Is it possible to make knits more elastic (again)?

[mulceber]

So, because I was finding my RW 23380 repro a touch short in the arms, I started looking around for ways to stretch the leather. I quickly found that leather will stretch when wet, and decided to give that a try.

The sleeves are more comfortable now, but in the process, the bottom knits got soaked, and when they dried, they had loosened up a LOT, meaning the jacket no longer has that great blousing it once had - or any blousing at all, tbh.

I figure there’s a good chance I’m going to have to have the knits replaced, but I thought I’d ask here first to see if anyone has any better (read: cheaper) solutions.

 

[jeremiah]

Try hot water on just the knits then use a blow dryer to add heat to just that. Heat shrinks 100-% wool.

 

[Pilot]

Would change them...A-2 23380 RW is surely from a prime maker...so it deserves the best. IMHO.

 

[Southoftheborder]

That's happened to me in the past. I tried hot water just on the knits with heat drying and it didn't work. It's because they lose their elasticity and you can't get that back. I have shrunk jumpers that way and I got a Harris tweed Baker Boy cap to fit me better with hot water and heat, but no joy with jacket knits. I've never had much success shrinking leather either BTW. Maybe half and inch P2P if that. Stretching is a different matter.

 

[Flightengineer]

Replace them. Larry or MASH make nice knits.

 

[mulceber]

Guess that's the way for me to go then. Which color of MASH knits would you all recommend for a russet rough wear? Also, how quickly does MASH ship?

 

[Pilot]

Guess that's the way for me to go then. Which color of MASH knits would you all recommend for a russet rough wear? Also, how quickly does MASH ship?

Mid Brown (provided you change all.. waist and sleeves knits),...if only one part of it...it should match with the other still good part. MASH ships latest 24H after your payment was confirmed.

 

[mulceber]

Mid Brown

Hmm, MASH only lists seal brown and russet. So, russet?

 

[Flightengineer]

Hmm, MASH only lists seal brown and russet. So, russet?

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[mulceber]

Oh, that looks perfect. And cheaper than shipping from Japan. Just bought those. And only $3.50 shipping for where I am.

 

[Flightengineer]

Oh, that looks perfect. And cheaper than shipping from Japan. Just bought those. And only $3.50 shipping for where I am.

He make very nice and correct knits.

 

[Brettafett]

Why not ask BK very nicely if they can't send you some of the same knit? Its their jacket still and you'd best keep it as original as possible. Then pay someone to switch them out. This way you only need the cuffs... Worth a try.

 

[Brettafett]

He make very nice and correct knits.

These are Larry's knits. Thery are nice, but be careful, batches vary and some may not be as good as another (are they returnable?). I've used from Larry a few times and some have been great, but some have been a bit loose.

 

[mulceber]

Why not ask BK very nicely if they can't send you some of the same knit? Its their jacket still and you'd best keep it as original as possible. Then pay someone to switch them out. This way you only need the cuffs... Worth a try.

A good thought, and I'd probably do it, if I hadn't just purchased the Larry knits.

These are Larry's knits. Thery are nice, but be careful, batches vary and some may not be as good as another (are they returnable?). I've used from Larry a few times and some have been great, but some have been a bit loose.

Any advice on how to tell a good batch from a bad one?

 

[Pilot]

Hope you will receive what the Larry’s photos show... I did not...
Hope I am the only one complaining.

 

[mulceber]

Hope you will receive what the Larry’s photos show... I did not...
Hope I am the only one complaining.

Ah, so it's fairly obvious just to look at the knits? And it sounds like Brett agrees with you.

 

[Brettafett]

Well, I've had a couple of replacement sets from Larry, and also MASH. Larry's has been good generally (not quite the same quality as GW, BK and Platon's knits), but the last batch I received was not so good. It was looser than previously and the weave was not as close or tight. Am actually planning to replace these with MASH knits at some point again...
You'll be able to see and feel them once you have it in hand. Surely you can return it, if its not how you want?

 

[Flightengineer]

I bought from Larry twice and both times everything was just fine with quality.

 

[mulceber]

Well, fingers crossed. If I get them and they don’t seem up to snuff, I’ll email BK and see if they have any ideas.

 

[Pilot]

For the records, got my Larry’s once and threw them away.... not even close to ( its photos) or MASH and far away from WW2 originals... Sorry to crash the party...