, and it now fits great. All the parts held up just fine. At the end of the second high heat cycle in the dryer, something wonderful started to happen! Wear started to form on the pockets and windflap edges. The wear looks very natural and a rich reddish hue started to show through as well. Overall the jacket now looks years older, the shine has dulled and it is starting to show some wear. I am pleased to find that this Capeskin will break in very nicely and show wear and color variations, and more grain and character over the years.









Regards,
Jay

 

[Peacoat]

You are a braver man than I am. Glad it worked out for you. Looks good.

 

[Skyhawk]

Hey thanks! I was pretty confident it wouldn't hurt the jacket. That chrome tanning is pretty tough. I had been out in several hard soaking rain storms and the jacket didn't soak through after being completely drenched. Luckily it's not too bullet proof to show wear though, when treated very badly

 

[navetsea]

somebody with zipper closure might get a wavy zipper after shrinking , but good result on yours
is capeskin = sheepskin ?

 

[Skyhawk]

Thanks, yes it shrank rather evenly on this one. The hide is Russet chrome tanned Capeskin, AKA Sheepskin. Very soft and also turning out to be reasonably durable.

 

[AdeeC]

Can you tell us how the knits shaped up after the HWT? Always concerned with how woollens react after hot washing and drying.
Cheers

 

[CBI]

I did the same thing with my Eastman A-1. Lots of grain came out and it shrank AT LEAST on entire size. I was a size too large for me. Think the best result may be to not put it in the dryer but work the wet jacket like crazy with ones hands and then wear it wet for many hours, then line dry. I love what you are doing with these mid-price jackets!

 

[Skyhawk]

Can you tell us how the knits shaped up after the HWT? Always concerned with how woollens react after hot washing and drying.
Cheers

Yes certainly. The knits are 100% Worsted Wool and they did not shrink all that much. A slight bit of tightening on the cuffs and waist, but that loosened up quickly when I wore it afterwards. The leather shrank a lot more than the knits. The shrinkage occurred in the hot drying phase. So If you air dried it, I don't think they would shrink at all.

 

[Skyhawk]

Yes certainly. The knits are 100% Worsted Wool and they did not shrink all that much. A slight bit of tightening on the cuffs and waist, but that loosened up quickly when I wore it afterwards. The leather shrank a lot more than the knits. The shrinkage occurred in the hot drying phase. So If you air dried it, I don't think they would shrink at all.

The knits that is, the leather would still shrink as CBI pointed out.